The Visit to these Hero Sthambas alias Malakoils was a part of Hero Stones, Hero Sthambas also called Malakoil, Inscription Stones Visit in Tiruppur and Coimbatore Districts of “Kongu Mandalam” on 25th July 2024. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Palladam Ponnuswamy and Logesh Duraiswamy of வீரராசேந்திரன் தொல்லியல் மற்றும் வரலாற்று ஆய்வு மையம் – Veerarajendran Tholliyal MaRRum VaralaRRu Ayyvu Maiyam, Tiruppur, for taking us ( Me & Mrs. Sakthi Prakash ) to all these Heritage sites.
These Hero Sthambas are also called Malakoil. The
Kampalathu Nayakar Community people erect these Hero Sthambas in memory of
their ancestors. Since their main job was to rear cattle, the Hero Sthambas had
the bas relief of Cattle, Killing the wild animals, which they tried to kill
the cattle and some Heroic actions of their ancestors. Krishna as a deity will
be shown on the top with a flute.
Malakoil and Hero Stones, Jakkammal Temple,
Molarapatti / Periyamolarapatti, Tiruppur District.
The three Malakoils, in a row from South to North, face east. An oonjal and a Trident are installed in front of the Malakoils.
Hero Sthambas are installed in each Mala Koil and stones as deities. The Hero Sthambas
has the Cattle images and other images very feeble. The Pillars have images
of the ancestors, with flute and Ajali hastam.
The extreme left Malakoil consists of a Hero Stone
Panel. This Hero stone Panel consists of
Two Heroes and a Lady at the centre. The left-side hero is shown,
killing a Pig with the sword. On the right side, Hero is shown killing a tiger,
with a spear. The lady standing at the centre is holding a lemon ( ?) in the
right raised hand and the left hand is in kadi hastam. A rectangular cut to
keep an oil lamp with the Sun and Moon are on the extreme left and right of this hero
stone.
These Hero sthambas belong to the 17th Century, CE. As per the inscriptions in Skkala year, Adi month 18th day, Guruswamy Durai Pattam ( Rule..?), Venkata Nayakkar's daughter Andi Ammal's daughters erected Pillars and the ceiling was provided with straw and worshipped the Nadukals.
கல்வெட்டின் படி, கி.பி. 17 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் சுக்கல வருஷம் ஆடி மாதம் 18 ஆம்
தேதி குருசாமி துரை பட்டத்தில் மோழரப்பட்டி, வெங்கட்ட
நாயக்கர் மகள் ஆண்டி அம்மாள் மக்கள் தூண் நட்டு, கம்புதட்டுகளால்
பந்தல் போட்டு நடுகல்லை வழிபட்ட செய்தியை நாம் அறிய முடிகிறது.
THE LOCATION OF THE MALAKOIL: CLICK HERE
Hero Sthambam / Mala Koil, Kethanur, Kethanur to
Manasipalayam Road, Tiruppur District.
This hero Sthamba is erected on the north side of the
Road. The Sun and Moon reliefs are found on the top of the Sthamba. Bas-reliefs
of rearing the cattle, Man & woman, killing an elephant / Pig, and a dog
biting a wild animal. The bas-reliefs are found on two sides of the Hero
Sthamba.
LOCATION OF THIS HERO STHAMBA: CLICK HERE
Hero Sthambam, Amandakadavu,
Tiruppur District.
This Hero Sthamba is
about a KM away from the Village Amandakadavu in Tiruppur District. Unlike a
Sthamba this is in the form of a 4-tier Hero Stone.
In the bottom tier
cattle and cattle rearing are shown. In the other three tiers, men and women
are shown in Anjali hastam. In the 3rd tier from the bottom, a man
is taken in a palanquin ( with vessels below ) by 4 persons.
Experts believe that
this Hero sthamba was erected by the Kampalathu Nayakas for their ancestors,
and belongs to the 16th to 17th Century CE.
LOCATION OF THIS
HERO STHAMBA: CLICK HERE
Hero Sthambas / Mala Koil, Karumpuravipalayam, near
Vadavedampatti, Coimbatore District.
Two Hero Sthambas are installed in a Coconut farm
about 100 meters apart. One is under a shed and another is open to the sky.
SITE No.1.
This Hero Sthamba is about 6 Feet tall, with
bas-reliefs on the front side, installed in a shed. Some stones are also
installed and treated as Deity idols. The bas-relief images are not clear in
the Sthamba.
LOCATION OF THE HERO STHAMBA: CLICK HERE
SITE No. 2.
This Hero Sthamba is about 4 feet Tall, with bas
reliefs on both sides. Some of the bas-reliefs are Sun, Moon, cattle, Man with bow
& arrow, ladies, nurturing the cattle, etc.
LOCATION OF THE HERO STHAMBA: CLICK HERE
HERO STHAMBAS / MALA KOIL, Near S P Vadukapalayam
Kuttai, Coimbatore District.
On the banks of the Kuttai found a dilapidated temple
with loose sculptures. The Sculptures are with a big moustache. One of the male
sculpture’s heads is broken. In front of the sculptures, there are 4 square hole
pedestals are found. These 4 pedestals might have held the Mala Koil, which
does not exist now.
LOCATION OF THE MALA KOIL: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
