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INTRODUCTION
THE TĀLA SYSTEM OF
MEASUREMENT
Major gods arc ten times the face (Dasa-tāla), and the minor divinities and goddesses in a measure of nine Tälas (Nava-tāla). Major gods in their heroic or ferocious aspects could be in a measure of even twelve or fourteen Tälas. A Panchatåla figure is only five Tālas high.
In Indian iconometry, the Tāla system of measurement is used for sculpture or casting icons in metal. The face, from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin, is the unit of measurement and is known as thc Tāla. Each Tala is further divided into twelve Angulas, which are further sub-divided into still smaller units. Ordinary human beings are in a measure of eight Tälas (Ashta-tāla), i.c., cight times the size of the face.
Within cach Täla measure, the image may be Uttama (highest), Madhyama (middle) and Adhama (lowest). Thus in the Daśa-tāla, the Madhyama is 120 Angulas, but the Uttama is 124 Angulas and the Adhama, 116 Angulas,
