Hero Stones / Nadukal / Veerakallu /நடுகற்கள் - Navakandam and Pulikuthi Hero Stones at Perumanallur, Koduvai, Perunthozhuvu of Kongu Nadu in Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Hero stones is a part of the “Kongu Nadu Heritage Visit of Temples, Hero stones, Ayyanar and Jyeshta Devi Sculptures around Kangayam” in Tiruppur District.  

Hero Stone ( Navakandam ) at Sri Kondathu Kaliamman Temple, Perumanallur.

This Kondathu Kaliamman temple at Perumanallur is more than 1000 years old and a lesser-known Temple of Kongu Nadu. Perumanallur is on the Erode to Coimbatore bus route, in the Kongu region. This place was called Perum Pazhanam ( Perum – big or abundance, and Pazhanam – green fields or full of green trees ) during the Chozha Period. This Perumpazhanam or Perumpazhanallur got corrupted to the present name of Perumanallur.

During Ancient times the Romans and Greeks called Yavanars had done trades in the Kongu region through the Palghat passage. One of the Trade routes that went to Thondai Nadu through Perur, Coimbatore Avinashi, Vijayamangalam, Salem, and Tindivanam called “Kongu Peru Vazhi- கொங்கு பெரு வழி”. This place Perumanallur is on the trade route between Avinashi and Vijayamangalam. The Tamil Traders Thisai Ayirathu Ainootruvar & Nanadesikars and Valanjiyars had done trades with these Yavanas. This place was once a trade center with a materials exchange market and the Trader's military also stayed here. They also established Bhagavathy, and Kaliamman Temples on the trade route and this is one of the temples.

This hero stone is erected in a small shrine called Yogi Muthukumarasamy Sannidhi. The Hero’s right hand is shown as he cuts his head with a Knife and holds a bow in his left hand. It was a practice in which Some soldiers sacrificed themselves for many reasons like to get Victory in a war, to get cured of some disease for themselves or their family members, for the well being their family, or the King, etc,. This type of sacrifice is mentioned in the Sangam literature like “Kalingathu Parani”.

அடிக்கழுத்தின் நெடுஞ்சிரத்தைஅரிவ ராலோ

அரிந்தசிரம் அணங்கின்கைக் கொடுப்ப ராலோ

கொடுத்தசிரம் கொற்றவையைப் பரவு மாலோ

குறையுடலம் கும்பிட்டு நிற்கு மாலோ

..... கலிங்கத்து பரணி கோயில் பாடியது-22

Since this temple is on the trade route and this hero's stone is in front of a Kali Temple, the hero might have sacrificed himself in the form of Navakandam, before this Kali Amman, for some unknown reason. Experts are of the opinion that this Navakanda sculpture is more than 1000 years old.

LEGENDS

There is a legend about this Navakanda sculpture. This hero is called Yogi Muthukumarasamy. He was born in Kanchipuram about 300 years ago. He came to Kongu Nadu and settled at Sevur near this place. He engaged himself in spiritual activities, hence called Yogi Muthukumarasamy. His belongings, an Ambal statue, and a Sword are kept in safe custody still and there is a copper plate that praises his spiritual activities. During his final stage, he cuts his head and dies. His samadhi is Sevur. Locals worship him as a God and carry out functions during Margazhi. The Perumanallur Mariamman temple Utsavam will begin only after getting the nod from this Muthukumarasamy. 

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

PULIKUTHI HERO STONE at KODUVAI and PERUNTHOLUVU.

புலிக்குத்தி கற்கள் என்பது தாங்கள் வளர்க்கும் ஆடு மாடுகளை காப்பாற்ற அதைக்கொன்று சாப்பிடவரும் புலிகளை கொல்வதும் அப்படி கொல்லும் போது அந்த மனிதன் மரணம் அடைந்தால் அந்த வீரனின் நினைவாக நடப்படும் கற்களே புலிக்குத்திக் கற்கள் எனப்படும். ஒருகாலத்தில் காங்கயமும் அதைச் சுற்றி இருந்த இடங்களும் வனமாகவும் அதில் சிங்கம் புலி போன்ற மிருகங்களும் இருந்து இருக்கின்றன. அக்காடுகளில் உள்ள கிராமங்களில் ஆடு, மாடுகளை வளர்த்து வந்தனர். அதற்கு சாட்சியாக இப்போது  இருக்கும் பெருந்தொழுவு என்ற கிராமமும் அங்கு உள்ள புலிகுத்தி கல்லும். தமிழில் ஆடு மாடுகளைக் கட்டும் இடத்தை தொழுவம் என்று அழைக்கப்படும். அவ்வாறு அழைக்கப்பட்ட ஊர்களில் ஒன்று தான் பெருந்தொழுவு.

We had seen 3 Pulikuthi Hero stones in a radius of 15 KM around Kangayam, still, some may be there unexplored. Since Kangeyam is surrounded by small hills like SivanMalai, Chennimalai, etc., this place might be a thick forest with and lot of wild animals. In the forest small hamlets with cattle used to graze. One of the Village  Peruntholuvu, where we had seen a Pulikuthikal,  indicates that there might be a big place to keep the cattle in large numbers during those days. In the process of protecting the cattle from tigers some of the men would have lost their lives. In remembrance of those deceased, these Pulikuthikals / Pulikuthi Hero Stones were erected.

KODUVAI.

This hero stone is found lying in front of Sri Nageeswarar Shiva Temple. The Hero is shown killing the Tiger with a spear holding in both hands. The spear pierced through the chest and came out on the back. The hero wears ornaments and a Sannaveeram. His tuft is shown on the backside. He is wearing a half dress and Kattar on his waist. This Hero stone was erected by the Hero’s mother for her son “Muthan” and his father's name was mentioned as Muthu Bhuvana Vanaraya. The inscriptions are given below...

கொடுவாயில் முத்து (ப்) புவன வாணராயன் மகன் முத்தனுக்குத் தாய் வெட்டுவித்த கல்“  

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

PERUNTHOLUVU.

This Pulikuthikal is in good shape erected on the roadside, with inscriptions on the top. The hero is facing straight to the Tiger. He tries to Kill the Tiger with his left hand and holds short words on the right hand. It seems that he is going to hit with a right-hand sword. The hero wears ornaments on his neck. His tuft is shown on the backside. He is wearing a half dress and Kattar is shown on his waist. Local People worship this Pulikuthikal. The Hero stone was erected by his wife and the inscription is as given below.

1. பேரூறுப்ப முர்க்கிணிய மகாணா
2. வானவன் ஊர் மன்று ஆறுப்பாடி புலி
3. குத்திப்பட்டான் மண வாட்டிய
4. பட்டி கோன்மகள் கோ....கோ
5. ணத்தி தொறு விடுவிச்சு
6. ங் கரையர்
7. ங்கயர் கட்டுவிச்சார்"..‌

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

This Pulikuthikal is in front of a Perumal temple at Peruntholuvu ( பெருந்தொழுவு ), is found half buried. Since this is in front of the Perumal temple, The Hero is shown killing the Tiger with a sword holding on his right hand and a knife in his left hand. The sword pierced through the neck and came out on the back. The hero wears ornaments on his neck. His tuft is shown on the backside. He is wearing a half dress and Kattar is shown on his waist. Local people applied thiruman on the hero and the Tiger.

LOCATION: 11.044636, 77.432622

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---