Saturday 25 February 2023

Hero Stones / Veerakallu, வீரகற்கள்/ நடுகற்கள், of Aihole, Bagalkot District, Karnataka.

The visit to this Hero stones at Archaeological Museum, Aihole was a part of “Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta and Aihole temples Heritage visit” organized by வரலாறு விரும்பிகள் சங்கம் Varalaru Virumbigal Sangam – VVS and எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபு நடைக்குழுbetween 24th December to 28th December 2022. I extend my sincere thanks to the organizers Mrs Radha and Mrs Nithya Senthil Kumar and Mr Senthil Kumar.

The Hero with inscription in hale kannada

The Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum is located in front of Durga Temple, in the Durga temple complex. It was originally planned as a sculpture shed in 1970 to collect and exhibit the sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members found by way of exploration, excavation in and around Aihole. Latter it was converted in to a full-fledged museum in the year 1987, and extended in the year 2000.


The collection in the Museum
The museum has a rich collection of sculptures belonging to the period of the Badami Chalukyas ( 543-757 CE ), the succeeding Rashtrakuta-s of Malkhed ( 757-950 CE ) and the Chalukya-s of Kalyana ( 950-1250 CE ), which includes Hero Stone, Veerakallu. Most of the hero and Sati stones are of 3 tiers. In the lower level, the hero is shown fighting with enemies, the hero or along with his wife after sati, are taken to the heaven by devakannis and in the top tier, the hero is shown worshiping Shiva / Maha Vishnu. In two Hero stones, the hero’s wife is taken through palanquin for sati. Almost all the hero stones are made out of sand stone and in eroded condition due to age.

These hero stones are erected to the Heroes who are killed in the war. The hero stones might have been brought from elsewhere to this common place considering safety. 

Ref:
An Archaeological Survey of India Book let on Aihole Museum.

LOCATION OF THE MUSEUM : CLICK HERE

















--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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