Nadukarkal / Hero Stones / Veeragallu / Navakandam, arikandam at Gudimallam, Ramagiri, Appalayagunta Andhra Pradesh.

12^th May 2019.

During our Gudimallam (Ramagiri, Nagalapuram, Narayanavanam, Surutapalli, and Appalayagunta) Temples Visit on 12^th May 2019, we came across Hero stones (Veeragallu) erected on temple premises. These Hero stones belong to the 16^th to 17^th Century. Usually, Hero stones also called Nadukarkal are erected for a Hero who sacrifices his life, by cutting his head and offering to Kali to get Victory in the war, get cured of chronic deceases, for a King’s well-being, die in the process of stealing or recovering cattle of enemies. These types of  Nadukarkal come under the Navakandam/Arikandam Category. Nadukarkal was also erected for the Heroes 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 his head is turned towards his left side. The hairstyle and the tuft look similar to the Vijayanagara Nayaka 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 his left hand. This confirms that the hero died in war.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: 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 a straight (samabanga) position. The hero holds a sword in both hands. The hairstyle and the tuft are very similar to Vijayanagara Nayak's period hairstyle. He wears ornaments on his neck and ears.  The hero also wearing a Yagnopaveetha. A Half dress is shown below his hip. Full detail couldn’t seen due to the application of oil on which dust was deposited on the hero stone. The Hero might have cut his head to get a victory in the war for a King or to get cured of a chronic disease.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

HERO STONE AT APPALAYAGUNTA.

This hero stone is erected on the premises of a Vinayagar Temple opposite 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 his left. The hero wears a half-dress below this hip. A knife or a kattar is shown on his hip. The hairstyle with tuft belongs to the 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 OF THE HERO STONE: 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 worship 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 a bow and arrow in her hands, which means, she is also a hunter. There are two animals like pig, a Deer, Goat shown. Finally, on the top, a Shiva Linga is shown. The Shiva linga represents that the hero attained Shivalok after death. It was said that the hero might have died in the process of hunting. 

  

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---