Hero stone / Veeragallu / நடுகற்கள், Sri Panchalingeshwara Swamy Temple, Sri Kolaramma Temple, Kolar, Tippu's Summer Residence, Nandhi Hills Begur, of Karnataka.

22^nd August 2018.

During our recent visit to the  old temples with Dravidian style architecture, in Karnataka built by Gangas, Nolambas, Chozhas, Vijayanagara, etc, happened to see Hero Stones in some of the temples. The Panchalingeshwara Temple, Begur, Kolaramma Temple at Kolar and Tippu Lodge at Nandi Hill has the Hero stones/ veeragallu. The details are as follows.

SRI PANCHALINGESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE, BEGUR.

This temple has 8 Hero stones/ Veeragallu of which 3 are in broken condition. One number is safely erected on a pedestal with details.

Three  Hero stones/ Veeragallu are kept near the Stone stambah. The first one ( in fig ) is a single stage Sati stone. In that hero stone is a Navakandam and his wife who took sati holds lotus in her left hand. The hero wears dress below his hip and ornaments on the neck. His both hands holds the sword. Also he wears anklets on both legs.

The second one is  hero stone holds swords in both hands. The left had sword looks like a Gangas period sword, where as the right hand holds the regular sword. A katar is shown on his hip. The hero died due to hitting of two arrows, of one arrow pierced through both of his legs. Another arrow pierced through his  chest and came out on his back.

The third one is also a two stage hero stone and 2^nd tier found half broken. The hero holds a Gangar’s sword in right hand and do not know what he holds in the left hand probably a shield.

A Hero stone is erected on a pedestal. Sitting in padmasana and hands on folded condition.  Written as the person’s name is Thondabe, who Voluntarily fasted to death. Hope this is not the one mentioned in the inscription. A person on the right side holds a big knife which is not proportional. Inscriptions are there on the left side of the Hero Stone.

This two tier hero stone was kept between two shrines with inscription. The hero holds a bow in the left and an arrow on the right hand. The hero died due to hitting of multiple arrows. All the 5 arrows are shown pierced through his body, especially on the head. In the second tier the hero is shown between two deva kanniyar with samara/ chowry/ whisk.

This one is the three stage Hero stone/ Veeragallu. In the first stage cattle / buffalos are shown. In the second stage two heros are shown with sword in their right hands. In the third stage the two heros are between three deva kannias, may be Ramba, Urvasi and Menaka. The right side Hero stone found broken. Left side man holds a bow in his hand. This Hero stone was taken for these two heros who are involved in the "Thoru poosal, to save cattle / buffalos - ஆநிரை / எறுமைகள் மீட்டல் /கவர்தல் / "-  is a special and unique.  

In this hero stone, a dog is shown on his right side in the first tier. The hero holds a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left hand. 8 arrows are shown which pierced through his body from his left side. In the second tier the hero is shown between two deva kannis holding samara. Faint impressions of the inscription is also seen on the left side of the hero stone. The Dog might have died after the hero's death.

On the north side of the temple, we had noticed 3 hero stones in broken condition. In one the hero is riding on a horse. The battle field is shown on the sides.

SRI KOLARAMMA TEMPLE, KOLAR.

In this temple two hero stones / Veeragallu are erected in the mukha mandapa. The left hero stone is a navakanda stone. The right hand is shown with a sword cutting his head, and what the hero is holding in the left hand is not known.

The right side of the mandapa, a hero stone is erected which depicts the war scene is shown on the lower portion. The body of the soldiers lying on the ground, some without head are shown. Some soldiers are fighting with sword and some with spear sitting on the horses. In the middle portion the hero is standing alone holding a Gangar sword on the right hand and a shield in the left hand in front of a king who is on the elephant. The hero’s horse with his attendants holding umbrellas are shown on his back.  In the top portion deva angels are shown dancing, deva angels holds a chowry/ samara and the hero is shown sitting in a small mandapa ( this denotes like a pallipadai ). It was told that the hero stone belongs to Ganga period and the war scene depicts the war between Gangas with Chozhas. This hero stone was erected for a hero of Gangas, may be a small King, or a Chieftain or a powerful person,  who was killed in the war. The Hero stone was fixed firmly and do not know any inscription are there on the back side. This Hero stone belongs to 11th Century.

 

TIPPU’S SUMMER RESIDENCE, NANDHI HILLS.

There are two hero stones / Veeragallu erected on a platform in front of the Tippu’s summer residence in the Nandhi Hills fort.  In the first hero stone, the hero is holding a sword in his right hand and bow in the left hand. A lady or a man in short is also shown on his right side. A Shiva linga is shown on the top of the Veeragallu.

The second Hero stone is of two tiers, the hero must be a left handier holding a shield in the right hand and a sword in the left hand. In the second tier hero is shown in sitting posture and two ladies are holding the hero.. The hero looks like a female, which may be studied further.

 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---