The Yali statue that was found damaged in the Sri Adikesava Perumal temple at Tiruvattar in Kanniyakumari district. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The Yali statue at the Sri Adikesava Perumal temple in Tiruvattar in Kanniyakumari district was found damaged. The statue, located in the Sripalikal mandapam, was found broken a few days ago, temple authorities said.
An official from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department noted that CCTV footage from the mandapam could help determine how the damage occurred.
The limbs and proboscis of the Yali were completely broken, and the statue of the soldier riding the Yali was also damaged.
The temple, one of the 108 Vaishnavaite shrines, sings in praise of Nammalwar.
According to AK Perumal, author of a book on the temple, six Yali sculptures adorn the Sripalikal mandapam, built in 1604 by Venadu king Veera Ravivarma. “The mandapam itself functions as a gallery of beautiful sculptures,” he writes.
Yali, a mythical creature, is depicted as more powerful than a lion. “The display started during the Pallava period and evolved under different regimes. Though the word Aazhi appears in Sangam literature, it has no connection with Yali,” said historian R. Kalaivan.
He explained that there are two types of Yalis: Simha Yali and Vezha Yali, the latter having a proboscis and gaining prominence during the Naik period. “Yalis are depicted with two horns above the eyeballs,” he added.
Published – 10 Dec 2025 21:29 IST
