Yali sculptures at Mahendraparvata in Cambodia stand taller than a person. The video traces the name to ancient Tamil—yani (elephant) plus puli (tiger)—and interprets the elephant and tiger carved beside a Yali as a depiction of the hybrid's creation. The presenter argues that Mahendraparvata is unique in showing both "parents" alongside their offspring.
Video interprets elephant and tiger as Yali parents at Mahendraparvata

Key facts
- The video says the Yali sculptures at Mahendraparvata stand taller than an average person.
- The video derives the name yali from the first syllable of yani (elephant) and the last syllable of puli (tiger) in ancient Tamil.
- An elephant and tiger are carved beside a Yali at the site.
- The presenter interprets the grouping as depicting Yali's creation and argues that Mahendraparvata uniquely shows both parent animals with the hybrid offspring.
- Yali figures appear in Hindu temples across India and Southeast Asia.
Sources
Yali | Temple Architecture | Sculpture - Impartimp-art.org
Among the earliest known yali sculptures were produced in the seventh or eighth centuries during the reign of the Pallava Dynasty of present-day northern Tamil ...
Yali – The Mythical Guardian of South Indian Templesomspiritualshop.com
Yali motifs appear in inscriptions and sculptures from the early medieval period, but they gained artistic prominence during the Chola–Pallava ...
What does 'Yali', found in the pillars of many Tamil Nadu ...namennangal.blogspot.com
Yali became prominent in south Indian sculpture in the 16th century. Yalis are believed to be more powerful than the lion or the elephant. ...
Yali (mythology)en.wikipedia.org
yalis are ancient, but they became prominent in South Indian sculptures in the 16th century. featured in ancient Tamil literature, dating back to the Sangam ...
Yali—mythical sculptures guarding Hindu, Buddhist ...theprint.in
Among the earliest known yali sculptures were produced in the seventh or eighth centuries during the reign of the Pallava Dynasty of present-day ...
Phnom Kulen: Archeological Site/Ancient Site of ...whc.unesco.org
Large stone statues of elephants are positioned as guardians at the corners of the three hold a golden image of him. It was also dedicated to Yasovarman by his ...
PHNOM KULEN AND MAHENDRAPARVATAfactsanddetails.com
The religious monuments (about 40 brick temples) have been discovered on the plateau itself, in addition rock shelters, carved riverbed, and prehistoric site ...
Hunt the hidden temple, Cambodiawanderlustmagazine.com
There were no shapely statues or intricate carvings. And there was very little in the way of a narrative, for much of Mahendraparvata – and ...
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