17th June 2018.
This is the continuation post on Hero stones during
Talakad heritage visit. When we inquired about hero stone erected for the
Chozha Victory over the Gangar's, the villagers directed us to many places and one
of the Villagers came to our rescue and showed us a group of hero stones erected behind the temple. Since the hero
stones showed was not the one, what we
wanted to see. Again we talked to the Villagers and finally showed us this 11th
century ( 1006 CE ) Chozha hero stone kept on the back side of a temple (
Thanks to Sasi team for identifying the
same ). In the hero stone 2/3rd of the stone slab has the kannada inscriptions and 1/3rd has the war scene
between Rajaraja Chozha headed by his Caption Kottamangala Thella Kulathilaka Aprameyan and the Gangars.
The Inscription starts with Rajaraja-I's, title and also mentions the names of 18
Gangar's captains killed in the battle. The battle scene is finely carved on this slab, for which no description is required.
The capture of the messenger by the Gangars was the
main reason behind this battle. Rajaraja traveled from Chozha Nadu with
Elephant and horse forces to teach a lesson to Gangas. The Gangas in fear of
loosing the Capital Talakad, crossed the Cauvery river and faced the war at kaliyur on the south banks of the river. 18 captains of Gangars, Hoysalas and Nulambas were killed in
the fierce battle held on 22-03-1006 with a heavy loss of solders,
horses and elephant. Finally Chozhas won the battle and captured Talakad and
renamed as Rajarapuram.
The place, where the battle took place was once called as Kavalur ( since the place was guarding Talakadu) and latter turned to Kalaiyur during Chozha period and now Kaliyur. The historians like Sri Appadurai and Sri Sadasiva Pandarathar mentions as Kaliyur.
The place, where the battle took place was once called as Kavalur ( since the place was guarding Talakadu) and latter turned to Kalaiyur during Chozha period and now Kaliyur. The historians like Sri Appadurai and Sri Sadasiva Pandarathar mentions as Kaliyur.
TALAKAD
In addition to Sri Parshvanath tirthankara ( wil be
written in a separate post ), we had seen two more hero stones. Both are 3
tiers and more than 75% of the first tier was found below the ground level. The
sword of the hero is very much similar to the one shown in Haradanahalli hero stone.
KALIYURU - MUDI GUNDAM
It was around 17 hrs, when we completed the
Kaliyuru visit and started our return journey to Erode, skipping the program of
visiting a Chozha period temple at Mudigundam before Kollegal. Happened to see
hero stones by the side of the road. Out
of two reliefs one was mahishamardini relief and other one was a hero stone.
This 3 tier hero stone is for a bullock cart hero who lost life. In the first
tier the hero was driving a bullock cart and in the second tier the Hero was
taken to heaven by the angels. In the top row hero was shown worshipping Lord
Shiva. Had our lunch at 17.30 hrs at Kollegal and continued our return journey
to Erode.
mahishamardini relief
bullock cart hero Stone.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
What is the name of the temple in Kaliyuru where the cluster of 18 hero stones and also the one of Apprameya on the battle between the Cholas and Gangas located? I plan to visit Kaliyuru and Talakkad shortly. Thanks for your help.
ReplyDeleteA Village temple on the road side .. will be easy to identify..
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