Even today his laws and observations on physical beauty are collectively known as the Saamudrikam. The treatise innately understands the role Woman had in the reproductive and fertility cycle of the world. It is also sensitive to the various temperaments of women. For example, besides speaking about physical marks, it also talks about the inherent strength of character and power that women wield.
According to Saamudrika Lakshanam, there are 6 important areas of the female physique: the thighs, stomach, breasts, arms, the back and the head. Even these are further divided into two areas that deal with inner beatuy and external beauty like voice, complexion etc. Apart from these, there are also special classifications for bone structure, walk, shadow, hair and so on.
The most beautiful woman is one who has the golden skin of the Nyazhal flower, a nose like the mustard flower, thick, dark tresses, three folds on her waist, a face like a lotus, perfumed like liquor, red lips and the sweetest words on them and most importantly, righteousness of character. She is called "Padmini" and is the most superior of women.
The next on the beauty rung is the Asthini woman and then comes the Sankhini and the Chithini woman. Detailed descriptions of these women are given in so many other books of yore. Sages like Narada, Lakshaka, Varahar and Mandavya have mentioned these traits in so many places in their books and classical works.
But the msot poignant observation that can be gleaned form all these Sanskrit works is the assertion that the woman who remains unfazed in any difficulty and is without crooked twists of the heart, is the most beautiful woman of all. She is the woman who has the highest "Sattva" mentality.
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