Sati Stone / Hero Stone / Memorial Stone/ Pulikuthi Pattan Nadukal/ Aanaikuthi Pattan Nadukal/ வீரக்கல்/ சதி நடுகல்/ புலிகுத்தி பட்டான் நடுகல்/ யானை குத்திபட்டான் நடுகல், at Anaimalai, Vettaikarauputhur, and Devanurpudur, in and around Pollachi, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. Part -2.

The visit to this Hero Stones /Sati Stone/ Pulikuthikal/ Anaikuthipattankal, was a part of “Temples, Hero Stones, Memorial Stones, Hero Stambhas (Mala Koil) and Heritage Sites Visit, around Pollachi”, on 31^st January 2026 and 1^st February 2026. Thanks to Mr Bala, Mrs Padma Jyothi, and Mrs Sakthi Prakash for accompanying me on both days.

197.04.

PLACE             : Anaimalai

LOCATION       : Atru Vinayagar Temple

TITLE              : Sati Stone   

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS         :

This sati stone is worshipped as Veeramathi Amman. The Hero is shown with a kattar (raised position) in the right hand, and the left hand is holding something which is not known. The hero is shown with a big tuft and wearing ornaments around his neck and in elongated earlobes. The Hero’s wife is shown with a lotus in the right hand and a lemon in the left hand. The hairstyle is a little different with jada. She also wears ornaments over her neck, in elongated earlobes and uthara bandham (stomach). 

17th to 19th-century style inscriptions are found on this sati stone.

197.05.

PLACE             : Anaimalai

LOCATION       : Vettaikaranpudur

TITLE              : A Sati /Hero Stone as Aanai Kuthipattankal.

PERIOD           : 17th to 18th century

DETAILS         :

This Aanikuthipattan Nadukal is on the west side of a mud road in Vettaikaranpudur. This village might have obtained the name due to the presence of the Hero Stone. This Hero stone consists of an elephant, the Hero with a sword in the right hand and the Hero’s wife. The hero fought with the elephant and died. The Hero’s wife took sati after the Hero’s death.

17th to 18th-century style inscriptions are found on the base of this Yanaikuthipattan Nadukal.

197.06.

PLACE             : Devanurpudur

LOCATION       : Navakara Palam, Anumantha Pattanam

                        (Opposite to Chola Recreation Club).  

TITLE              : Pulikuthi Hero Stone, and Tiger Nadukal.

PERIOD           : 18th – 19th century

DETAILS          :

This Pulikuthi Hero stone is worshipped as Kula Deivam of Raja Kambalathu Nayakars of this region, as Sri Nakkal Thathaiyan alias Avul Thathaiyan. This temple is also called “Nari Kadichan Koil – நரி கடிச்சான் கோயில்”. It was learned that Tiger was called Nari by the local people.

This temple consists of a Pulikuthi Hero Stone installed inside the sanctum sanctorum, and a Tiger bas-relief image is installed at the entrance of the shrine. In Pulikuthi Hero Stone, the hero is killing a tiger with two swords in both hands. The sword’s ends are shown protruding outside Tiger. The Hero is shown with a big moustache, wearing ornaments over the neck and in elongated earlobes. An important point to be noticed is that a rifle is shown between the hero and the tiger. Hence, we may conclude that this Pulikuthi Hero stone may belong to the 18th to 19th century CE.

A tiger image on a flat stone is installed at the entrance of the shrine. The Tiger is shown in a standing position on four legs with its jaws open. 18th to 19th-century style inscriptions are found on the tiger nadukal. Hope this may be the tiger, which was killed by the Hero, shown inside the shrine.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sati Stone / Hero Stone / Memorial Stone/ Pulikuthi Pattan Nadukal/ வீரக்கல்/ சதி நடுகல்/ புலிகுத்தி பட்டான் நடுகல், at Pollachi, Zamin Kottampatti, and Singanallur, in and around Pollachi, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. PART – 1.

The visit to this Hero Stones /Sati Stone/ Pulikuthikal was a part of “Temples, Hero Stones, Memorial Stones, Hero Stambhas (Mala Koil) and Heritage Sites Visit, around Pollachi”, on 31^st January 2026 and 1^st February 2026. Thanks to Mr. Bala, Mrs. Padma Jyothi, and Mrs. Sakthi Prakash for accompanying me on both days.

197.01.

PLACE             : Pollachi

LOCATION       : Arulmigu Mariamman Temple 

TITLE              : Sati Stone /Nadukal

PERIOD           : 16th to 17th century

DETAILS          :

This sati stone is installed inside the Mariamman temple immediately after the Rajagopuram. The Hero is holding knives/swords in both hands. A half dress is shown below his waist.  A man is shown on the right side of the hero holding an umbrella, which shows that the hero may be a King or Chieftain. A tuft is shown on the left side of his head. The hero’s wife is holding something in both hands.

197.02.

PLACE             : Zamin Kottampatti

LOCATION       : In a coconut farm, before the Bharathapuzha

                         River Bridge.   

TITLE              : Pulikuthi Nadukal, Sati and Memorial Stone.

PERIOD           : 18th – 19th century

DETAILS          :

This group consists of two Hero Stones. The first hero stone is a Pulikuthi Hero stone. In this, the hero with a big moustache and his wife are shown in Anjali hastham. A tiger is shown in a standing posture on the left side of the hero. The hero killed the tiger with a trishul. Both Hero & his wife are shown with big tufts and wearing ornaments over the neck and ears.

The second Nadukal is a Sati Stone. In this, the hero with a big moustache, shown in Anjali hastam, is wearing ornaments over the neck and elongated earlobes. A royal dress is shown below his waist. The hero’s wife is also shown with a big tuft and wearing ornaments around her neck and elongated earlobes. She holds a small pot in her right hand and a lemon in her left hand.

The richness of this sati stone with ornamental works, toranas, and garland on the top indicates that this may belong to a king / Zamin. It is said that these Hero stones are the property of Samathur Zamin.

 

In the 18th – 19th century, style inscriptions are found on the base and back side of the Pulikuthi Nadukal, Sati, and Memorial Stone.

197.03.

PLACE             : Singanallur

LOCATION       : Sithandeeswarar Kovil

TITLE              : Memorial Stones

PERIOD           : 16th – 20th-century

DETAILS          :

These memorial stones are installed in a mandapam. The mandapam was built using the 12th – 13th century Kongu Chozha period temple’s mandapa pillars. Since this mandapam was built by Samathur Zamin, the memorial stones may be Zamindhars of Samathur. There are 5 memorial stones, of which one is sculpted for Zamin and his wife. All are in Anjali hastam and wearing ornaments over the neck and elongated earlobes. The earlier period memorial stones are with tufts, and the latter period memorial stones are with turbans.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

1008 Shri Padmaprabha Digambara Jain Temple, Arcot, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this 1008 Shri Padmaprabha Digambara Jain Temple, Arcot, near Ranipet, was part of the “Sadaranya Kshetram Visit” around Arcot on January 11, 2026, organized by Rameswaram Travel Agency

This Digambar Jain Temple is dedicated to 1008 Shri Padmabrabha Tirthankara. The under construction by the Jain people who reside under the guidance of Mr. Rajakumaran A. This Jain temple is under construction by an association called "1008 Shri Padmaprabha Jain Association," which started in early 2022.

This temple is on two floors, with the ground floor dedicated to female deities and the first floor dedicated to the ancient Tirthankara moved from Thoppu Karuppasami Temple, Shri Padmaprabha, and Parshvanath. About 90% works of the temple are completed.

1008 Shri Padmabrabha Tirthankara

Shri Parshvanath Tirthankara

HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT TIRTHANKARA

This Tirthankara, along with Tirthankara (Standing) and Buddha idols, is installed in the Thoppu Karuppasami Temple, which is about 500 meters away from this temple, on the banks of the Palar River. The Tirthankara alone was brought here and proposed to be installed. The whereabouts of the standing Tirthankara and Buddha are not known. The sad part is that the ancient Tirthankara is also reworked with lanchanam.

The ancient Tirthankara is in a sitting meditating posture. Two samaratharis, a prabhai, ashoka creepers, and a mukkudai are shown behind the head of Tirthankara. A pillow or thindu is also shown on the back of the Tirthankara.

 After reworked

Before reworking - at Thoppu Muneeswarar Temple

Before reworking - at Thoppu Muneeswarar Temple

After I published this article, I received the following photos and a voice message from Mr. Prabhu (+919443436730), who claims that this Tirthankara image was brought from Ocheri Mariamman Temple. But not from Arcot Thoppu Muneeswaran Temple. But what happened to Buddha, the Tirthankaras, standing and sitting?.

 

HOW TO REACH

The Digambar Jain temple is 2.8 km from Arcot Bus Stand, 7.5 km from Ranipet, 8 km from Walajapet, and 10 km from Walajah Road Junction.

The nearest Railway Station is Walajah Road Junction.

LOCATION OF THE JAIN TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Missing Buddha

Missing Parshvanath Tirthankara

Mr. Rajakumaran (+91919443725325), on the extreme left

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---  

Sree Kashyabeswarar Temple/ஸ்ரீகஷ்யபேஸ்வரர் கோயில், 7th Kshadaranya temple, அவரக்கரை /Avarakarai, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kashyabeswarar Temple at Avarakarai near Ranipet and Arcot was part of the “Sadaranya Kshetram Visit” around Arcot on January 11, 2026, organised by Rameswaram Travel Agency

This Sri Kashyabeswarar Temple at Avarakarai (Navlock) is one of the Shadaranya Kshetras around Ranipet. During the Puranic period, this place was associated with Karai Flowers. The Shiva of this temple was installed and worshipped by Kashyaba Maharishi.

Sl No	Temple	Munivar	Place	Aranyam
1	Sri Vasishteswara Swamy Temple	Vasishta Maharishi	Veppur	Nimbavanam – Neem Trees
2	Sri Valmikiswarar Temple	Valmiki Maharishi	Melvisharam	Vishavrukshavanam-Ettimaram
3	Sri Gauthameswarar Temple	Gautama Maharishi	Karai	Kaarai  Vanam – Kaarai trees
4	Sri Agastheeswarar Temple	Agasthiya Maharishi	Vannivedu	Sameevanam – Vanni Trees
5	Sri Thiruvantheeswarar Temple	Atri Maharishi	Gudimallur	Gudamallikavanam – Koda malli
6	Sri Barathwajeswarar Temple	Barathwaja Maharishi	Pudupadi	Soothavanam – Mango Trees
7	Sri Kashyabeswarar Temple	Kashyaba Maharishi	Avarakarai (Navlock)	Karai Flowers

Moolavar  : Sri Kashyabeswarar

Consort    : Sri Parvathavardini

Vanam     : Karai Flowers

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a two-tier Rajagopuram. A stucco image of Vinayagar is on the top of the open mukha mandapam. Sree Kashyaba Maharishi, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas paintings are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is small on a round avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam, Nagars, Ambal, Bairavar, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Kashyaba Maharishi, and Navagrahas.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing east. A Simham is in front of the temple. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. In koshtam Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Brahmi, and Bairavi.

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was constructed with bricks and concrete. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, the ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam, which does not follow any architectural style. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The eka tala vesara vimanam is over the prastaram, without any koshtas. The sigaram don’t have maha nasis.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the legends and the connected temples belongs to belongs to 13^th to 14^th century, the latter Chozha period. Hence, we may consider the original temple to belong to the same period. Later may have been reconstructed with bricks during the 18^th to 19^th centuries. 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Ma Kamakshi playfully closed the eyes of Shiva. The universe has come to a standstill. Angered, Shiva cursed Ma Kamakshi to go to the earth. Ma Kamakshi did penance for Shri Shiva. Pleased by the penance, Shiva married at Kanchipuram. To witness the celestial wedding, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, the celestial gods, and all the Rishis and Munis assembled at Kanchipuram. The 6 Maharishis (“ஷட் (Saṭ / षट्)”- Six) (Many claim that Seven Maharishis worshipped, hence 7 temples are grouped on Shadaranya Kshetram), stayed in 6 forest areas on the banks of the River Palar, established Swayambhu Shiva Lingas and worshipped. The Shiva Lingas are called in the name of the Maharishis, who established the Shiva Lingas. Hence, all seven temples are called Shadaranya Kshetras.

Kashyaba Maharishi

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Shivaratri, Kiruthigai, Pournami, Amavasya, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open in the morning for the pooja and closed afterwards.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 4 km from Chennai to Krishnagiri, Bangalore and Mumbai Highway. 5 km from Arcot town, 7 km from Walajapet, and 10 km from Walajah Road Junction.

The nearest Railway Station is Walajah Road Junction

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---