THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
242
The Forehead
The thin layer of the flesh on the forehead of the Bodhisatta covers the whole of it, rising
from end to end, i.e. from the top part of the right ear to the left. This particular layer of
flesh being soft, golden in colour, lustrous and extensive on the entire forehead is graceful
like a gold band fastened to a royal forehead. In fact, the gold band on a king's forehead
(the royal insignia ) is an imitation of the forehead of a Bodhisatta which is use as a sign of
royalty by kings who have no such natural feature). (This is an explanation of how the
Bodhisatta is endowed with the perfect forehead).
The Head
The head of the Bodhisatta is perfect in all aspects. Unlike the Bodhisatta's, the heads of
ordinary people are imperfect. Some look like a monkey's, as though they were broken in
two parts. Others seem to have cracks. Still others have so little flesh that they appear as
skulls just covered by the skin. There are also heads disproportionate like a gourd, and
there are still others which are curved at the back or protruding (with the occiput bulging).
In contrast with them, the Bodhisatta has the head of perfect fullness like a golden baluster,
as if it had been carved out with a round chisel to make it round, smooth and beautiful.
(This thirty-second mark is mentioned in the Text as
uÓhÊsasÊso
. Its meaning can be
taken in two ways: (a) having a head which looks as though it were wrapped by a
thin layer of flesh on the forehead, or (b) having a round splendid head like a
headband made by an expert. Because of its dual meaning, the explanations of both
the perfect forehead and the perfect head are given here.)
(The
kamma
and other factors that bring about these thirty-two major marks are
separately discussed in the AnudÊpanÊ. )
The Eighty Minor Characteristics
The Bodhisatta, a great man, is also endowed with eighty minor characteristics called
asÊti
anuvyaÒjana
, which accompany the major ones. These eighty minor marks will now be
briefly mentioned, as appear in the JinÈla~kÈra Tika and other texts.
(1) Closely knitted fingers and toes with no intervening gaps (
cit'angulita
).
(2) Fingers and toes tapering gradually from the base to the tips (
anupubb'angulita
).
(3) Round fingers and toes (
vaÔÔ'angulita
).
(These are the three characteristics concerning the fingers and toes.)
(4) Red fingernails and toenails (
tamba nakhatÈ
).
(5) Tall, pointed and prominent fingernails and toenails (
tunga nakhatÈ
).
(6) Neat and smooth fingernails and toenails (
siniddha nakhatÈ
).
(These are three characteristics concerning the fingernails and toenails).
(7) Neither receding nor protruding ankles, i.e. inconspicuous ankles (
nig|Äha
gopphakatÈ
). (Others' ankles are bulging and conspicuous.)
(8) Evenness of the tips of all ten toes (
sama pÈdatÈ
).
(This is the one characteristic concerning the toes.)
(9) Manner of walking gracefully like an elephant king (
gajasamÈn'akkamatÈ
).
(10) Manner of walking gracefully like a lion king (
sÊhasamÈn'akkamatÈ
).
(11) Manner of walking gracefully like a haÑsa king (
haÑsasamÈn'akkamatÈ
).
(12) Manner of walking gracefully like a bull king (
usabhasamÈn’akkamatÈ
).
(13) Manner of walking clockwise (
dakkhiÓÈtvaÔÔa gatitÈ
).
(These are the five characteristics concerning the manner of walking.)
(14) Round knees that are beautiful on all sides (
samantato cÈrujaÓÓu maÓÉalatÈ
).
(This is the one characteristic concerning the knees.)
(15) Well developed male organ (
paripuÓÓa purisavyaÒjanatÈ
.)