Mythical creatures in tribal and folk art of India

Posted on

By Zeel Sundhani

10 min read

  • Tribal Affairs
  • Folk Art
  • Handmade Art

    • Table of Contents

    India’s folk and tribal art traditions are not just decorative, but they are living mythologies that are painted, carved and woven into everyday life. Across regions and centuries, these art forms have preserved a pantheon of creatures that blur the line between human, animal and the divine. From the fierce Yalis that guarding temple gateways to the graceful Garuda soaring across Pattachitra scrolls, from Yakshas and Ganas that populate rural murals to serpent deities and forest spirits found in Gond and Warli paintings, these beings embody the moral, spiritual and ecological imagination of their communities. They are not just figments of fantasy, but symbols of protection, fertility, transformation and the balance between good and evil.

    Through these mythic beings, India’s tribal and folk artists retell the stories of creation, fear, faith and coexistence, reminding us that the mythical world is never far from the real one.

    Through this blog, let’s explore a few mythical creatures and their representation in Indian art -

    Yali

    Yali, meaning fierce monster in Tamil and Sanskrit, is a mythical composite creature sculpted on pillars and pilasters in India, also known as vyala. It is usually shown to have the body of a lion and the head of another animal, such as an elephant (when they are called a gaja yali), a human (known as a nara yali) or a dog (termed a svana yali). When the body is that of a tiger, the creature is called a shardula. It may also have horns and hooves. Yali figures are considered to be a type of grotesque sculpture, meant to inspire fear and awe. They are believed to act as guardians and protectors, shielding a temple from threats. They were also considered divine vehicles for deities, used to signify heroism and the elemental forces of nature, tamed and controlled by being incorporated into architecture and sculpture.


    Mythological Birds in Karuppur Kalamkari by K. Lakshminarayan

    The above image of mythical birds in Karuppur Kalamkari by K. Lakshminarayan depicts Yalis in both single head and double head forms, as a powerful mythical beast stronger than elephants and lions, symbolizing strength and guardianship, believed to feed on wild animals or demons in stories.

    It also shows other mythical creatures like the Kunthusimmam, a lion-bird symbolizing courage and protection, believed to feed on evil forces rather than natural food; Annam, the divine swan, vehicle of Goddess Saraswati, representing purity and wisdom, said to drink only nectar or milk in legends; the Gandaberunda, a rare two-headed bird of legend, said to overpower even the strongest creatures, standing as an emblem of double strength and protection, still used as a royal symbol in South India. These are not real-world species, but rather part of Indian mythology, depicted to signify divine power, purity, and protection.

    Yakshas and Yakshinis

    Yaksha and yakshini are found across early Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art. Yakshas are male figures and yakshis are their female counterparts. They were believed to be spirits that inhabited trees, mountains, rock mounds, rivers and oceans. In Tibetan Buddhist sources, yakshas and yakshis are claimed to be people who served an individual or a community during their lifetime, reborn as benevolent spirits. Among the earliest known images of yakshas and yakshinis can be found in sculptural reliefs on the Bharhut and Sanchi, where they are generally depicted as attendant figures to Buddha. In folk and tribal art, Yakshas are often depicted as robust, guardian-like figures- muscular, earth-toned and adorned with natural motifs such as leaves, vines and serpentine ornaments. Their presence at village shrines or on ritual paintings symbolizes protection of land and harvest. Yakshinis, on the other hand, are rendered with sensuous grace, often standing beneath trees or entwined with branches. Jain texts claim that these spirits are reborn as mortal human beings once their merits have been exhausted. This representation may be seen in sculptures from the Mauryan and post-Mauryan period and continues in art even today, like the yakshas shown in the below paintings as attendants of the Jina, associated with protection and guardianship in Jain tradition.

    Mystical Symmetry: The Divine Siddhachakra by Dinesh Soni

    Gana

    The Ganas are a group of supernatural beings who serve as the attendants and followers of Lord Shiva. These celestial entities are often depicted as chaotic, mischievous and fierce, yet they are completely devoted to Shiva, performing important roles as his protectors, warriors and emissaries. In art, ganas are depicted as the lively and often grotesque attendants of Lord Shiva, reflecting his role as master of both order and chaos. They are usually shown as dwarfish, pot-bellied figures with expressive faces, sometimes playful and sometimes fierce, accompanying Shiva in his divine entourage. In temple sculpture and painting, ganas often appear dancing, playing instruments, or serving him and Parvati, emphasizing Shiva’s connection to the wild, untamed energies of the universe that he both commands and transcends.

    The Divine Family: Lord Shiva's Blessings , Antique Tanjore

    Kinnara and kinnari

    Kinnaras and Kinnaris are musically talented semi divine celestial beings. They have been referred to in Hindu and Buddhist mythologies. In Mahabharata, Kinnaras are described as living in Mount Mandara, and as per Buddhist mythology, they are believed to have come from the Himalayas to watch over the well-being of humans in times of trouble or danger. Kinnara is described to have a body of half-man and half-horse or half-man and half-bird. Kinnari is described as half-woman and half-bird.

    Hourse Avtar in mata ni pachedi

    Gandharvas

    Gandharvas in Indian art are depicted as celestial musicians, messengers and divine beings, commonly featured in temple carvings, sculptures, and paintings. They are often shown with elaborate jewelry, flowing robes and in various art forms like music and dance, symbolizing creativity, beauty and a link between the divine and earthly realms. In paintings, they are usually depicted flying above gods or goddesses in the sky or used as elements in the background.

    The Celestial Bull: Sagat Mata's Ride in Mata ni Pachedi by Sanjay Chitara

    Goddess Lakshmi with Fourteen Shaktis in Mata ni Pachedi by Anita Ben & Vasant Manubhai Chitara

    Makara

    Makara is a mythological sea creature found throughout Indian art, often depicted with a terrestrial front half like an elephant or crocodile and an aquatic rear half like a fish tail. It symbolizes cosmic waters, strength and fertility and is famously used as the vahana or vehicle for deities like Ganga and Varuna.

    Mystical Grace: Flowing Majesty Goddess Ganga, Kalighat style by Hasir Chitrakar

    Navagunjara is a mythical creature prominent in Indian art, particularly in Odisha, that symbolizes the cosmic manifestation of the divine. Composed of nine different animals, it features a rooster's head, peacock's neck, bull's back, lion's waist and a serpent's tail, while standing on three legs belonging to an elephant, tiger and deer, with its fourth limb being a human arm holding a lotus. The legend originates from the Odia version of the Mahabharata by poet Sarala Dasa, where the divine form of Lord Vishnu or Krishna, appears to test the Pandava prince Arjuna. This encounter represents Arjuna's journey from fear to reverence as he recognizes the divinity in this unfamiliar, composite form. Reflecting the philosophical concept of unity in diversity, Navagunjara is a popular motif in traditional Indian art.

    Navagunjara in Kalamkari by K. Lakshminarayanan

    Kirtimukha

    Kirtimukha or Face of Glory is a fierce, mythical monster's face and a powerful motif in Indian art and temple architecture, symbolizing both protection and the cycle of creation and destruction. According to Hindu mythology, particularly the Skanda and Shiva Puranas, the being was created by Lord Shiva's third eye to devour a demon who challenged him. After the demon surrendered, Shiva instructed the ravenous creature to consume itself, an act of self-sacrifice that left only its face. Pleased by this devotion, Shiva designated it the guardian of his temple doorways. The kirtimukha is depicted with bulging eyes, large fangs, and a gaping mouth, and its image is placed strategically on temple entrances, arches and towers to ward off evil and remind devotees to shed their ego before entering sacred spaces.

    Traditional Frame in a Brass artwork by Gramin arts

    Tribal hybrid animals and forest spirits

    Many tribal artworks depict animals that are a blend of various animals, forming a mythical creature that takes shape on paper inspired by their imagination. The below Gond painting is one such example, showing a hybrid of lion, bird, deer and human. These also show their belief in the interconnection of all living beings.

    Bewildering Nature in Gond by Sukhiram Maravi

    Tribal paintings also depict nature spirits, whom they believe to be guardian spirits of the trees, forests, animals and their community too.

    Goddess of Forest (Van Devi) in Gond by Venkat Shyam

    Nagas

    Nagas are semi-divine, shape-shifting serpents that hold a profound and complex place in Indian art and mythology, symbolizing fertility, rebirth, cosmic balance and the underworld across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. Depicted as multi-headed cobras, half-human and half-serpent figures or with snake hoods fanning out protectively, nagas appear frequently in Indian art as decorative and guardian motifs. In Hindu art, prominent nagas include Shesha, who serves as the cosmic couch for Lord Vishnu and Vasuki, worn by Lord Shiva.

    Depiction of Sheshnaag along with deities in Phad by Kalyan Joshi

    Buddhist art features the Naga King Muchalinda, who famously sheltered the Buddha during a storm after his enlightenment. In Jain art, nagas are depicted as loyal attendants, most notably protecting the Tirthankara Parshvanatha. According to Jain tradition, the serpent-king Dharanendra and his consort Padmavati, who were saved by Parshvanatha in a past life, sheltered him from a storm conjured by a malevolent deity while he meditated, a scene frequently shown with the Tirthankara beneath a canopy of snake hoods.

    Lord Mahavir Swami (Jain God) in Kalighat by Hasir Chitrakar

    Garuda

    Garuda is a divine, mythical bird with immense power who acts as the vahana of lord Vishnu. He is depicted as a half-human, half-eagle hybrid with a golden body, white face and red wings. Garuda symbolizes power, speed, martial prowess and virtue. A central theme in his iconography is his eternal rivalry with the Nagas, or divine serpents, which originated from a mythological conflict between their mothers. In art, Garuda is commonly shown either carrying Lord Vishnu, sometimes with his hands folded in devotion (anjali mudra) or independently as a fierce protector, often holding a snake.

    Garuda In Majuli mask by Jyoti

    Vanaras

    Vanaras are a race of forest-dwelling, ape-like beings from the Hindu epic Ramayana, who hold a significant place in Indian art as powerful, intelligent and loyal allies of Lord Rama. They are often depicted as anthropomorphic monkeys in art, symbolising unwavering devotion and the triumph of good over evil. Key vanara characters include the revered Hanuman, frequently portrayed in heroic deeds, such as flying with a mountain or humbly serving Rama, while others, like the king Sugriva and Bali and engineers Nala and Nila are included in epic narrative scenes. Beyond just their literal depiction, vanaras represent profound spiritual concepts, including their divine origins, the virtue of selfless service and the power of collective action, making them enduring symbols of loyalty and righteousness in Indian artistic traditions.

    Bali And Sugriv in Gond Painting By Saroj Venkat Shyam

    The mythical creatures depicted in India’s tribal and folk art highlight a deep, enduring connection between imagination, faith and the natural world. Each being, from the fierce guardians like Yalis and Kirtimukhas to celestial musicians like Gandharvas and Kinnaras or protectors of the forest and animal-like beings including Nagas and Vanaras, reflects the moral, ecological and spiritual values of the communities that create them. Through these artforms, artists translate ancient myths into living symbols of protection, balance, transformation and devotion. These mythic beings are not just relics of the past, they continue to evolve in contemporary folk traditions, reminding us that the boundaries between the divine, human and natural realms have been and will always remain beautifully porous in Indian artistic imagination.

    References

    Latest Blogs