Hero Stone / Nadukal / Veerakallu / செங்கம் நடுகற்கள், worshiped as Ayyanar, at Periakolapadi, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

28^th October 2018.

Participated in the Chengam Nadu Karaikal Heritage visit near Thiruvannamalai, organized by the Thiruvannamalai District Centre for Historical Research (TCHR). The first visit was to the Hero Stones at Periakolapadi. After the visit, while the other participants were busy having breakfast, near a Village Temple, a few of us peeped inside that temple. So far, we have seen that the hero stones are worshiped as Vediappan, but here it is different. The Villagers said that the temple is called the Ayyanar temple, and the hero stone is worshiped as Ayyanar. An Ayyanar with Purna & Puskala statues is also kept on a pedestal in the open sky. It was said that, as per Ayyanar’s wish, the roof should not be provided. Ayyanar’s vahana, elephant(s) in stone, are kept in a row, offered by the devotees.

Found two more small shires for Ayyanar and Ayyappan. Since Ayyanar with vasthiram seemed to be odd, on a flat stone slab, we are curious to know the sculpture. The Village boys came to our rescue. They removed the vasthiram and showed the sculpture. To our surprise, it is a Pallava-period hero stone. The hero is in a standing posture, and his head is turned towards his left side with a typical Pallava period hairstyle.  The hero holds a katar ( Kuruval) in his right hand and a bow in his left hand.  Kendy or the toddy pot is shown on the left side of the hero. A beautiful half-dress with frills is shown from the hip to the knee. In addition to this, there are two toranas shown on the top of the hero. This signifies that the hero must be a Chieftain or a small king under the Pallava Dynasty.  A Shiva linga with the sun and moon is shown on the top of the hero stone. It was said that this hero stone may belong to the 6^th to 7^th Century. But looking into the details like the sun, Shiva  Linga, moon on the top, and the size of the bow, the hero stone might belong after 16 to 17th century. 

It was said that a festival will be celebrated in the Tamil month Adi, either on the 1^st or 2^nd Friday from 18.00 hrs to midnight. Goats, cocks, and pigs are sacrificed  to this Ayyanar.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---