Thoongu Thalai or Thooku Thalai Hero Stone / Nadukarkal / Veerakallu / நடுகற்கள் / வீரகற்கள் at Pallur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

15^th December 2019.

This 10^th Century, Chozha Period Nadukal or a Hero stone of type “Thoongu Thalai or Thooku Thalai” is found erected for a hero who sacrificed himself to Kotravai,  at Pallur in Ranipet District. The Pallur Village was a part of Thondai mandalam during Chozhas and Pallavas period. This type of Hero stones are considered as a rare one, since only 4 numbers are identified in Tamil Nadu, till date. The word “Thoongu Thalai -  தூங்கு தலை” – is inscribed, on a hero stone found at Thirumalaichery Village of Vellore District. With the available evidences, this types of sacrificing may be followed till 10^th Century. The Thoongu Thalai, hero stones are mentioned in sangam literature Kalingathu Parani  also,  which reads as....

“வீங்குதலை நெடுங்கழையின் விசைதொறும்

திசைதொறும் விழித்துநின்று தூங்கு தலை..”

--- கலிங்கத்துப்பரணி பாடல் எண் 117

Usually Thoongu Thalai sacrifice to Goddess Kotravai will be for various reasons.  The reasons may include, to get victory over the war, for the wellness of kings, or to get cured from deceases, etc,.

The procedure adopted is, the tuft of the hero’s head will be tied to  one end of the bamboo with flexibility called “Thalai Thoongu Nedumaram”.  The head of the hero will be chopped off  by a person and the head will be lifted  in the space. 

In this Thoongu thalai Hero stone the hero is about 3 feet high and in sitting posture, keeping his hands on his laps. The head is shown with a gap of about 1.5 inches  and tuft is tied to the bamboo. No ornaments are shown. The hero stone has the inscription starting with the meikeerthi or the title of Parantaka Chozha-I ( 907 – 955 CE ) as “ Madurai Konda Koparakesari...” – “மதிரை கொண்ட கோப்பரகேசரி...“ The rest of the inscriptions are highly eroded and are not legible.

 

LOCATION:

This Thoongu Thalai Nadukal is erected on the side of  Elementary  School of Pallur. 

Ref:  Thadayaththai thedi published by Yaaooyakey & Celebrate Kanchi”.

 Inscriptions are not legible

  A Sapta kanniyar Temple

 Harichandran in this Village  near burial  ground

 A Murugan temple

An Amman Temple in the Village 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---