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.

In the 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 the Chozhas and Pallavas period. 

This type of Hero stone is considered a rare one, since only 4 numbers have been identified in Tamil Nadu, to date. The word “Thoongu Thalai -தூங்கு தலை” – is inscribed on a hero stone found at Thirumalaichery Village of Vellore District. With the available evidence, this type of sacrifice may have been followed till the 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's sacrifice to Goddess Kotravai will be for various reasons.  The reasons may include achieving victory in the war, for the wellness of kings, or getting cured of deceases, etc.

The procedure adopted is that 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 air.

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 a sitting posture, keeping one leg folded and the other leg knee in lifted condition (Rajaleelasana ?). The left hand is on his raised knee, and the right hand is holding a sword. The head is shown with a gap of about 5 inches, and the tuft is tied to the bamboo. He is wearing an ornament on his neck, and a half dress is shown below the waist.

 

During Chozha King Parantaka-I ‘s 7^th year rule, an inscription was 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. In memory 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 of Vinnamangalam when he was young due to a difference of opinion between his sisters. He returned to this village after a long period and started religious service. Two women 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 didn’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 descendants, Mr Gobi (9025120914)

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: 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 his left hand. He was killed due to the hitting of three arrows, of which one arrow pierced through his body. Below him are two cattle. This indicates that he was killed in the process of guarding his cattle. On top, he was shown worshiping a Shiva Lingam. This indicates that he obtained the Shivalok.

MEMORIAL STONE AT PERUMAL TEMPLE

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

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE 

Ref:  

"Thadayaththai Thedi" published by Yaaooyakey & Celebrate Kanchi”

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---