Hero Stones / Veerakallu / Sati Stones/ வீரக்கற்கள் / Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Temple/ மல்லம் ஸ்ரீ சுப்ரமணிய சுவாமி கோயில், Mallam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh.

The Visit to this Hero stones / veera kallu,  installed at the Pallava period Shri Subramanya Swamy Temple at Mallam was a part of Shiva and Murugan Temples Visit in Andhra Pradesh and Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu on 16^th September 2023.

16 Nos of Hero stones are installed all of them facing east on both sides of the temple compound wall. All the hero stones are navakandam / arikandam style. All the Heroes are in standing posture, of which 11 heroes are holding a sword in both hands and the rest 5 Hero stones, cutting their head with their right hand and holding the tuft in the left hand. 

SOUTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE

NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE

These  Hero stones belong to Pallava period ( 7^th to 8^th Century ) to Vijayanagara period. It was told that this group had a Pallava King Kampa Varman’s period Hero stone with inscriptions. In that hero stone, the Hero holds his head in one hand after cutting and offering. This Pallava King Kampa varman’s period  Hero stone is missing from this group. The inscription details and photos are published in the SII Volume 12, Sl No 106. 

The Pallava King  Kampavarman’s 20^th reign year inscription inscribed on the Hero stone, holding his severed head by the tuft in his left hand, while the right hand holds a sword ( Plate VI ). The inscription records a gift of land made by the urar ( Villagers ) of Tiruvanmur to Pattai-Pottan for the pious act of Okkondanagan Okkatindan Pattai-Pottan, probably his father, in cutting off flesh from nine parts of his body and finally his head as an offering to the goddess Bhatari, i.e., Durga.

The rituals connected with human sacrifice offered to the goddess Durgā are described in the Kalika-Purana, Chapter 70. The present Mallam or an ancient suburb of it was known as Tiruvanmür in inscriptions. The Inscription reads as…

1 ஸ்ரீ கம்பபருமற்கு யாண்டு இருபதாவது [ப]ட்டைபொ[த்]-

2 [த]னுக்கு [ *] ஒக்கொண்டநாகன் ஒக்கதினன் பட்டைபொத்தன் மெ-

3 [தவம்] புரிந்ததென்று டாரிக்கு நவக்கண்டங் குடுத்து

4 [குன்றகத்]தலை அறுத்துப் பிடலிகை மெல் வைத்தானுக்கு தி-

5 ருவான்மூர் ஊரார் வைத்த பரிசாவது[]] எழுர்ப் பறைகொட்டிக் கல்[மெ]-

6 [டு செய்தாராவிக்கு]க் குடு[ப்]பாரானார் பொத்தனங் கிழவர்களும் தொ[று)-

7 [ப்ப]ட்டி நிலம் குடு[த்],தார்கள்[]]] இது அன்றென்றார் கங்கையிடைக் குமரிஇ-

8 [டை எழுநூற்றுக்காதலும் செய்தான் செய்த பாவத்துப் படுவ-

9 ார் [|"] அன்றென்றார் அன்றாள்கொவுக்கு காற்ப்பொ

10 ன் றண்டப் படுவார் [") 

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Mallam is about 28 KM from Naidupet, 85 KM from Nellore, and 131 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Naidupet.

Every half an hour, APSRTC Buses are available from the Naidupet bus Stand

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---