tala
the storeys (cf. bhumi) of the vimana or gopura; a unit of measurement for images (Tāla, Hindi: ताल, Tamil: தாலா);
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 the Tāla. Each Tāla is further divided into twelve Aṅgulas, which are further sub-divided into still smaller units, i.e., Yava, Yuka, Liksha, etc. (cf. Angula).
Ordinary humans beings are in a measure of eight Tālas (Ashtatala or Ashta-tāla), i.e., eight times the size of the face. Major gods are ten times the face (Dasatala or Daśa-tāla), and the minor divinities and goddesses in a measure of nine Tālas (Navatala or Nava-tāla).
Major gods in their heroic or ferocious aspects could be in a measure of even twelve or fourteen Tālas. A Panchatala or Pancha-tāla figure is only five Tālas hight.
The six different kinds of Tālas are as follows:
- Ekatala or Eka-tāla,
- Dvitala or Dvi-tāla,
- Tritala or Tri-tāla,
- Catustala or Catus-tāla,
- Panchatala or Pancha-tāla,
- Shattala or Shat-tāla,
- Saptatala or Sapta-tāla,
- Ashtatala or Ashta-tāla,
- Navatala or Nava-tāla,
- Dasatala or Daśa-tāla.
Within each Tāla measure, the images 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.