Yali (mythology)

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), 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. It is even depicted in emblem of Karnataka ==Literature==

Descriptions of the yali are featured in ancient Tamil literature, 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. 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==