HERO, SATI & NAVAKANDA STONES, PULIKUTHI KARKAL, VEERA KALLU, நடு கற்கள்.

The hero stones/ Veerakallu/Nadukarkal in Tamil, are erected in remembrance of a hero who lost his life either in a battle/ war,  in the process of recovering the cattle or killing wild animals, which attack and killing the villagers/cattle. In some cases, the hero stones are also erected for domestic / pet animals like dogs, Cock, etc, which save the life of his master or the general public. In addition to the above memorial stones called Navakandam/Arikanda stones are erected for the heroes who kill themselves by cutting their heads. This is mainly for the victory of their country in a war between two countries, to save the king from any decease, etc. This used to happen in front of Kotravai. The hero stones are worshiped by their descendants. If a lady along with the hero is shown, which means that the hero's wife took sati after the hero's death. These types of Nadukarkal are called "Sati Stones".

Some of the hero stones have inscriptions in Tamil Vattezhuthu, which speak about the hero's Name, the reason for his death and the person who erected the hero stone ( only the blood relatives used to erect - Pangalikal ), etc. Usually, the hero will be holding, an arrow, bow, spear, Sword, or Shield in his hands. The dress below the waist will be shown. In some of the Hero stones  arrows will shown  on the body of the hero, which means the hero was died due to hitting of single or multiple arrows. The hero stones are mainly found in the districts of  South Arcot, North Arcot, Thiruvannamalai, Erode, Salem, and Dharmapuri, ie north part of Tamil Nadu.

The erecting of hero stones has been followed since the 3^rd century BCE. The erection of hero stones and worshipping are mentioned in the "Sangam literature" Purananooru, Aikananooru, Pattinapalai, Aingurunooru, and Malaipadukadam. Totally in 23 places or songs mentions about the hero stones. It was also learned from the Sangam literature, that the hero stones were erected for the Kings Koperunchozhan and Adhyaman Neduman Anchi. Unfortunately, these hero stones cannot be traced now. The 3 hero stones found by the Archaeology department at Puliman Kombai in Theni district, Tamil Nadu are believed to be the oldest and belong to the 3^rd Century BCE in India.

A poetry from Purananooru, a sangam period ( 300 BCE to 300 CE ) Tamil Literature  mentions about a hero stone  of the Chozha King Koperun Chozhan. சங்க நூல்களுல் ஒன்றான புறநானூற்றில் வரும் நடுகல் பற்றிய பாடல் ஒன்று.... 

 

நினையாக் கூற்றம் இன் உயிர் உய்த்தன்று

பைதல் ஒக்கல் தழீஇ அதனை

வைகம் வம்மோ வாய்மொழிப் புலவீர்

நனந்தலை உலகம் அரந்தை தூங்கக்

கெடுவில் நல்லிசை சூடி

நடுகல் ஆயினன் புரவலன் எனவே  

 (புறநானூறு 221, 8-13)

செயங்கொண்டார் இயற்றிய கலிங்கத்துப் பரணியின் 111வது பாடல் அவிப்பலியை / அரிகண்டம் பற்றி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. அப்பாடல்….

அடிக் கழுத்தின் நெடுஞ்சிரத்தை அரிவராலோ

அரிந்த சிரம் அணங்கின்கைக் கொடுப்பராலோ

கொடுத்த சிரம் கொற்றவை பரவுமாவோ

குறையுடலம் கும்பிட்டு நிற்குமாலோ

STATE / DISTRICT	PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Ariyalur Dist	Keelaiyur	Arikanda Hero Stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Indalur	Kozhikal / Kozhi Nadukal
Chengalpattu Dist	Irusumanallur	Sati Stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Kadalur	Arikandam Hero Stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Kadalur	Memorial Stone / Sati Stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Kondangi	Pallava Period Hero Stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Manampathy	Navakanda Sculptures
Chengalpattu Dist	Orathy	Thalaipalikal
Chengalpattu Dist	Ozhalur	Memorial / Sati Stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Parameswaramangalam	Navakandam / Arikandam Hero stone
Chengalpattu Dist	Punnamai	Sati Stone - Theepanjamman Temple
Chennai Dist	Mambalam-West	Hero Stone
Chennai Dist	Mint Street	Hero Stone at Rettai Pillayar Temple
Chennai Dist	Mylapore	Hero& Sati and Memorial Stone
Chennai Dist	Thiruverkadu	Hero Stones
Chennai Dist	Tiruvottiyur	Navakandam/Arikandam & Thoonguthalai
Coimbatore Dist	Devanampalayam	Hero Stones
Coimbatore Dist	Kaplangarai	Sati Stone
Coimbatore Dist	Malumichampatti	Pulikuthi Nadukal
Coimbatore Dist	Periyakalanthai	Hero Stone
Coimbatore Dist	SP Vadukapalayam Kuttai	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Coimbatore Dist	SP Vadukapalayam Kuttai	Memorial Stone for Musicians
Coimbatore Dist	Thondamuthur	Hero Stone and sati stone
Coimbatore Dist	Vadasithur	Sati Stone
Cuddalore Dist	Thillai Kali Amman Temple	Navakanda Nadukarkal
Dindigul Dist	Kalamedu - Amman Temple	Arikanda Hero Stones
Dindigul Dist	Kalamedu -	Hero Stone with Vattezhuthu Inscription
Erode Dist	Alukuli	Memorial Stones
Erode Dist	Alukuli	Navakanda Hero Stones
Erode Dist	Anthiyur	Hero Stone
Erode Dist	Bommanahalli	Pandrikuththi Pattan & Sati Kal
Erode Dist	Bommanahalli / Thalavadi	Pandrikuththi pattan kal
Erode Dist	Chennimalai	Navakandam & Temple
Erode Dist	Chikka Halli School	Eruthu vandi ottipattaan kal
Erode Dist	Chikka Halli School	Karpu neri Kaththu Pattan Kal
Erode Dist	Chikka Halli School	Ondikai masti Sati Stone
Erode Dist	Gobi Arts & Science	Hero, Sati & Pulikuthi Karkal
Erode Dist	Gundri	Pulikuthi Hero and Sati Stones
Erode Dist	Gundri- Roland Nagar	Arikanda Hero Stone / Thalaipali Nadukal
Erode Dist	Ingur	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Erode Dist	Injampalli	Hero Stones
Erode Dist	Kalaimagal School	Pulikuthi and Hero Stones,
Erode Dist	Kangeyam	Pulikuthi Karkal
Erode Dist	Kanjikoil	Pulikuthi Viran Nadukal
Erode Dist	Kavindapadi	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Erode Dist	Malayapalayam	Hero Stone
Erode Dist	Malayapalayam	Thai Nadukal ( for  Herds woman )
Erode Dist	Mottanam	Hero Stone
Erode Dist	Nambiyur	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Erode Dist	Olagadam	Hero&Sati Stone & Lady Navakanda Stone
Erode Dist	Palamangalam	Hero Stone With Song ( VeNba )
Erode Dist	Palappalayam	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Erode Dist	Patlur	Hero Stone and Nadukal for Horse
Erode Dist	Patlur	Pulikuthi Nadukal & Sati Stone
Erode Dist	Periyapuliyur	Three tier Hero stone at Kali Temple
Erode Dist	Perunthalaiyur	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Erode Dist	Thalavadi	Hero Stone & Pulikuthi Nadukarkal
Erode Dist	Thalavadi - Iggalore	Eradukai masti Sati Stone
Erode Dist	Thalavadi - Marur	Hero Stone & Cairn Circles
Erode Dist	Thalavadi - Neithalapuram	Sati Stones
Erode Dist	Thalavadi - Narasamangala	Eruthu vandi ottipattaan kal
Erode Dist	Thingalur	Hero and Navakandam
Erode Dist	Thukkachi	Hero Stone with Rajendra's Meikeerthi
Erode Dist	Vijayamangalam	Navakandam Hero Stones
Erode Dist	Voipadi	Hero Stone Pulikuthikal
Kallakurichi Dist	Jambai	Hero stones at Shiva Temple
Kallakurichi Dist	Jambai	Hero Stone Inscription at Temple Wall
Kallakurichi Dist	Sendiyampakkam	Hero and Sati Stone
Kanchipuram Dist	Anumanthandalam	Hero Stones
Kanchipuram Dist	Chengalpattu Palur	Navakandam-Sri Pathangeswarar
Kanchipuram Dist	Kachabeswarar Temple	Hero Stone
Kanchipuram Dist	Kanchipuram	Hero Stone - Nagareeswarar Temple
Kanchipuram Dist	Kayar	Veeraiyan & Veerayee
Kanchipuram Dist	Manimangalam	Navakandam Statues - In Shiva Temple
Kanchipuram Dist	Mel Olakkur	Jyeshta devi and Hero Stones
Kanchipuram Dist	Villivalam	Thoonguthalai Hero Stone
Karur Dist	Thirumukkudal	Headless Hero Stone
Karur Dist	Munnur	Hero Stones
Karur Dist	Nerur	Navakanda Hero Stones
Karur Dist	Pasupathipalayam	Hero Stones
Karur Dist	Pavithram	Hero Stone - Horse Pattan Kal
Krishnagiri Dist	Ar Thalli Koot Road	Sati & Hero Stone on the Boulder
Krishnagiri Dist	Avalur	Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Badethalab Eri	Hero and Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Beyanapalli	Hero Stone
Krishnagiri Dist	Guddapatti	Hero Stone with Parrot
Krishnagiri Dist	Gullupatti	Sati Kal ( Rifle Nadukal )
Krishnagiri Dist	Kaveripattinam	Pallipadai Temple
Krishnagiri Dist	Kaveripattinam	Sati Stone
Krishnagiri Dist	Kundani	Hero and Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Kundani	Hero, Sati, Navakanda Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Molankuttai	Hero and Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Nedungal	Sati and Hero Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Pachakanampalli	Selikarappan Samy & Pulikuthi Nadukal
Krishnagiri Dist	Pagalahalli	Hero and Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Penneswaramadam	Hero and Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Penneswaramadam	Navakandam, Hero and Sati Stones
Krishnagiri Dist	Penneswaramadam-Giri	Hero and Sati Stones with Stone Houses
Krishnagiri Dist	Pulla Kovilur	Sati Stone with Stone House
Madurai Dist	Keelakuilkudi	Hero & Sati Stones
Namakkal Dist	Kollimalai	Valari Hero stones & 9th CE Hero Stone
Namakkal Dist	Mallasamudram	Pulikuthi Hero stone
Namakkal Dist	Narsimhar Rock Cut Cave	Hero Stones
Namakkal Dist	Southapuram	Hero stone for lady
Nilgiris Dist	Banagudi	Hero & Sati Stones with Dolmens
Nilgiris Dist	Betalada	Hero, Sati and Pulikuthi Stones
Nilgiris Dist	Melur	Hero Stones & Sati Stones in Koil Houses
Nilgiris Dist	Sholurmattam	Sati Stone as SaptaKannis in Dolmen
Pudukkottai Dist	Nangupatti	Hero Stones
Ranipet Dist	Pallur	Thoonguthalai Hero stone
Ranipet Dist	Thirumalaicherry	Thoonguthalai Hero Stone
Ranipet Dist	Thirumalaicherry	Navakanda / Arikanda Hero Stone
Ranipet Dist	Thirumalpur	Hero Stones Navakandam
Salem Dist	Aragalur / Periyeri	Nadukarkal .. Navakandam
Salem Dist	Aruna	Sati Stone
Salem Dist	Athivalavu	Hero stones
Salem Dist	Athuvalavu & Yelupuli	Hero Stones
Salem Dist	Chinnakuttimaduvu	Hero stones
Salem Dist	Chinnakuttimaduvu	Sati Stone
Salem Dist	Chittoor	Sati Stone
Salem Dist	Periyakuttimaduvu	Hero stones
Salem Dist	Puzhuthi Kuttai	Hero stones
Salem Dist	Tharamangalam	Navakandam - Avinasiappar Sannadhi
Salem Dist	Tharamangalam	Navakandam Stone at Kailasanathar
Salem Dist	Tharamangalam / Murugan Temple	Sati Stones
Salem Dist	Tharamangalam / Police Sta	Hero stones & Sati Stones
Salem Dist	Vellarivalli	Sati Stone
Salem Dist	Yelupuli	Hero stones
Thanjavur Dist	Saraswathi Mahal	Navakandam Statues - Museum
Thanjavur Dist	Thiruchotruthurai	4 Tier Hero stone
Thiruvannamalai	Arani	Sati Stones
Thiruvannamalai	Eduthanur	Hero Stone as Vediappan with Dog
Thiruvannamalai	Jambai	Navakanda Statues
Thiruvannamalai	Kappalur	Hero Stones & Nadukarkal
Thiruvannamalai	Mallikapuram-Sathanur	5 Hero Stones of Palava & Chozha
Thiruvannamalai	Manampathy	Navakandam - Hero Stone
Thiruvannamalai	Melapunjai	Hero Stones worshiped as Vediappan
Thiruvannamalai	Mel Chengam, ( Pannai)	Anandhavadi Nadukarkal
Thiruvannamalai	Mothakal	Hero Stone and Pulikuthi Stones
Thiruvannamalai	Mottur	Anthropomorphice Figures - Thai Theivam
Thiruvannamalai	Nedungunam	Sati and Memorial Stones
Thiruvannamalai	Padiagraharam	Hero Stones as Vediappan
Thiruvannamalai	Periakolapadi	Hero Stone Worshiped as Ayyanar
Thiruvannamalai	Periakolapadi	Hero Stones - Vediappan Temple
Thiruvannamalai	Purisai	Hero Stones
Thiruvannamalai	Se. Gudalur	Hero Stone
Thiruvannamalai	Thandarampattu	Two Hero Stones
Thiruvannamalai	Thiruvothur	Hero Stones at Sri Kangiamman Temple
Thiruvannamalai	Thorapadi	Hero Stones worshipped as Vediappan
Thiruvannamalai	Thenmathimangalam	Hero stone at Pachai Amman Temple
Thiruvannamalai	Ukkal	Navakanda hero Stones
Tirupattur Dist	Alankuppam	Hero Stone
Tirupattur Dist	Elagiri Village	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Tirupattur Dist	Semmanthikuppam	Hero & Sati Stone
Tirupattur Dist	Vinnamangalam	Thoonguthalai Hero Stone
Tirupattur Dist	Vinnamangalam	A Memorial Stone
Tirupattur Dist	Vinnamangalam-Chavadi	Hero Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Amandakadavu	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Tiruppur Dist	Amandakadavu	Thai Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Avinashi	Navakanda / Arikanda Bas-Relief
Tiruppur Dist	J Krishnapuram	Thai Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Kangayampalayam	Pulikuthi & Memorial Stone  ( Tamil )
Tiruppur Dist	Kangayampalayam	Pulikuthi & Memorial Stone ( English )
Tiruppur Dist	Kangayapalayam	Hero Stones - Pulikuthi Karkal
Tiruppur Dist	Kangayapalayam	Thai Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Kariyagoundanur	Hero Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Karumpuravipalayam Site 1 & 2	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Tiruppur Dist	Kethanur	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Tiruppur Dist	Koduvai	Pulikuthikal
Tiruppur Dist	Kunnathur	Thai Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Naduvacheri	Hero Stones
Tiruppur Dist	Naduvacheri / Rice mill	Hero - Sati Stones
Tiruppur Dist	Navanari	Hero Stone - Head Priest
Tiruppur Dist	Navanari	Hero Stones
Tiruppur Dist	Navanari	Memorial Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Palladam, Panapalayam,	Hero Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Palladam, Panapalayam,	Hero Stone, Sri Soriya Appichi Temple
Tiruppur Dist	Periya Ottapalayam	Puli Adithu Pattan Kal
Tiruppur Dist	Periyamolarapatti	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Tiruppur Dist	Perumanallur	Navakanda Statue
Tiruppur Dist	Peruntholuvu	Pulikuthikal
Tiruppur Dist	Peruntholuvu	Pulikuthikal
Tiruppur Dist	Ravuthampalayam	Hero Stone  - Sati Stones
Tiruppur Dist	S Kumarapalayam	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Tiruppur Dist	S.Periyapalayam/Avinashi	Hero Stone & Bas-relief Comparison
Tiruppur Dist	Sarkar Periyapalayam	Navakandam
Tiruppur Dist	Sarkar Periyapalayam	Sati Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Semba Gounden Palayam	Thai Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Semba Gounden Palayam	Hero Stone - Pulikuthi Sati Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Sevur	Pulikuthi Hero & Sati Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Sinnaripalayam	Hero - Sati Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Thoravalur	Hero Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Thoravalur	Sati & Memorial Stones
Tiruppur Dist	Thoravalur	Thai Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Tiruppur, Pichampalayam	Puli Suttu Pattan Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Tiruppur, Pongupalayam	Hero Stone - Pulikuthikal
Tiruppur Dist	Tiruppur, Pongupalayam	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal ( English )
Tiruppur Dist	Tiruppur, Pongupalayam	Sati Kal - Kuppayamman Temple
Tiruppur Dist	Tiruppur, Sellandiamman Temple	Memorial Stone
Tiruppur Dist	Vadakkalur	Pulikuthi Nadukal
Tiruppur Dist	Vadugapalayam	Hero Stone
Tiruchirappalli	Allur	Pattan kal
Tiruchirappalli	Nangavaram	Navakandam
Tiruchirappalli	Nannimangalam	Hero stone
Tiruchirappalli	Thiruvanaikaval	Navakandam
Tiruchirappalli	Thiruvasi	Navakandam
Tiruchirappalli	Thiruvellarai	Hero Stones & Thavvai
Tiruchirappalli	Thudaiyur	Hero Stones and Pattan Kal
Tiruvallur Dist	Chinnamandalai	Sati Stone
Tiruvallur Dist	Pakasalai, Lakshmivilasapuram	Arikanda Hero Stone
Tiruvallur Dist	Panabaakkam	Arikanda Hero Stone
Tiruvallur Dist	Thiruvalangadu	Hero Stone as Ellai Sami
Udumalpet Dist	Kadathur	Sati Stone
Udumalpet Dist	Kottamangalam	Hero Stones
Udumalpet Dist	Metrathi	Hero Sthambas
Vellore Dist	Melpadi	Hero Stone
Vellore Dist	Thiruparkadal	Hero & Sati Nadukarkal & Harichandra
Vellore Dist	Vellore Fort Museum	Hero & Sati Stones - ASI Museum
Villupuram Dist	Aviyur	Kozhi Nadukal
Villupuram Dist	Chemmaneri	Hero Stone
Villupuram Dist	Marakkanam	Arikandam ( Navakandam)
Villupuram Dist	Melolakkur	Hero Stones
Villupuram Dist	Munnur	Arikandam ( Navakandam)
Villupuram Dist	Ongur	Hero Stone
Villupuram Dist	Sendiyampakkam	Hero Stone ( Inside an Eri )
Villupuram Dist	Sendiyampakkam	Sati Stone
Villupuram Dist	Udayanatham	Anthropomorphic Figures- Thai Deivam
OTHER STATES
Andhra Pradesh	Appalayagunta	Hero Stone - Arikandam
Andhra Pradesh	Gudimallam	Hero Stone
Andhra Pradesh	Gudimallam	Hero stone - Iragalappa Chelam
Andhra Pradesh	Kesavaram	Hero Stone
Andhra Pradesh	Mallam	Pallava Period Hero stones
Andhra Pradesh	Ramagiri	Hero Stone - Arikandam
Andhra Pradesh	Thondamanadu	Thoonguthalai Hero Stones
Karnataka State	Aihole, ASI Museum	Hero Stones  / Veerakallu
Karnataka State	Badami, ASI Museum	Hero Stones / Veerakallu
Karnataka State	Bannur	Hero Stone
Karnataka State	Basaral	Sati Stone
Karnataka State	Begur	Hero & Sati Stones
Karnataka State	Doddagadavalli	Hero stone
Karnataka State	Doddathuppur	Hero Stone and Pulikuthi kal
Karnataka State	Hale Alur	Hero Stones
Karnataka State	Hale Budanur	Hero and Sati Stone
Karnataka State	Halebeedu	Hero Stone
Karnataka State	Halebeedu	Niseethigaikal
Karnataka State	Hampi	Hero Stone
Karnataka State	Hampi Museum	Hero Stones and Sculptures.....
Karnataka State	Honganoor	Hero stones
Karnataka State	Kalale	Hero Stones
Karnataka State	Kaliyur	Eruthu vandi ottipattan kal
Karnataka State	Kamalapura & Hampi	Hero & Sati Stones ASI Museum
Karnataka State	Kambadahalli	Hero and Sati Stone
Karnataka State	Kolar - Kolaramman	Hero Stone (war) and Navakandam
Karnataka State	Kolar - Nandhi Hills	Hero Stones
Karnataka State	Koravangala	Hero Stone
Karnataka State	Malahalli	Hero and Sati Stone
Karnataka State	Pattadakal, ASI Museum	Hero Stones / Veerakallu
Karnataka State	Savappapetta	Sati Stones and Ondikai Masti kallu
Karnataka State	Talakad Chikkahole	Hero and Sati stones
Karnataka State	Talakad Kaliyuru	Hero Stone of Chozhas victory of Gangas
Karnataka State	Talakad Kaliyuru	Hero, Sati, Pulikuthi Stones
Karnataka State	Talakad Mudikondam	Hero stone & Durga
Karnataka State	Thondanoor	Hero Stone
Karnataka State	Thondanoor Lake bed	Hero Stones
Kerala	Wayanad Museum	Hero Stones