Yali (IAST: Yāḷi),[1] also called Vyala,[2] 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.[3]
Sculpture of a Yali's head, WarangalYali in pillars at Madurai Meenakshi Amman TempleYali pillars, Rameshwara Temple, Keladi, Shivamogga District, Karnataka state, IndiaYali in Aghoreswara temple, Ikkeri, Shivamogga district, Karnataka state, India
The creature is represented in many South Indian temples, often sculpted onto the pillars.[4] 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),[5] with some bird-like features, with the trunk referred to as a proboscis.[6]
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).[7] Other common examples are: the lion-headed (simha-vyala), horse- (ashva-vyala), human- (nir-vyala) and the dog-headed (shvana-vyala) ones.[8]
Symbolismedit
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.[9]
^Geer, Alexandra Anna Enrica van der (2008). Animals in Stone: Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time. BRILL. ISBN978-90-04-16819-0.
^"Carved wood bracket – description". British Museum. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
^Walker, Benjamin (2019-04-09). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 89. ISBN978-0-429-62465-0.
^. The Hindu. Chennai, India. 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 January 2007.
^Bane, Theresa (2016-05-22). Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. McFarland. p. 340. ISBN978-1-4766-2268-2.
^Pillai, M. S. Purnalingam (1994). Tamil Literature. Asian Educational Services. p. 87. ISBN978-81-206-0955-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yali (Hindu mythology).
Photos and works on Sarabesvara
Asian art - Yali, Sri Lanka
January 01, 1970
yali, mythology, yali, iast, yāḷi, also, called, vyala, hindu, mythological, creature, portrayed, with, head, body, lion, trunk, tusks, elephant, sometimes, bearing, equine, features, sculpture, yali, head, warangal, yali, pillars, madurai, meenakshi, amman, t. Yali IAST Yaḷi 1 also called Vyala 2 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 3 Sculpture of a Yali s head Warangal Yali in pillars at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Yali pillars Rameshwara Temple Keladi Shivamogga District Karnataka state India Yali in Aghoreswara temple Ikkeri Shivamogga district Karnataka state India The creature is represented in many South Indian temples often sculpted onto the pillars 4 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 5 with some bird like features with the trunk referred to as a proboscis 6 Contents 1 Iconography 2 Symbolism 3 Literature 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksIconography editDescriptions 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 7 Other common examples are the lion headed simha vyala horse ashva vyala human nir vyala and the dog headed shvana vyala ones 8 Symbolism editThe 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 9 Literature editDescriptions of the yali are featured in ancient Tamil literature dating back to the Sangam era 10 Gallery edit nbsp The Yali is often found on the neck of a modern Saraswati veena nbsp Yali in pillars of Puthu Mandapam Madurai Tamil Nadu State India nbsp Yali in Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple Tiruvannamalai Tamil Nadu State India nbsp Yali pillars at Vittala temple at Hampi Karnataka state India nbsp Yali pillars at Ananthasayana temple Ananthasayanagudi Karnataka state India nbsp Carved pillar in the 16th century Thousand Pillar Hall Meenakshi Temple Madurai nbsp Yali pillars at Krishna temple at Hampi Karnataka state India nbsp Yali pillars at Bhoganandishvara temple in Chikkaballapur district Karnataka state India nbsp Yali pillars at the Ranganatha temple in Chikkaballapur district Karnataka state India nbsp Pillars with Yali and Kudure Gombe horse doll at Ranganatha temple Rangasthala Chikkaballapur district Karnataka state India nbsp Yali and rider Mukteshvara Temple Bhubaneshwar Odisha state India nbsp Yali and rider Mukteshvara Temple Bhubaneshwar Odisha state India nbsp Image of Yali at Orchha fort Madhya Pradesh IndiaSee also editGandaberunda Pratyangira Sharabha GajasimhaReferences editDictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ISBN 0 500 51088 1 by Anna Dallapiccola Dalal Roshen 2010 Hinduism An Alphabetical Guide Penguin Books India p 470 ISBN 978 0 14 341421 6 www wisdomlib org 2021 08 31 Figure 149 Yali Sculptures in temples in Kumbakonam www wisdomlib org Retrieved 2022 09 30 www wisdomlib org 2021 11 07 Yali Yaḷi 1 definition www wisdomlib org Retrieved 2022 09 30 Geer Alexandra Anna Enrica van der 2008 Animals in Stone Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time BRILL ISBN 978 90 04 16819 0 Carved wood bracket description British Museum Retrieved 13 December 2011 Walker Benjamin 2019 04 09 Hindu World An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism In Two Volumes Volume I A L Routledge p 89 ISBN 978 0 429 62465 0 Sculptural fusion The Hindu Chennai India 21 January 2007 Archived from the original on 28 January 2007 Khandro Yali amp Mukha Bane Theresa 2016 05 22 Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth Legend and Folklore McFarland p 340 ISBN 978 1 4766 2268 2 Pillai M S Purnalingam 1994 Tamil Literature Asian Educational Services p 87 ISBN 978 81 206 0955 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yali Hindu mythology Photos and works on Sarabesvara Asian art Yali Sri Lanka Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yali mythology amp oldid 1195903736, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
