Usually, a hero stone will be erected for a hero who killed a Tiger or some other wild
animal, in the process of saving the people or the cattle. But rarely will memorial stones be erected for a person who was killed
by a Tiger without killing a tiger. We had seen one such memorial during one of our Heritage Visits to Podanur, a memorial with a Cross erected for a British Engine Driver who was killed by a Tiger.
Similarly, these two hero stones, at Periya Otta(r)palayam, are erected for the two persons who were killed by the
Tiger, without killing the tiger; in the process, the people or cattle were killed without killing the tiger. Since both are erected in the same place, both were attacked and may be killed
by the same tiger. Hence, these Hero stones are called “Puli adithu pattan kal”. In
this, the Hero is shown worshiping posture. An inverted “V” shaped weapon is shown by the
right side of the Heroes, like Trishul. The Heroes are wearing ornaments in their elongated
earlobes, around the neck, hands, and legs. A big mustache is shown on their
faces, and the Vijayanagara / Nayaks style tuft is shown on their heads. Poojas are
conducted by the locals/descendants once a year during the Aadi Month.
LOCATION OF
THE HERO STONES: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
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