The visit to these Hero
stones at the Archaeological Museum, Aihole was a part of
“The Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, and Aihole temples Heritage visit”
organized by வரலாறு விரும்பிகள் சங்கம் Varalaru Virumbigal Sangam – VVS and எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபு நடைக்குழு, between 24th December to 28th December
2022. I sincerely thank the
organizers Mrs. Radha, 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, and excavation in and around Aihole. Later it was converted into 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 along with his wife after sati is taken to 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 a palanquin for sati. Almost all the hero stones are
made out of sandstone and in eroded condition due to age.
These hero stones are erected for 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
---
Wonderfull collection.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Sir, ..
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