This visit to the Malakoil / Hero Sthamba at Sengunam,
Thangamalpuram in Theni District was a part of Varusanadu Payanam, a Heritage
walk to the temples and Heritage Sites, organised by Aatrupadai, on 20th – 21st September 2025.
Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி, Prabaharan, and Bala Bharathi.
This Hero Sthamba is also called Malakoil (in Kongu Region) and worshipped
as Shiva. The Nayakar Community erects these Hero Sthambas in memory of their
ancestors. Since their main job was to rear cattle, the Hero Sthambas had the
bas relief of the deity which they worship, Shiva Lingam, Krishna, Cattle, killing
the wild animals, which they tried to kill the cattle, rituals, celebrations, and
some Heroic actions of their ancestors. In this hero sthamba, a Shiva Linga is shown
with Rishabam and a Purushamrugam in a worshipping posture on the top, and below
is Krishna playing the flute and the cattle around him.
The Hero Sthamba was under a 4 pillar mandapam, and the same had fallen down. Efforts are on to erect this Hero Sthamba.
As per the experts, this Hero Sthamba belongs to the 16th – 17th
century, Nayaka’s period.
Similar Hero Sthambas available in the Kongu Region were
recorded in this blog. The details of the Kongu Hero Sthambas are…
2. Kethanur
3. Amandakadavu
LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
wonderful relics
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