Hero Stones of Chozha Nadu, Nannimangalam, Allur Nakkan Koil, Thudaiyur, Nangavaram, and Thiruvasi, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

Hero Stone at Nannimangalam, Sri Sundareswarar Temple...

The Hero is shown facing front, holding a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left hand. Two arrows are shown, pierced through his rib bones between shoulder and hip. His legs are shown such that, he is marching towards front. He wears half dress below his hip,  ornaments and Yagnopaveetha.   

The inscription on the sides are inscribed in a mixture of Tamil and Sanskrit. Since most part of the inscription was damaged, many interpretations are made by different authors..

Interpretation -1

As per the AR No 144 of 1928- 29, The inscription record is engraved on a hero stone bearing the figure of a Brahman being pierced by an arrow near the neck. It is dated in the 21^st year of Nandipottaraiyar “who obtained the kingdom after defeating ( his enemies at ) Telleru”. The Inscription is damaged and it refers to a certain Mavali ( ie a Bana Chieftain ) and to a raid causing the destruction of a matha, in saying which a Brahmin hero named SattimuRRattevan met with his death. The records mention the temple of Arindigai Iswaram built at Parantakapuram, which must have been respectively named after the Chozha Kings Arinjaya and his father Parantaka-I, who flourished a century later. From palaeography also the record may be assigned to the 10^th Century AD. It therefore appears to be a later copy of the original record. This mention of a Bana Chief outside the Bana territory is noteworthy.

Interpretation -2

Nandhivarma Potharayar, who got Victory in Thellaru war, 21^st reign year inscription records that SakthimuRRattevan of Valluva Nadu was killed when he tried to stop killing his teacher of math by Poosakan Bhatran. This hero stone was erected by his teacher. The inscription also mentions this place as Parantakapuram and the temple name as Arinjigai Eswaram.  But the South Indian Inscription gives a different meaning 

Interpretation -3

In another interpretation, during Samana & Saiva conflict the person SakthimuRRathu Devan a Kuravar ( samanar – Jain ) who guards this temple was killed. His teacher established this Hero stone in the memory of the student. 

Interpretation -4.

In this, a person called Battaran who was removed from the job wants to take revenge on Sevanar. When Battaran tried to kill Sevanar, his student ( Brahmin ) SakthimuRRathu Devan of Valluva Nadu was killed and Sevanar erected this hero stone.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

INSCRIPTION
ஸ்வதிஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ தெள் / ளாற்றெறிந்து / ராஜ்ய(மு)ங் கொ / ண்ட நந்திப் /  பொத்தரையர்(க்) / கு யாண்டு இரு / பத்தொன்றாவது /  பராந்தக புரத் / து அறிந்தி / கை ஈஸ்வர க்ர / ஹம் ஸரஸ்த / தாலுடையொ / ரும் - - - / - - -  தளி / யிலாதாகி நின்ற ( ப )ட்டரென் மாவலியநி / (த ) ஸ்தாந மாள்வான் செ(வணற்குண்டு) கொ / ண்டு வந்து மடமுஞ் சுட்டுக் காத்த ஷி...ர / வரையு மெறிந்து இவர் ஷிஷ்யந் ஒரு ப்ராம் / ஹனன் சத்திமுற்றத் தேவந் றுண்டு ப / ட்டான் வல்லுவ(னாட்)டான்

Pattan Kal - Allur Thoongan Swami Temple ( Near Shiva Temple )

There is an Thoongan Swami Temple near the Allur Nakkan Koil Sri Pasupatheeswarar Shiva Temple. In that there is a flat stone installed and identified as “Pattan Kal”. Pattan means, a person died due to some heroic action. This memorial stone might have been installed for a Hero who was killed in some heroic action.

LOCATION  : CLICK HERE

Hero Stones / Memorial Stones / Pattan kal - Thudaiyur

These hero, Memorial and Pattan kal are erected in front of a Kalingayi Amman Temple, which is on the back side of the Thudaiyur Shiva temple. In this there are two sets of Male and female and single persons statues. All males are shown with sword on the right hand and the left hand are with shield. These may be Hero stones or memorial stones.

LOCATION  : CLICK HERE

Navakandam Hero stone - Nangavaram

This Navakanda statue is installed on the left side of the entrance arch of the Sri Sundareswarar Shiva temple. The hero is standing with left foot firm on the ground and looking straight. His right hand is shown holding a sword, on the back side of his neck and left hand is resting on a sword. Wearing a half dress below the hip and one end is shown like flying due to the wind. He is wearing ornament on the neck and shoulder. He do not have mustache and tuft is shown on his right side of the Hero. As per the iconography this Navakanda Hero stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century.   

LOCATION  : CLICK HERE

Navakandam Hero Stone – Thiruvasi

The Navakanda statue is installed in the Sri Matrurai Varadeeswarar Temple, one of the 276 Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam. The hero is shown cutting his head with a sword and left hand is holding the tuft. The hero is keeping his left knee on the ground and the right knee is up.  He is wearing half dress below his hip up to leg bottom. He is shown with big mustache. This navakanda statue may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century. 

LOCATION  : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---