Iconography and image

In its iconography and image the Yali has a catlike graceful body, but the head
of a lion with tusks of an elephant (gaja) and tail of a serpent. Sometimes they
have been shown standing on the back of a makara, another mythical creature.
Some images look like three-dimensional representation of Yalis. Images or
icons have been found on the entrance walls of the temples, and the graceful
mythical lion is believed to protect and guard the temples and ways leading to
the temple. Generally they are positioned on both sides of an entrance. In south
India, it is very common to find the image of Yalis on entrances of structures (like
residential or commercial complexes), in addition to temples.

Siva as Yali

Saiva texts hold that the unpacified Narasimha avatara of Vishnu was controlled
and assimilated by Siva in the form of Sarabesvara (Sanskrit) or the Yaliappar
(Tamil). This can be taken as another proof that the Yali is more powerful than
a lion. Iconography can be seen in temples like Madurai Meenakshi tample.
However Vaisnavas differ from this version due to the subordinate position
given to Vishnu. This form of Siva is considered to be one of the most powerful manifestations of the lord.