Yali (mythology)

Yali ( ta, யாளி, IAST: Yāḷi), also called Vyala, is a Hindu 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.

The creature is represented 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), with some bird-like features, with the trunk referred to as a proboscis.

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 graceful body, but the head of a lion with the tusks of an elephant (gaja), and the tail of a serpent. Sometimes, they have been shown standing on the back of a makara, another mythical creature and considered to be the vahana of Budha (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.

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

See also

* Gandaberunda
* Pratyangira
* Sharabha
* Gajasimha

References

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

External links

{{commons category

Photos and works on Sarabesvara



Hindu legendary creatures
Mythological hybrids
Mythological lions
Mythological elephants
Horses in mythology