The
Visit to these Hero Stones was a part of a visit to the Temples and heritage sites
around Kanchipuram, scheduled on 10th July 2021.
It
was the practice to offer their heads to Kotravai / Kali Amman to fulfill the wishes
of victory in the war, for the well-being of the King or for some personal reasons followed in Tamil
Nadu. The close relatives of the Heroes/warriors used to erect stones in
memory of those heroes, usually called Hero Stones. The Sangam period literature records such hero stones. This practice is followed widely up to the 18th
Century. The Hero stones are classified as Navakandam ( Cutting at 8 places on
the body – ( to drain the blood ..?) and 9th will be on the neck ),
Arikandam, Thoongu / Thookku Thalai, Thalai balikal, Pulikuthi kal, Pattan Kal, etc.
We
had seen 5 such Hero stones / Navakandam
at Thirumalpur in Ranipet district during our Visit. Thirumalpur, was once
a part of Kanchipuram. This place is being called "Saavaangkooyil - சாவாங்கோயில்" by the locals. Kanchipuram, Thakkolam, Manimangalam, etc areas
witnessed many wars/battles during Pallavas and Chozhas rule. These Hero
stones may be associated with any one of the above battles. This place is
dominated by the weaving Community called, Sengunthar Mudaliars, a sub-sect of
Kaikolars. At this juncture, we have to recall the history of Chozha’s, in which
Kaikolar Padai ( Soldiers consisting of Kaikolars ) played the main role in the wars/battles.
Four Navakanta Hero stones are erected in front of a Vinayagar Temple, on the end of
the street opposite to Sri Manikandeeswarar Shiva Temple. In addition to this,
one more Hero stone is erected inside Ponniamman Temple. These Navakanta Hero
stones are in different heights. The iconography of these Navakanta Hero stones
are little different from the other usual Hero stones. In this, all 5 heroes
are holding the sword in the left hand – cutting the heads and the right-hand holds
a sword, pointing down ( May be left-hander). As per the iconography and the
style of inscriptions ( on the back of one Hero Stone ) these Hero stones may belong to the 16th
to 17th Century.
The
inscription on the back side of the left side Hero Stone reads as.. ( Thanks to
Dr Arunkumar Pankaj & Sevas Pandiyan ). Could not be read fully since the
lower Hero stone hides bottom inscriptions.
சந்திராதித்த...........இராஷத(?)(இராகூச?) வருடம் சித்திரை மாதம் 12 தேரடி கரட்டு கைகோளர் முதலியார்
WORSHIP & FESTIVALThese
Hero stones are worshiped as Kula Deivam by the Senguntha Mudaliyar Community
and called Savankoil. Ladies worship these Hero stones by lighting the
Camphor, especially on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
An
annual festival/ offering called Kumbha Padayal will be performed on Tuesday in
the Tamil month of Thai, 7 days after the Pongal festival. In that cooked rice
with dried fish Kuzhambu mixed with vegetables is offered. It was said that
some people also offer alcohol products. The Sengunthar Mudaliars used to stop
their weaving activities from Thai Pongal and resume after this offering. It
was also said that penalty will be levied on those, who resume weaving before
offerings to these Hero Stones or Savan Samis.
LOCATION OF
THESE HERO STONES: CLICK HEREThe Hero Stone at Ponniamman Temple
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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