Shardula (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
A common decorative motif on the exterior walls of medieval central Indian temples was a rampant mythical beast with a composite body known as a shardula or vyala. This example has a leonine shape and goat horns. Swirls of curvilinear foliage sprout from his tail, which is tucked beneath his body, and also decorate his jaw and rear haunch. The shardula is accompanied by two valiant warrior youths. One rides the wild beast, while the other crouches in battle beneath the animal's raised leg.
Gift of Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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