Yali (mythology) - Revision history

115.244.101.70 at 15:59, 3 October 2025

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119.42.158.158 at 23:35, 1 July 2022

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-{{Short description|Creature seen in many Southern Indian temples}}
+{{Short description|Hindu mythological creature}}
 {{italic title}}
-[[File:Ancient Yazhi Statue at Kurulikavu Temple.jpg|thumb|Yazhi/Yali statue ]]
+[[File:Ancient Yazhi Statue at Kurulikavu Temple.jpg|thumb|Yali statue ]]
 [[File:01MaduraiMeenakshiAmmanTemple&IndoorCorridorView.jpg|thumb|Yali in pillars at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple]]
-[[Image:Yali pillars in mantapa of Rameshwara temple at Keladi.jpg|thumb|''Yali'' pillars, Rameshwara Temple, [[Keladi]], [[Shivamogga District]], Karnataka state, India]]
+[[Image:Yali pillars in mantapa of Rameshwara temple at Keladi.jpg|thumb|Yali pillars, Rameshwara Temple, [[Keladi]], [[Shivamogga District]], Karnataka state, India]]
 [[Image:Yali pillars1 in Aghoreshwara Temple in Ikkeri.jpg|thumb|Yali in Aghoreswara temple, [[Ikkeri]], Shivamogga district, Karnataka state, India]]
-'''''Yali''''' is derived from '''Vyala''' or '''Vidala''' in [[Sanskrit]] is a mythical creature seen in many Indian temples, often sculpted onto the pillars. It may be portrayed as part lion, part elephant and part horse, and in similar shapes. Also, it has been sometimes described as a ''leogryph'' (part lion and part [[griffin]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx?queryAll=People%2F!!%2FOR%2F!!%2F136610%2F!%2F136610-3-17%2F!%2FPurchased+from+F+Teltscher%2F!%2F%2F!!%2F%2F!!!%2F&objectId=223936&partId=1&numpages=10&orig=%2Fresearch%2Fsearch_the_collection_database.aspx&currentPage=1|title=Carved wood bracket – description|publisher=British Museum|access-date=13 December 2011}}</ref> with some bird-like features.
+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.
 ==Iconography and image==
 In its iconography and image the yali has a catlike graceful body, but the head of a lion with tusks of an elephant ([[gaja]]) and tail of a serpent. Sometimes they have been shown standing on the back of a [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|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 stylized body of a lion and the head of some other beast, most often an elephant (gaja-vyala).<ref>{{cite news|title=Sculptural fusion|url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/21/stories/2007012100160500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128052712/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/21/stories/2007012100160500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 January 2007|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 January 2007|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Other common examples are: the lion-headed (simha-vyala), horse- (ashva-vyala), human- (nir-vyala) and the dog-headed (shvana-vyala) ones.<ref>[http://www.khandro.net/mysterious_vyali_mukha.htm Khandro - Yali & Mukha]</ref>
 ==Gallery==

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{{Short description|Creature seen in many Southern Indian temples}}
{{italic title}}

[[File:Ancient Yazhi Statue at Kurulikavu Temple.jpg|thumb|Yazhi/Yali statue ]]
[[File:01MaduraiMeenakshiAmmanTemple&IndoorCorridorView.jpg|thumb|Yali in pillars at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple]]
[[Image:Yali pillars in mantapa of Rameshwara temple at Keladi.jpg|thumb|''Yali'' pillars, Rameshwara Temple, [[Keladi]], [[Shivamogga District]], Karnataka state, India]]
[[Image:Yali pillars1 in Aghoreshwara Temple in Ikkeri.jpg|thumb|Yali in Aghoreswara temple, [[Ikkeri]], Shivamogga district, Karnataka state, India]]

'''''Yali''''' is derived from '''Vyala''' or '''Vidala''' in [[Sanskrit]] is a mythical creature seen in many Indian temples, often sculpted onto the pillars. It may be portrayed as part lion, part elephant and part horse, and in similar shapes. Also, it has been sometimes described as a ''leogryph'' (part lion and part [[griffin]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx?queryAll=People%2F!!%2FOR%2F!!%2F136610%2F!%2F136610-3-17%2F!%2FPurchased+from+F+Teltscher%2F!%2F%2F!!%2F%2F!!!%2F&objectId=223936&partId=1&numpages=10&orig=%2Fresearch%2Fsearch_the_collection_database.aspx&currentPage=1|title=Carved wood bracket – description|publisher=British Museum|access-date=13 December 2011}}</ref> with some bird-like features.

Descriptions of and references to yalis are very old, but they became prominent in south Indian sculpture in the 16th century. Yalis were believed to be more powerful than the lion, the tiger or the elephant.

==Iconography and image==
In its iconography and image the yali has a catlike graceful body, but the head of a lion with tusks of an elephant ([[gaja]]) and tail of a serpent. Sometimes they have been shown standing on the back of a [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|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 stylized body of a lion and the head of some other beast, most often an elephant (gaja-vyala).<ref>{{cite news|title=Sculptural fusion|url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/21/stories/2007012100160500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128052712/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/01/21/stories/2007012100160500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 January 2007|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 January 2007|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Other common examples are: the lion-headed (simha-vyala), horse- (ashva-vyala), human- (nir-vyala) and the dog-headed (shvana-vyala) ones.<ref>[http://www.khandro.net/mysterious_vyali_mukha.htm Khandro - Yali & Mukha]</ref>

==Gallery==
<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, Bhubaneswar|Mukteshvara Temple]], Bhubaneshwar, Odisha state, India
File:Mukteswar temple (3).jpg|''Yali'' and rider, [[Mukteshvara Temple, Bhubaneswar|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
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of mythical creatures]]
* [[Prathyangira]]
* [[Sharabha]] or 'Sarabeswara'
* [[Gajasimha]]

==References==
*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0015-s.htm Photos and works on Sarabesvara]
* [http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/nies02/13.html Asian art - Yali, Sri Lanka]

{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Hindu legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Mythological hybrids]]