Hero Stone / Nadukal / Veerakallu / செங்கம் நடுகற்கள் as Vediyappan at Padiagraharam, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

28^th October 2018.

After visiting the Vediyappan Temple at Melapunjai our next destination was to Padiagraharam, which was mentioned as Narasinganallur wrongly. The vans went till the end of Village roads and beyond, we walked through barren lands and fields after crossing Cheyyar River, a tributary to Palar river & an Ayyanar Temple.  It will be very difficult to venture alone to see these hero stones without proper guide. We are very lucky to Join with Thiruvannamalai District Center for Historical Research (TCHR). 

The two Hero stones and an eri inscription stones are erected in 90 degrees and 3 side walls are also constructed.  The structure is facing north with an opening. A round avudayar and Shiva linga is kept at the entrance of the structure.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

HERO STONE -1

This hero stone is facing west. The hero is in standing posture with head facing straight. The typical Pallava hair style is shown. The hero holds a sword in his right hand and shield in the left hand. The kendy and simizh are shown on both side of the hero. A half dress is shown  from hip to knees with a knot on the hip. The excess cloth of the knot is shown like waving due to wind. This can be taken as the hero is running fast towards his enemy. In addition to this  a single thorana is shown on the right side of the hero. This shows that the hero might have hold a higher position in the army.

The Tamil vattezhuthu inscription are found above part of the hero stone.  The hero was the son of the army’s captain. This Hero stone belongs to 6^th Century ( 587AD), Pallava King Simhavishnu’s 33^rd year rule. The inscriptions read as…

1. கோவியைய சிங்கவிண்ணபருமற்கு முப்பது
2. மூன்றாவது கங்கதி அரைசரு மக்கள் மேல் விண்ணன்னா
3. ர் சேவகர் தொப்புரவருப்பாடி ஆ(ள்கி)ன்ற பசிரப்
4. பண்ணன் குறட்டாதன்… வரமு கொண்ட ஞான்
5. றெரிந்
6. து பட்டா
7. ன் கந்த
8. பருபேன்
9. னாதியார்
10. மகன் க
11. ல்

HERO STONE – 2.

This hero stone is facing north. The hero is looking straight. The hero holds a sword in his right hand and shield in the left hand. The kendy and simizh are shown on both sides of the hero. A half dress is shown  from hip to knees with a knot on the hip. The excess cloth of the knot is shown like waving due to wind. This can be taken as the hero is running fast towards his enemy. In addition to this  a single thorana is shown on the right side of the hero. This shows that the hero might have hold a higher position in the army.

The Tamil vattezhuthu inscription are found above and side part of the hero stone.  This Hero stone belongs to 6^th Century ( 587AD), Pallava King Simhavishnu’s 33^rd year rule.  The hero was killed in the process of recovering the cattle.The inscriptions read as…

1. கோவிசைய சிங்க விண்ண
2. பரு… யாண்டு முப்பத்து மூன்றாவது
3. சேவகர் மகனார் முக … சேவகர்
4. ---- பட்ட
5. சரையர்
6. ஆன் தொறு
7. எறிந்து
8. பட்டா
9. ருகல்

 The North facing hero stone

 Eri inscription stone

 Cheyyar River  

Ayyanar temple, on the way to Vediyappan Temple

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---