The powerful image of the mythical lion, vyala, has graced even the earliest architecture in India and remained as a repeated motif throughout the course of various styles. The vyala is sometimes also called a sardula, although the sardula typically has the head of another creature, such as an elephant or tiger. The powerful beast is frequently shown rearing on one hind-leg and is occasionally depicted with another figure, who is either being subdued below the vyala's foot or who rides its back (see A. Heeramaneck, Masterpieces of Indian Sculpture, Verona, 1979, no. 37). Compare the bulging eyes; the curly stylized mane; and the tail with foliate motif which matches the scrolling foliate support under the proper left hind leg of the current lot with a pair of contemporaneous red sandstone sculptures depicting rampant vyalas at the Art Institute of Chicago (acc. no. 1997.714a-b). For another example of a medieval vyala in rearing, columnar form, see an example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 64.258.2).