Yali (, ), also called Vyāla (), is a

South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

n mythological creature, portrayed with the head and the body of a lion, the trunk and the tusks of an elephant, and sometimes bearing equine features. Images of the creature occur in many South Indian temples, often sculpted onto the pillars. There also exist variations of the creature, with it possessing the appendages of other beasts. It has sometimes been described as a ''leogryph'' (part-lion and part-

griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (; Classical Latin: ''gryps'' or ''grypus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk ...

), with some bird-like features, with the trunk referred to as a

proboscis A proboscis () is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular arthropod mouthparts, mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a pr ...

. Karuna Sagar Behera writes of the ''virala'', or ''vidala'' () in terms of a "mythical monster used ..as a sculptural and architectural motif, the representation of vidala is of various types, e.g. ''gaja-vidala'', nara-vidala, etc."

Iconography

Descriptions of, and references to, yalis are ancient, but they became prominent in South Indian sculptures in the 16th century. Yalis were described to be more powerful than the lion, the tiger, or the elephant. In its iconography, the yali has a cat-like body, but the head of a lion with the tusks of an elephant (

gaja Gaja () is a Sanskrit word for elephant. It is one of the significant animals finding references in Hindu scriptures, as well as Buddhist and Jainism, Jain texts. History In the context of the history of History of India, Ancient India, the earl ...

), and the tail of a serpent. Sometimes, they have been shown standing on the back of a

makara Makara () is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn. Makara appears as the vahana (vehicle) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, and of the god of the ocean, Varun ...

, another mythical creature and considered to be the

vahana ''Vāhana'' () or ''vahanam'' () denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular Hindus, Hindu deity is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's "mount". Upon the partnership b ...

Budha Budha () is the Sanskrit word for the planet Mercury (planet), Mercury, personified as a god. Also a god who represented the intelligence. He is also known as Somaya, Rohinaya, and rules over the nakshatra, ''nakshatra''s (lunar mansions) of A ...

(Mercury). Some images look like three-dimensional representation of yalis. Images or icons have been found on the entrance walls of the temples, and the graceful mythical lion is believed to protect and guard the temples and ways leading to the temple. They usually have the stylised body of a lion and the head of some other beast, most often an elephant (gaja-vyala). Other common examples are: the lion-headed (simha-vyala), horse- (ashva-vyala), human- (nir-vyala) and the dog-headed (shvana-vyala) ones.

Symbolism

The yali is said to be a guardian creature, protecting human beings both physically and spiritually. It is regarded to be a fearless beast, possessing supremacy over the animal world. It is also believed to be the symbolic representation of man's struggle with the elemental forces of nature.

Literature

Descriptions of the yali are featured in ancient

Tamil literature Tamil literature includes a collection of literary works that have come from a tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution. Contributors to the T ...

, dating back to the Sangam era.

Gallery

File:Yali, from the neck of a Veena Saraswati (Musées de Dahlem Berlin) (3042092768).jpg, The Yali is often found on the neck of a modern

Saraswati veena The Sarasvatī vīṇa (also spelled Saraswati veena) (, , , Malayalam: സരസ്വതി വീണ) is an ancient Indian plucked veena. It is named after the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who is usually depicted holding or playing the instrume ...

. File:Sculptures in New Mandap.JPG, Yali in pillars of Puthu Mandapam,

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

, Tamil Nadu State, India File:யாளி-திருவண்ணாமலை.jpg, Yali in Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu State, India File:Yali pillars in a small open mantapa in the Vitthala temple complex in Hampi 2.JPG, ''Yali'' pillars at Vittala temple at

Hampi Hampi or Hampe (), also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the town of Hampi in Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; it is menti ...

, Karnataka state, India File:Entrance to Ananthasayana temple at Ananthasayanagudi.JPG, ''Yali'' pillars at Ananthasayana temple, Ananthasayanagudi, Karnataka state, India File:Carved pillar in the 16th century Thousnad-Pillared Hall, Meenakshi Temple, Madurai (2) (37259217170).jpg, Carved pillar in the 16th century Thousand Pillar Hall, Meenakshi Temple,

File:Yali pillars in mantapa of Krishna temple in Hampi.JPG, ''Yali'' pillars at Krishna temple at Hampi, Karnataka state, India File:Yali pillars3 at Bhoganandishvara group of temples, Chikkaballapur district.jpg, Yali pillars at Bhoganandishvara temple in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka state, India File:Yali pillars2 at Ranganatha temple in Rangasthala, Chikkaballapur district.jpg, Yali pillars at the Ranganatha temple in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka state, India File:Yali pillars1 at Ranganatha temple in Rangasthala, Chikkaballapur district.jpg, Pillars with ''Yali'' and ''Kudure Gombe'' ("horse doll") at Ranganatha temple, Rangasthala, Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka state, India File:Amazing Mukteswar temple with its minor shrines but excluding the Murich Kunda-image8.jpg, ''Yali'' and rider, Mukteshvara Temple, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha state, India File:Mukteswar temple (3).jpg, ''Yali'' and rider, Mukteshvara Temple, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha state, India File:Yala of Orcha fort.jpg, alt=A Image of Yali at Orchha fort, Madhya Pradesh, India, Image of Yali at Orchha fort, Madhya Pradesh, India

References

*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' () by Anna Dallapiccola

External links