Sri Narayanan's message on Yali

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Dear Sri Narayanan,

Joseph Campbell, in one of his books on myths to live by, tells this

story of KIRTHI MUKHA, the face that is referred to as Yali in your Message 12

in Digest Number 235:

To destroy a powerful demon roaming the earth, Shiva once created another lean

and powerful giant with a voracious appetite. Terrified on seeing him, the

first demon immediately surrendered to Shiva and was given protection. But Shiva

was faced with the problem of dealing with the hungry one created by him.

 

Not finding any work for him, Shiva instructed him to eat himself up, commencing

with the limbs. The giant obediently started on the job and soon reached up to

his neck! Thrilled at the sight of the trunkless giant with the ugly face, the

Lord commanded him to stop and granted him this boon: "Henceforth, you shall be

known as Kirthi Mukha, the famous face. Your face shall appear at all places of

worship." Ever since, the ugly and terryfying face of Kirtimukha stares at us

through his fierce protruding eyes everywhere in our temples -- on the ramparts,

the Gopurams and even from the center of the arch over the idol that we worship

in the Sanctum Sanctorium.

 

The face is perhaps symbolic of our thoughtless persuit of worldly possessions

and pleasures even at the cost of damaging/destroying ourselves. The intention

behind placing this figure in our temples may be to remind us constantly : "You

know this face very well; it is the likeness of your own mind with its unbridled

passions and aggressive desires. Like this demon, you too have a voracious,

unlimited appetite for wealth, power, glory and the pursuit of pleasure. You

have become acquisitive, arrogant and cruel even like the demon's nature.

Become truly aware of this and of the raging fire residing in you which is

consuming you. Put out this fire before it is too late. Only then can you

really see the Lord in the idol whom you have come to worship and realise true

happiness and Bliss."

 

Dasan,

 

M.K. Krishnaswamy

 

surfings

 

The original message:

 

Grateful if I am enlightened on the following :

1. We find the figure of "Yali" on the arch (on the top of arch) - almost on

all the Perumals' arch

(moola murthis) what is this ?

2. Even Yali vahanam sevai is done.

thanks and regards

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Narayanan