Hero Stone, Sowdapuram/ Southapuram / சௌதாபுரம், Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Hero stone at Sowdapuram / Sowthapuram  in Namakkal District was a part of “Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit”- on 23^rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthi Prakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. This Hero stone is little different from other hero stones erected for a Lady. This Hero stone is on the west banks of the Semoor Periya Lake. Locals calls this Hero stone as “Kuravan- Kurathi kal- குறவன் குறத்திகல்“. During Rainy season it be difficult to approach this Hero Stone.

In this hero Stone A lady and a man with a sword pointing her chest. Inscriptions are found on the top of the Hero Stone. As per the inscriptions the man Semoor Ilayappan’s Son Sangan, killed the lady ie Gunamayan’s Devi. The actual reason is not known. The inscription reads as… 

   

"சேமூர் இளையப்பன் மகன் சங்கன் என்பவன் குணம்மயனின் தேவியை கொன்றான் "

Since the actual reasons are known, there are some legends circulates among the local people.

As per the legend, the lady tried to raise the banks of the Semoor Periya eri, for the benefit of the people, which was objected by 6 families of this Village. So the 6 family members, instigate her husband by spreading rumours, which made the Husband to kill the lady.

In another legend, 6 families instigate her husband, spreading rumours and tortured her. Unable to tolerate the torture, She cursed the 6 families, jumped in to the lake and died. Due to the curse except one or two families, the others died and that two families do not have children.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA --- 

Pulikuthi Hero Stone / புலிகுத்திக்கல் at Sri Sellandi Amman Temple, Mallasamudram, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Pulikuthikal a Hero stone in Sri Sellandi Amman Temple at Mallasamudram was a part of “Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit”-  on 23^rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthiprakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. 

In this Pulikuthi hero stone the hero is killing a tiger with a sword. The sword is pierced through the body of the tiger. The hero is wearing a half dress below his waist. He is shown with big mustache and the tuft is straight on his head.

This hero stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th century.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Sellandi Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ செல்லாண்டி அம்மன் கோயில், Mallasamudram, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Sellandi Amman Temple at Mallasamudram was a part of Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit on 23^rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthiprakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. The special features of this temple are the presence of a Pulikuthi Hero stone and a Kulla Deivam for Vellalar, ( one sub sect ) Community.

Moolavar  : Sri Sellandiamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing North with a Deepa sthambam in front of a 5 tier Rajagopuram. An oonjal mandapam is immediately after the Rajagopuram.  A small dwajasthamabam, balipeedam and Simhavahana are under the open mukha mandapam, in front of sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Selliamman in sitting posture with 8 hands holding a soolam, accamala, kamandalam, bowl, knife, damaru, and a severe head.

In praharam, Nagars, Hero Stones, Pulikuthi Hero Stone,  Amman may be Kali amman with Simha vahana.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and open mukha mandapam. The total temple was built with cement concrete. A 3 tier salakara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may be of 500 years old and the same was reconstructed during recent years. The temple belongs to Vizhiyan kula Kongu Vellala Nattu Gounders.

PULIKUTHI HERO STONE

In this Pulikuthi hero stone the hero is killing a tiger with a sword. The hero is wearing a half dress below his waist. He is shown with big mustache and the tuft is straight on his head.

This hero stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th century.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Fridays, amavasya days, Adi month Fridays, Pradosham, Theipirai ashtami, Sankadahara chaturthi, Pournami, Kruthigai,  and annual festival in the month Aadi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs. to 17.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is on the bus route Thiruchengode to Salem via Attayampatti,  about 20 km from Thiruchengode & Sankari, 25 KM from Salem.

Nearest Railway Station is Sankari Durg.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arikanda / Navakanda Hero Stone at Sri Selli Amman Temple, Keelaiyur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Hero Stone installed in front of a Selli Amman Temple at Keelaiyur, in Ariyalur District was a part of “Perambalur & Ariyalur Districts Heritage Walk” organised by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4^th and 5^th, November 2023. The Selli Amman Temple might have been big with mandapas during Pazhuvettaraiya's period. But, now the temple is only with sanctum sanctorum without Vimanam. The Mandapam pillars and the Vimana kalasa are scattered around the temple. 

 

An Arikanda Hero Stone / Veerakallu is installed in-front of this Selli Amman Temple. Usually Hero stones are installed in front of Amman temples like, Selli Amman, Kotravai, Kali Temples for the Heros who sacrificed their lives, for some specific purpose. The purpose may be for the wellbeing of a King / leader, to win a war, to get cured from a incurable deceases for self or his loved ones, etc,.  These hero stones are erected mostly by his blood relatives, like, brother, father, son, etc. This Hero stone is worshipped as "Savankaruppu" by the Locals.

The Hero stone is about 3 feet tall above the Ground. The Hero is in kneeled posture holding a sword in the right hand and left hand is firmly holding the neatly tied tuft. His right leg knee is touching the ground and the foot is up touching the hip. He is wearing ornaments in his elongated earlobes, neck and hands. He is wearing half dress below his waist and a kattar is tied with hip.

Since this Hero stone is without inscription, the exact reason for giving the arikandam is not known. This Hero stone may belongs to Pazhuvettaraiyar period due to the following reasons. This place is very close to Pazhuvettaraiyar’s Capital City, the iconography and Navakanda / arikandam ( usually  done by the soldiers ), etc.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

 

may be kalasam of Selli Amman Temple Vimanam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Hero Stone in an Amman ( Ekathamman ) Temple / Veerakallu /Nadukal / அரிகண்ட நடுகல், Panambakkam, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Hero stone  at Panambakkam, was a Part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples and Hero Stones of Tiruvallur District Visit” on 21^st October 2023.

This Hero stone was installed in front a Chamundi as Ekathamman Temple at Panambakkam. The hero is in kneeled position with right knee is touching the ground ( in Garudasana ). His left hand is holding the tuft and right hand is holding a sword. Usually the sword will be shown on the back of the neck, but in this hero stone the sword is shown in the front. He wears ornaments on the neck, ears and hands.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE         : CLICK HERE

Chamundi as Ekathamman

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arikanda Hero Stone and Saptamatrikas Temple / Veerakallu / Nadukal / அரிகண்ட நடுகல், Lakshmivilasapuram, Pakasalai, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Arikanda Hero stone at Pakasalai, was a Part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples and Hero Stones of Tiruvallur District Visit” on 21^st October 2023.

This Hero Stone is with inscriptions installed in front of a Saptamatrikas temple at Pakasalai. The Hero is in sitting posture with both legs folded. Left hand is holding his tuft and cutting his head with right hand. He is wearing ornaments on the neck, hands and in ears.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYANAMA ---

Pallava Period Hero Stone / Veerakallu / Nadukal / நடுகல் and Kondangi Eri, Kondangi, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Pallava period Hero stone with inscription at Kondangi was a part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples, Hero Stones and Heritage Sites Visit”, from Ponmar to Karunilam, near Guduvanchery, in Chengalpattu District on 24^th October 2023. 

This Hero stone of Kondangi is installed on the south side banks of Kondangi lake. The Hero is shown looking on his left side. Holding a sword on the left hand and a weapon or musical instrument on the right hand near his mouth. The hero is wearing half dress below his waist and a sword is tied to his hip. There is a three line inscription is inscribed bottom of the Hero Stone.

The original inscription reads as....

1.முள்ளிப்பாக்

2.கிழாரு மக்கள்

3.பொ(ன்னம்).

Thanks to Mrs Mangai Veeraraghavan and Mr Veeraraghavan of Villupuram, who brought this hero stone to light and S Rajagopal Sir deciphering the inscription.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Thiruverkadu Hero Stones & Thiruverkadu Panayaathamman Temple/ திருவேற்காடு பனையாத்தம்மன் கோயில், Chennai Metropolitan area, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Panayaathamman Temple at Thiruverkadu is on the banks of Holy River Cooum, where the river changes its course from west to east to North to south, considered to be an auspicious place. Sri Panayaathamman is a Villages Guarding Deity or Grama Thevathai.  The temple is under the control of Siva Sri Ananda Swamigal of Sri Panayaathamman Charitable Trust.

Moolavar  : Sri Panayaathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with Sanctum sanctorum. The Sanctum sanctorum is without Vimanam. Amman is in Sitting posture with 4 hands. The upper hands are holding Damaru and Pasam and Lower hands are holding Knife and bowl. Amman’s Vahana Simham with a Trishul is in front of the temple.

Vinayagar with Nagars and  Navagrahas are in the praharam.

HERO STONES.

The speciality of this temple is the presence of 3 Hero stones. All the three hero stones are erected facing North direction. These three hero stones are worshipped as Muniswaran, Katteri Amman and Ondi Veeran Swamy.  All the three Hero stones may belongs to 14^th to 15^th Century, based on the style of inscriptions.

Muniswaran… This hero stone is a smaller one is a Navakanda Hero Stone. The Hero is holding a knife ( Cutting the head ) in the left hand and right hand is holding a sword, which is resting on the ground. The Hero wears ornaments and a half dress below the waist. A Broken piece of the hero stone with inscriptions is on the back side of the Hero Stone. The Hero must be a left hander, based on the holding of the sword.

Katteri Amman …  Why this hero stone is identified as a female is not known. The hero is in standing posture, holding a sword in both hands on the back side of the neck. He wears ornament and a half dress below his waist. A kattar is tied with his hip. His tuft is straight and tied. Inscription is found on the back side of the hero stone.

Ondi Veeran Swamy...  The hero is in standing posture with both legs bend on the right side, but his face is facing at the front. He is wearing ornaments on the neck and half dress below his waist. He hold the sword with two hands similar to the centre hero stone. Some inscriptions are found on the band above the hero’s head.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala Pooja is conducted, the opening and closing the temple is unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Panayaathamman temple is about 50 meters from Thiruverkadu Shiva Temple, 1.3 KM from Devi Karumariamman Temple, 6 KM from Avadi, 12 KM from Koyambedu and 20 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.

Nearest Railway Station is Avadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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 sword in both hands and the rest 5 Hero stones, cutting their head with right hand and holding the tuft in the left hand. 

SOUTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE

NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE

These  Hero stones belongs 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 Naidupet bus Stand

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---