Vyala Red Sandstone India

A vyala is a mythical beast with the body of a lion and a chimeric head, usually, as here, a horned lion head. It is depicted rearing up, with a powerfully curved chest, fierce eyes and bared teeth. Encircling the neck is a beaded collar, his tail curled between his legs the end of which is a flame-like element indicating his ferocity. Two small male figures accompany the figure, one riding on its back wielding a sword, the other crouching beneath its raised paw, holding its tail and wielding a knife. In the panel above are two ‘face of glory’ (kirtimukha) motifs linked by a pearl garland spewing from their mouths.

These figures are the most common feature on Indian temple architecture and usually act as a bracket set into recesses on the exterior walls between figures of the gods, celestial couples and nymphs, and supporting an overhanging cornice. The lion is a solar symbol and also a sign of royalty and power and the vyala is an image of the force of nature. Compare: The Essence of Indian art, The San Francisco Museum,  p. 155, no 113.