Hero Stone / Veerakallu / Nadukal / Thoongu Thalai / Thookku thalai / தூங்குதலை / தூக்குதலை நடுகற்கள், Worshiped as Appathamman Eshwaran, and Memorial Stone at Vinnamangalam, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

 29^th December 2019.

This 10^th Century, Parantaka 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 Vinnamangalam Eri banks. The Vinnamangalam 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 is about 3.2 feet wide and 4 feet high in a small temple with two women sculptures, whose faces are turned right are installed. The hero is in sitting posture, keeping one leg folded and other leg knee in lifted condition ( Rajaleelasana ?). The left hand id on his raised knee and right hand is holding a sword. The head is shown with a gap of about 5 inches  and tuft is tied to the bamboo. He is wearing an ornament in his neck and a half dress is shown below the waist.

Chozha King Parantaka-I ‘s 7^th year rule, inscription is inscribed on the top of this Thoongu Thalai Hero Stone. The inscription reads as... 

1.ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ கோப்பரி கேசர பன்மற்கு

2. யாண்டு ஏழாவது இடக் காத்தரைய மிண்

3.ணமங்கலமான இடக் காத்தரையத் தம்

4.பி யளசந்தையன்

5.மேளை யசந்தை

6.யன் இடக்காத்த

7.ரை யட்டா

8.டி யான் தூ

9.ங்கு  த

10.லை குடுத்தான்

11.பெருங்க

12.ண்ண

13.ன் வைப்பி

14.ச்சக்

15.கல்

As per the inscription Idakatharaiyan’s brother Idakatharaiyattiyan of Melaya Sandhai had given this Thoonguthalai. Inmemory of him this Hero stone was erected by Perungannan. 

LOCAL LEGEND:

There is a local story about this hero stone. The legend goes like this... The hero was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.  He ran out of the village Vinnamangalam, when he was young  due to difference of opinion between his Sisters. He returned back to this Village after long period and started religious service. Two women’s  are helpful for the poojas. When he came to know that they were his sisters, he told them he ran out of the Village, since he don’t want to see their faces again. The sisters were ashamed of their acts and turned their faces. Immediately he cuts his head. From then onwards his descendants worshiped him as a God. This story was narrated by one of his descendant  Mr Gobi ( 9025120914 )

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Thoombu kalvettu

HERO STONE AT MANDI, VINNAMANGALAM

This Hero stone is erected in a place called Mandi a part of Vinnamangalam.  The hero stone is about 4 feet high and 3 feet wide. The  Hero is standing in a tribhanga posture. He is holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in the left hand.  He was killed due to hitting of three arrows, of which one arrow pierced through his body. Below him are two cattle. This indicates that he was kill in the process of guarding his cattle.  On the top he was shown worshiping a Shiva Lings. This indicates that he obtained the Shivalok.

MEMORIAL STONE AT PERUMAL TEMPLE

This memorial stone is installed at the left side of the Rajagopuram. This may be Sati. After her husband’s death she might have entered in a funeral fire. On both side are the Devakannis escorts them to Devalok.  Since this memorial stone is highly eroded, full details could not be traced.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

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

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---