12th May 2019.
During our Gudimallam ( Ramagiri, Nagalapuram, Narayanavanam,
Surutapalli and Appalayagunta ) Temples Visit on 12th May 2019, we
came across Hero stones ( Veeragallu ) erected in temple premises. These Hero
stones belongs to 16th to 17th Century. Usually Hero
stones also called as Nadukarkal are erected for a Hero who sacrifices his
life, by cutting his head and offer to Kali to get Victory in the war, to get
cured from chronic deceases, for a King’s well being, died in the process of
stealing or recovering cattle of enemies. These types of Nadukarkal comes under Navakandam / Arikandam
Catagorey. Nadukarkal also erected for the Hero or warriors / soldiers who died
in the war or died in the process of stealing or recovering the cattle.
HERO STONE AT GUDIMALLAM
This hero stone is erected in front of Gudimallam Sri Parasurameswara
Temple’s South entrance. The hero’s legs are in marching position and head
turned towards his left side. The Hair style and the tuft looks similar to
Vijayanagara / Nayak period. The tuft is tied with a cloth and the ends are
shown. The hero wears ornaments on his ears and neck. A half dress is shown
below his hip. The hero holds a sword in his right hand and a shield in the
left hand. This confirms that the hero died in war.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
NAVAKANDAM / ARIKANDAM AT RAMAGIRI.
This Navakanda/ Arikanda Nadukal was found in front of Sri
KalaBhairava temple at Ramagiri. In the Nadukal, the hero is shown standing
in straight ( samabanga ) position. The hero holds a sword in both hands. The
Hair style and the tuft is very much similar to Vijayanagara / Nayaks period
hair style. He wears ornaments on his neck and ears. The hero also wearing an Yagnopaveetha. A
Half dress is shown below his hip. Full detail couldn’t seen due to apply
of oil on which dust deposited on the
hero stone. The Hero might have cut his head to get a victory in the war or for
a King or for to get cured from chronic decease.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
HERO STONE AT APPALAYAGUNTA.
This hero stone is erected in the premises of a Vinayagar Temple
opposite to Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple, Appalayagunta. The hero is standing in threebanga. The hero
holds a sword in his right hand and a spear on the left. The hero wears a half
dress below this hip. A knife or a
kattar is shown on his hip. The hair style with tuft belongs to Vijayanagara /
Nayak period. Cattle are shown on the bottom of the spear. This clearly shows
that the hero might have died in the process of cattle stealing or recovering (
ஆநிரை கவர்தல் அல்லது ஆநிரை
மீட்டல்
).
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
HERO STONE AT GUDIMALLAM IRAGALLAPPA CHELAM TEMPLE.
After lunch, Mr Loganathan, a Lawyer by profession from a Village near
Gudimallam, took us to a Shiva Temple on the base of a Hill. The Villagers
worships this Hero stone as Lord Shiva with a Parvati statue on the left. As
per the experts this is a Hero stone erected for the hero who is riding on a
Horse. The hero holds a sword in his right hand. There is a lady also shown
with bow and arrow in her hands, which means, she is also a hunter. There are two animals like pig, Deer, Goat is
shown. Finally on the top a Shiva Linga is shown. The Shiva linga represents that
the hero attained Shivalok after death.
It was told that the hero might have died in the process of hunting.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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