Photo 212/2(11)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Side view of a carved pillar in the form of a yali, a fantastic lion-like creature. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '301 - is a view of another Pillar in the same part of the temple; it is a representation of that nondescript animal a Yali, so frequently found in Hindu temples, as may be gathered from the numerous examples of it found in this series. Like all the figures in this part of the temple, the sculpture is nearly obliterated by whitewash, and its whole beauty destroyed by colour daubed on in the vulgarest modern manner. In almost all large temples in Southern India will be found many porticos, among which the most noticeable is the Maha Mundapum, or 1,000-pillar Portico. In the centre of the great portico of the Minakshi Pagoda, there is a shrine sacred to Sabapathi (Shiva), in which the god is represented as a celestial dancer. It occupies space sufficient for 15 pillars, so that the actual number in the portico is 985. This Portico is said to have been built by Ayanatha Muthaliar, the commander in chief of Visvanatha Nayak (1530), if this is so, it is one of the oldest parts of the temple, which owes its principal adornment to Trimul Nayak about a century afterwards. The pillars of the portico are not high, but the building is erected on a terrace several feet higher than the area of the temple. The two front rows are all carved into different figures, of which the next twelve views are illustrations: the first eight being in the front row, and four in the second.' Another copy at Photo 1000/29(2951).