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| Yali in Vittala temple, Humpi, Karnataka. Alamy.com |
Often called ''Yali'', (similar to Vyala or Vidala in Sanskrit meaning vicious), it is a composite mystical fearsome creature and a popular temple motif like Apsaas, Yakshas, Kshetrapala or Dwarapala. In Buddhist tradition in the early medieval period they are known as , Vyalakas often paired with a Makara
It is commonly sculpted on to the pillars and pilasters, particularly in the closed prakaram or corridors around the inner sanctuary or in the main halls of the historical old Hindu temples. A Vyala is also carved on a bracket supporting a cornice facing the passage, a sign of protecting the temple and the Gods . Yalis sculptured in the Pallava dynasty (6th or 7th CE) in South India are found squatting at the base of a column.
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| Yali squatting at the base Vaikuntha perumal temple Kanchi,TN inditales.com |
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| Yali athe base of a column Chola temple, pinterest.com |
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| Yali in the cornice, Rameswaram temple, Tn en.wikipedia.org image. S.Pramanik |
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| Yali in the cornice, Meenakshi temple, Madurai .outlookindia.com |
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| Yali at Kailasanathar temple, Kanchi, TN /kanakavalli.com |
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| Yali, Meenakshi temple, Madurai, TN, Flicker.com |
Above image: Yali is a ubiquitous motif in the medieval architecture of temples of India, more so southern states. Common motif in the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagara periods, in many of the south Indian Hindu temples of 17th and 18th centuries Yali was part of their temple mandapam design style.........
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| Chandikesvara Temple in Hampi,KA Lumen Learning |
Above image: Yali at the Hampi temple built during the Vijayanaga reign, Karnataka state. The style is said to be a fusion of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya, and Chola styles. The vassal of Vijayanagara empire at Madurai, Tamil Nadu more or less followed similar style.................
Most of the South Indian Hindu temples have large stone sculptures of fiery-looking strange creatures in standing position . Its depiction may vary among them, depending on the period of construction and the style being followed at that period. The weird creature is depicted as part lion, part elephant and part horse with variable configuration, and in similar shapes. Sometimes, it could be a logogriph (part lion and part griffin) with some bird-like features.
The concept of Yali in South India has been around for more than a 1000 years. In north Indian temples, Yali depiction has been around since the Gupta period. It is a typical Dravidian style temple architectural feature.
Said to be more powerful than the lion, the tiger or the elephant, its iconography is quite fascinating and comes in different forms. It may have a head of a ferocious lion with tusks of an elephant and a long tail of a serpent, but surprisingly, it has a graceful body of full grown cat. Frequently it is depicted in standing posture on the back of Makara, yet another strange creature (vehicle or mount of 'Budha' (Mercury). The various forms of Yali are an elephant headed (Gaja-vyala), lion-headed (Simha-vyala), horse- headed (Ashva-vyala), human- headed (Nir-vyala) and the dog-headed (Shvana-vyala). Yali represents ferocity, strength, speed and fear as per depictions.
Yali or Shardula represents a genre called grotesque in art forms is often found in old European and other buildings all over the world and more or less similar to gargoyle in European architecture or logogriph in Asian architecture.
What purpose do Yalis serve in the holy places of worship? Experts say Yalis are meant to protect the temples and one can see them in many places in the temples. The belief has been that being associated with enormous power, the presence of Yali facing the passages, etc adds protection to the sanctity of the ambiance inside. Yet another reason is it will get rid of evil forces or black magic, meaning that it will remove of all negative forces inside the place of worship.
Yet another aspect is the Yali-sculpture enhances the look of a series tall sone pillars on either side that support the hall or mantap roof. It is obvious the depiction of Vyala highlights the extend of imagination and the artistic skill of a well trained sculptor who hews such a giant creature into the pillar or pilasters, harmoniously blending different animals into a composite one, each surpassing the artistic mastery of the sculptor. Yali sculptures are monolithic, made from a single block of stone made of mostly granite or granite related rocks. As for the the sentinels called Dvarapalas with popping eyes and a mace or Gatha in the hand, they are. found only at the entrances of the towers out side as well as inside on either side of the entrance doors
According to Vaishnava tradition, Yali is a fusion of elephant, lion and snake combined into one. In the festivals, Hindu god lord Narasimha (Vishnu) rides on the Yali Vahana. This tradition is closely related to the Hindu mythology - Prahlada Purana, according to which ferocious Narashima (half human and half lion), after slaying the demon was finally subdued by a equally powerful creature called Sharabh crea ted by God Shiva just to bring god Vishnu back to his normal self.
https://www.navrangindia.in/2018/12/yali-part-of-hindu-temple-architecture.html
https://kanakavalli.com/blogs/kanakavalli-varna-sutra/varna-sutra-yalis-divine-defenders
https://mapacademy.io/article/yali/
https://www.hindu-blog.com/2024/08/ashva-vyala-in-hindu-temples-symbolism.html