Hero Stones / Nadu kal / Veerakallu / நடு கற்கள், at Kappalur, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

 27^th November 2016.

This post is the end and most interesting part of our Kappalur epigraphy field visit. While others were busy reading the epigraph – inscriptions on a stone slab erected between Shiva and Vijayaraghava Perumal temple, we four persons ventured into the village guided by the Village boys. The boys guided us to the western part of the village. First, the photos taken are posted on Facebook and the links with comments are also given below on each photo.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

KOTRAVAI RELIEF.

This stone slab is erected near the Shiva and Jain’s temple facing west. We could not see a clear image due to erosion. Kotravai is standing on the head of Mahishasura. Each hand holds different weapons. Also, we could not predict the vahana behind Kotravai,  as a deer or a goat.

The link for the comments on Facebook.Tamil Selvam's. post about Kotravai and on my Facebook post

STONE SLABS WITH INSCRIPTIONS

It was said that there are four stone slabs with reliefs erected in all four directions of the village,  similar to the one between Shiva and Perumal temple, which has inscriptions. The inscriptions speak about the land donated to the temple during the Sambuvarayar period. The fourth one we could not see. On all three stone slabs, we could find similar reliefs of the Vijayanagara emblem a pig, and a small sword. It was also told that these stone slabs are erected to mark the boundary of the land donated.

Comments on my Facebook page about this nadukal Back side with relief of Vijayanagara emblem

The west side boundary stone with a relief of the Vijayanagara emblem

The Southside boundary stone with relief of the Vijayanagara emblem near Sri Veerabhadra Temple. Hidden inside the vegetation

NADUKAL AT ANGALAMMAN TEMPLE.

At the entrance of  Sri Angalamman temple, we could find a stone with the relief of a male sitting on an elephant. We assumed the image may be Ayyanar and Mr. Vijay looked at a different angle and said it may be a Jain as Brahma Devar. 

Sastha or the Jaina Indira   - Comments on Udhya Sankar’s Post on the Facebook 

MEMORY STONE WITH VINAYAGAR

In this,  two stone reliefs are erected on both sides of a damaged Vinayagar statue.  The relief in sitting posture on the left side of Vinayagar must be Harichandra and his wife Chandramathi ( may be a wild guess ) since these reliefs are on the way to the burial ground.  On the right side the relief of a man standing with hands in a worshiping posture.  Also, there is a round pillar with inscriptions on the top. We are not sure whether this belongs to this place or was brought from somewhere and erected here.

On the Vinayagar's right Harichandra and Chandramathi ( may be ). On the right side, the person is not known.

HERO STONES.

Little further on the west direction in front of a dry pond, we could see six hero stones erected on a platform along with Naagars at Durgai Amman Temple. The center hero stone is a person holding a bow and an arrow in the left direction, which is unusual. The style of hairdressing seems to be of the Vijayanagara period. Probably the person may be a left-hander. 

 Comments on Udhya Sankar's  Post on Facebook 

KOMARI KAL

This stone slab is erected on the roadside in the western part of the Village. The stone slab bears the Telugu? inscriptions with symbols. It was told that this must be a Komarikal erected to cure the disease of cattle if one performs pooja to this. 

MISCELLANEOUS STONES AND RELIEFS.

We saw some more relief panels and statues in the western part of the village. 

MISCELLANEOUS STONES AND RELIEFS.

We had seen some more relief panels and statues on the western part of the village.  

On the way to Chennai stopped at Manampathy for tea break. One of our friends Mr Vimal pointed out a statue on the roadside of Vinayagar Temple. Yes... the statue is a Navakanda Sirpam. The locals call this statue "Saavan Silai" “சாவான் சிலை”. In one way it is correct that the statue was erected for a man who died by cutting his head. Here it is.

 

Saavan Silai “சாவான் சிலை”. a navakanda statue
 on the road side Vinayagar temple

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---