Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c18.s1.42

c18.s1.42

The space between the pendant of the ear and the neck is 1½ *angal*. The height of the outside of the ear is 1½ *angal*.
54. “The length from the base of the neck to the nipple, thence to the other nipple, and thence to the base of the neck is 13½ *angal*.*
55. “From the base of the neck to the armpit is one *tala*, and the part over is one *kolaka*. The breadth of the palm is six *angal*, and its length seven *angal*, the thickness of the palm one *kolaka*, the breadth of the thumb 1½ *angal*.
56. “The length of the middle finger is six *angal* and four barleycorns; the fourth finger is 5½ *angal*; the forefinger is less by one barleycorn. [Verses 57-63 give further minute details of the measurements of the fingers and finger nails.]
64. “The length of the foot is 13½ *angal*, and from the ankle bone to the heel is one *bhaga* [two *angal*]. [Verses 65-71 give detailed measurements of the toes.]
72. “The breadth of the back between the two armpits is two *mukha*. . . .
73. “. . . the space between the two thighs at their beginning is one *angala*, between the two knees one *kolaka* [two *angal*] and the space between the two [great] toes one *kala* [two *angal*] and a barleycorn.
74. “The *maddhya sutra* [medial plumb line] drawn from the crown of the head must touch the tip of the nose, the centre of the chest, the navel, the private part, the inner side of the knees, and the inner sides of the feet.
75. “The *parsva sutra* [side plumb line] drawn from the crown of the head must touch the side of the forehead, the centre of the cheek, the side of the arm, the centre of the thigh, the centre of the knee, as well as the centre of the ankle joint.
76. “The girth must be three times the breadth of the several parts. . .
77. “The end of the hand [raised in] blessing must be in a line with the end of the chin, the cheek and the nose, at a distance of eight barleycorns from the end of the mouth and the nipple of the breast. [This is incomprehensible.]
78. “The *kata sutra* [loin plumb line] must be drawn from the side of the little finger [of the raised hand] to fall over the middle of the hip, the middle of the thigh, and outside the knee.
86. “The *kaksha sutra* [armpit plumb line] must be drawn from the side of the armpit, by the side of the hip, the calf and its termination, and by the fifth toe of the leg.
87. “The *bahu sutra* [shoulder plumb line] must be drawn by the centre of the side of the [left] arm by the end of it and outside the palm.
88. “A *maddhya sutra* [medial plumb line] must be drawn [behind] from the centre of the crown of the head, the centre of the rising part of the back, the centre of the [small of the] back, and between the heels.†
90. “If the plumb line is drawn amiss, the image maker will be afflicted with illness . . . if correctly it will lead to the success of royalty and the protection of the maker. The section specially referring to standing images of Buddha ends here.