It is said that buddha has 32 signs of a great man, they
are:
1. supati.t.thapaado: feet with a level sole (the Buddha would have
an even pace -- not like those who wear down their shoes unevenly
-- such a sole would spread the weight of His body evenly)
2. he.t.thapaadatalesuu cakkani jaataani: 1,000 spoked wheel marks
on soles (such marks would make the Buddha's hands and feet
infinitely flexible -- unlike our hands and feet which can flex
only in one or two directions because there are only two or three
lines on our palms)
3. aayatapa.nhi: projecting heels-- the heels were not round in
shape but more oval (spreads weight and gives extra leverage for
strength to the foot)
4. diigha"ngulii: literally this means big fingers, but in fact it
refers to the fingers & toes of the Buddha being of even length
(makes the hands and feet very strong by comparison to our own for
whom all our fingers and toes are of different lengths)
5. mudutalahatthapaado: hands & feet soft skinned (this is not
to say that the Buddha was not strong. Normally we associate hunks
of taut muscle with strength -- but also soft flesh can be full of
muscles)
6. jaalahatthapaado: netlike lines on palms and soles (this is
similar to no.2 -- it allows the feet and hands to be infinitely
flexible -- it is not people of ancient times who had such a
feature -- even Kuhn Yay Thongsuk Samdaengpan had such a feature on
her hands which perhaps explains why she was so resiliant, even at
a senior age when travelling to give teachings around the
country)
7. ussa"nkhapaado: high raised ankles (this feature is similar to
the way the legs of a horse are built -- it gives exceptional
strength, leverage and agility to the leg)
8. e.nimigasadisaja"ngho: taught calf muscles like antelope (again
this explains why the Buddha could be so strong -- because his legs
were strong like those of an antelope -- rather than being flacid
like those of a buffalo)
9. .thitako va anonamanto: even standing without bending down, the
Buddha could touch his knees (such proportions for a person are in
fact the ideal -- not like Asians who have a long body but short
legs or at the other extreme negros and caucasians who have a long
body and long legs)
10. kosohitavatthguyho: sexual organs concealed by sheath (the
advantage of this is not to risk bringing offence to anyone even
when naked)
11. suva.n.nava.n.n.o: bright golden-coloured complexion (such
golden skin has the advantage of being sensitive to the
touch)
12. sukhumacchavii: skin so fine no dust can attach (this is unlike
the rough skin of a reptile to which all manner of dirt attaches.
In fact the Buddha managed to achieve what women and sportsmen
still try to achieve, but without all the effort!)
13. ekekalomo: body hair separate with one hair per pore (not like
some people who have whole tufts of hair coming from each
pore).
14. uddhaggalomo: bluish body hair curls clockwise
15. brahmujugatto: upright stance like a god (such a stance gives
an exceptional sense of balance and a firm stance)
16. sattussado: flesh undinted and convex in seven places (these
seven places comprise: the back of the hands [2], the upper side of
the feet [2], the shoulders [2] and the neck [1])
17. siihapubba.d.dhakaayo: lion-like chest (such a chest allows
strong breathing and better metabolism than a normal person)
18. piitantara.mso: flesh on back undinted (not like some people
whose back looks like fishbones)
19. nigrodhaparima.n.dalo: equal distance hand-to-hand &
head-to-toe (such a proportion allows one to sit comfortably for
meditation, without one's legs sticking out)
20. samva.d.dakkhandho: neck rounded and smooth (the shape of the
Buddha's neck was perfect like a tube or organ pipe and is the
reason for the melodious voice he had)
21. rasaggasaggii: sensative taste-buds (allows one to pick up the
nutrients from even the poorest of foods and is why the Buddha
could survive for 49 days on seven lumps of rice after his
enlightenment or during the time when he had to spend his
rainy-season in a place where there was famine)
22. siihahanu: lion-like jaw (such a jaw is necessary to
accommodate the 40 teeth of mark 23.)
23. cattaa.liisadanto: 40 teeth (most people have only 32 teeth and
normally some are missing too. Such a set of forty teeth is
permanent throughout life -- not like ours which change from milk
teeth > adult teeth > false teeth!)
24. samadanto: evenly-spaced teeth
25. avira.ladanto: gapless teeth
26. sukkadanto: crystal canine teeth. Some people ask how when, as
we sometimes find in the scriptures, the Buddha and Ananda are
walking along, how Ananda could know that the Buddha has noticed
something and is smiling about it. Normally, Ananda would walk
directly behind the Buddha, but the reason he could know that the
Buddha was smiling is because even just the parting of his lips,
light would eminate from his canine teeth)
27. pahutajivho: large, long tongue (large enough to cover his
whole face and long enough to lick ears -- contributes to melodious
sound of the Buddha and accommodates exceptional tastebuds)
28. brahmassaro hiravikabhaa.nii: god-like voice (this is a
particularly melodious sort of voice -- collective fruit of the
shape of his neck, teeth and tongue -- not like a person who is
having problems with their teeth)
29. abhiniilanetto: bluish-black eyes
30. gopamukho: eyes innocent like a calf
31. u.n.naa loma bhamukantare jaataa: white cotton-wool soft wisp
of hair in centre of brow (Indians respect this very highly and if
they don't have one will draw one in as a 'caste mark')
32. u.nahiissiiso: brow & face, especially the join between the
two, are excellently smooth
These signs is because of achievement in cultivation.
For example, if one uphold the precepts of no falsehood in his many
past lifes, he will have sign of long tongue.
Sign of long arms because of compassion.
Sign of evenly-spaced teeth because of no provocation and
instigation.
Sign of long ear represents accumulated merits.
Knowing this, I observed the people around me, and find out that I
actually can sort of deduce a person's habit or luck base on how
close their look to these signs.
It is not that I am a visual person or what, but everything happens
in ourselves must have a cause including these 32 signs of buddha.
I think a lot of fortuneteller also judge a person with reference
to the look.
that's all, just my little observation.
