Mala Koil/ Hero Sthambas/ Hero Stones, of Kongu Mandalam, Periyamolarapatti, Kethanur, Kethanur, Amandakadavu, and Karumpuravi Palayam, in Tiruppur and Coimbatore Districts, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these hero sthambas, also called Malakoil, was part of the Hero Stones (also called Malakoil, Inscription Stones) visit in the Tiruppur and Coimbatore Districts of “Kongu Mandalam” on 25^th 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 bas-reliefs of cattle, killing wild animals, which they tried to kill the cattle, and some Heroic actions of their ancestors. Krishna, as a deity, will be shown at 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 Mala koils. Hero sthambas are installed in each Mala Koil, and stones are installed as deities. The Hero sthambas have cattle images and other images very faint. The pillars have images of the ancestors, with a flute and an 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 center. The left-side hero is shown killing a pig with the sword. On the right side, the 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 hold an oil lamp, with the Sun and Moon on the extreme left and right of this hero stone.

These hero stambhas 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

Inscription on the pillar

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 cattle, a 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 STHAMBAM: CLICK HERE

Hero Sthambam, Amandakadavu, Tiruppur District.

This Hero Sthamba is about a km away from the village of 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 3^rd 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 16^th to 17^th Century CE.

LOCATION OF THIS HERO STHAMBAM: 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 on the sthamba.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STHAMBAM:    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 the Sun, Moon, cattle, a man with a bow & arrow, ladies nurturing the cattle, etc.  

LOCATION OF THE HERO STHAMBAM:    CLICK HERE

HERO STHAMBAS / MALA KOIL, Near S P Vadukapalayam Kuttai, Coimbatore District. 

On the banks of the kuttai, a dilapidated temple with loose sculptures was found. The sculptures have big mustaches. One of the male sculptures’ heads is broken. In front of the sculptures, there are 4 square hole pedestals were found. These 4 pedestals might have held the Mala Koil, which does not exist now.  

LOCATION OF THE MALA KOIL:     CLICK HERE

Only the menhir pedestals are seen, and the hero sthambas are missing

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---