Hilt of an old South-Indian sword

Jens Nordlunde · 1st January 2016, 03:39 PM

The Makara is mostly used in the northern part of India, and the Yali/Vyala is used in the southern part of India.
There is a destinct difference in the way they are shown, so have you seen them once, it will be easy to recognise which is which.

ariel · 1st January 2016, 06:20 PM

We have a variety of creatures in our backyard, from deer to foxes, wild turkeys and groundhogs, but regretfully no Yalis or Makaras. Thus the ignorance:-)

VANDOO · 2nd January 2016, 05:05 PM

PICASSO WAS NOT THE FIRST TO MAKE THINGS LOOK ABSTRACT, FOR EXAMPLE THIS SWORD HANDLE PREDATES HIM.

REAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS ARE OFTEN MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS NOT FROM ACTUAL OBSERVATIONS. IN SOME COUNTRIES WHERE ELEPHANTS HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN THE DRAWINGS MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS ARE OFTEN QUITE STRANGE.
ON CLOSER INSPECTION THERE ARE POSSIBLY 6 REPRESENTATIONS OF THIS ANIMAL. THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE GUARD THE TWO AT THE ENDS OF THE QUILLIONS AND TWO MORE REVERSED FROM THOSE ON TWO QUILLIONS JUST BELOW THE FLOWER IN THE CENTER. THE FIGURE IN THE CENTER BELOW THE QUILLIONS MAY BE A FRONTAL FACE WITH CROSSED ARMS, FEET, PAWS OR WHATEVER.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COW-LION BUT I HAVE SEEN A HORSE FLY

Jens Nordlunde · 2nd January 2016, 06:21 PM

Very good Vandoo:-).
When you have seen it only once, drawn out to you, you will not miss it, but if you have not, you will never see it.
In this way the 'messages' are hidden to others, than to those who know what to look for - and were centuries ago.
Many of the members may have 'hidden messages' on their hilts and blades, but they dont see them. And often the ones they see, they dont understand what they mean.
That is one of the challanges when you research - happy research :-).

iskender · 7th February 2016, 09:46 PM

gentlemen ,around the temple of lord shiva in kanchipuram, the kanchi kailasanathar temple in tamil nandu built in dravinian architectural style, you will find semi-god statues whitch represent yalis! very powerfull creatures with there own will and not committed to other deities! compare them with the faces on this beautiful handle! iskender

ariel · 9th February 2016, 12:20 PM

Can you post some pic, please?

I do not think I will be booking a trip to Kanchipuram any time soon, but would love to see the creatures.

Jens Nordlunde · 9th February 2016, 02:37 PM

Here is a Yali. Notice the elephant between the hind legs, and that it is eating an elephant.

2nd January 2016, 05:05 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	PICASSO WAS NOT THE FIRST TO MAKE THINGS LOOK ABSTRACT, FOR EXAMPLE THIS SWORD HANDLE PREDATES HIM. REAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS ARE OFTEN MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS NOT FROM ACTUAL OBSERVATIONS. IN SOME COUNTRIES WHERE ELEPHANTS HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN THE DRAWINGS MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS ARE OFTEN QUITE STRANGE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION THERE ARE POSSIBLY 6 REPRESENTATIONS OF THIS ANIMAL. THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE GUARD THE TWO AT THE ENDS OF THE QUILLIONS AND TWO MORE REVERSED FROM THOSE ON TWO QUILLIONS JUST BELOW THE FLOWER IN THE CENTER. THE FIGURE IN THE CENTER BELOW THE QUILLIONS MAY BE A FRONTAL FACE WITH CROSSED ARMS, FEET, PAWS OR WHATEVER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COW-LION BUT I HAVE SEEN A HORSE FLY Attached Images

7th February 2016, 09:46 PM	#5
iskender Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 60	yali or not ? gentlemen ,around the temple of lord shiva in kanchipuram, the kanchi kailasanathar temple in tamil nandu built in dravinian architectural style, you will find semi-god statues whitch represent yalis! very powerfull creatures with there own will and not committed to other deities! compare them with the faces on this beautiful handle! iskender

9th February 2016, 02:37 PM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Here is a Yali. Notice the elephant between the hind legs, and that it is eating an elephant. Attached Images

1st January 2016, 03:39 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	The Makara is mostly used in the northern part of India, and the Yali/Vyala is used in the southern part of India. There is a destinct difference in the way they are shown, so have you seen them once, it will be easy to recognise which is which.

1st January 2016, 06:20 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	We have a variety of creatures in our backyard, from deer to foxes, wild turkeys and groundhogs, but regretfully no Yalis or Makaras. Thus the ignorance:-)

2nd January 2016, 06:21 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Very good Vandoo:-). When you have seen it only once, drawn out to you, you will not miss it, but if you have not, you will never see it. In this way the 'messages' are hidden to others, than to those who know what to look for - and were centuries ago. Many of the members may have 'hidden messages' on their hilts and blades, but they dont see them. And often the ones they see, they dont understand what they mean. That is one of the challanges when you research - happy research :-).

9th February 2016, 12:20 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Can you post some pic, please? I do not think I will be booking a trip to Kanchipuram any time soon, but would love to see the creatures.