Temple Cornice Figure: Yali Mythical Creature

The yali is a mythical amalgamation of the lion, elephant and horse, believed to be the most powerful animal in South India. The creature’s amalgamated nature is believed to symbolize both man’s struggle over the forces of nature and the transformative behavior of nature itself. When carved in Hindu temples, the yali takes on new identities. Often appearing in pillars and entryways, the yali acts as a protector. Hindu temples sometimes feature carvings of deities sitting atop the yali; here the animal is tamed as a divine vehicle. Additionally, sculptors are thought to tame yalis when they incorporate the dynamic animal into static architecture. As a protector, a vehicle, and an architectural feature, the yali is a creature with constantly evolving meanings.

The meaning of this South Indian yali–measuring 43.4 cm in height, 18.5 cm in width, and weighing approximately 5.7 kg–is also constantly evolving, as it was doubly tamed in the context of colonialism. Removed from its rightful place in a Hindu temple and brought to Spurlock in 2013, this creature was stripped of its divine protector role. Existing as a fragment disconnected from its Hindu culture and origins, this yali embodies the fracturing effects of colonialism.

1Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2016.

2N, Divya. “The Mythical Yazhi.” Jewels of Sayuri, October 1, 2017. https://jewelsofsayuri.com/2017/01/the-mythical-yazhi.html.

3“Sculptures in Temples in Kumbakonam: Photo 150.” Wisdom Library, August 31, 2021. https://www.wisdomlib.org/gallery/sculptures-in-temples-in-kumbakonam/2581.

4“Varna Sutra - Yalis: Divine Defenders.” Kanakavalli. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://kanakavalli.com/blogs/kanakavalli-varna-sutra/varna-sutra-yalis-divine-defenders?srsltid=AfmBOor93F4-YXeTwK8-UeVsHK1n7oBsRUQBxpODDoqBR4AOaV2lQAi.

5“Yali: Temple Architecture: Sculpture.” MAP Academy, July 26, 2023. https://mapacademy.io/article/yali/.

Photo: Heritage April 1988, p. 8.