Pidari Amman Temple/ Saptamatrikas Temple/ Hero Stones/ வீரக்கற்கள்/ நடுகற்கள், Mamandur, Mamandur/ Mamandur Thenpathi Village, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Pidari Temple, a Grama Devathai Temple, at Mamandur - Thenpathi, was part of the "Gajaprishta Vimana temple's Visit" on 10th October 2026. This temple is on the north side of Sri Picheeswarar Temple, a Gajaprishta Vimana Temple. This temple is also in the midst of the paddy fields, like the Shiva Temple.

Moolavar: Sri Pidari Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces west with a trishul and a balipeedam. In the sanctum, Pidari is at the centre with jwala makuda, and on both sides are the Saptamatrikas. (Saptamatrikas – Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi). Usually, Vinayagar and Yogeswarar/ Shiva will be on both sides of the Saptamatrikas group.

There are 4 Hero Stones installed under a neem tree facing east.

 Pidari

 Varahi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with bricks without vimanam. The construction does not follow any temple architectural style. No koshtas are provided.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the iconography, the Saptamatrikas group may belong to the Pallava period. 

HERO STONES/ MEMORIAL STONES

TITLE              : Hero Stones  

PLACE             : Mamandur - Thenpathi

LOCATION       : In the midst of the paddy field.

PERIOD           :16th to 17th Century.

DETAILS         :

The Hero stones are in the form of bas-reliefs. This group consists of 4 hero stones. All Heros hold a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left hand. One Hero is shown riding on a horse with a raised sword.

As per the experts, these Hero Stones are erected in memory of the Heroes who were killed in a war.  

HOW TO REACH

The Mamandur Thenpathi is on the GST Road, just after Chengalpattu Palar Bridge, and the temple is 1 km from the GST Road. 

The temple is 11 km from Chengalpattu, 25 km from Madurantakam, and 40 km from Tambaram and Melmaruvathur.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Hero Stones / Veerakallu/ வீரக்கல்/ Memorial Stones at Thudaiyur, Allur, Thiruppaigngneeli, Thiruvasi and Thiruvanai Koil of Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Hero Stones was a part of, was a part of “திருச்சி மரபு நடை -Tiruchirappalli Heritage Walk”, from 18^th to 19^th July 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”. This is a consolidated post of Hero Stones seen at various places during the above Heritage Walk.

226.01

PLACE             : Thudaiyur

LOCATION       : Sri Kalingai Amman Temple

TITLE              : Memorial Stones/ Hero stones / Pattan kal   

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS         :

(https://maps.app.goo.gl/3v1cpV4K59i2U2sV6)

This hero, Memorial, and Pattan Kal are erected on the east side of Sri Kalingayi Amman Temple, which is on the back side of the Thudaiyur Shiva Temple. In this, there are two sets of Male and female, and single-person Hero / Memorial stones. All males are shown with a sword in their right hand and a shield in their left hand. The Heroes are with Nayaka period tufts and big mustaches. These memorial stones are locally called Pattan Kal, i.e., erected in memory of a Hero who lost his life in a war.   

226.02

PLACE             : Allur

LOCATION       : Mandabathayi- Thoongan Temple

TITLE              : Hero Stones    

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS          :

(https://maps.app.goo.gl/wZXxQyFeHbXFraXt9)

Pattan Kal - Allur Thoongan Swami Temple (Near Shiva Temple)

These Hero stones are at Thoongan Swami Temple near the Allur Nakkan Koil alias Sri Pasupatheeswarar Shiva Temple. There, a flat stone is installed and identified as “Pattan Kal”. Pattan means a person who died due to some heroic action or died in war. The speciality of this Pattan Kal of flat stone without an image of the Hero.   

226.03

PLACE             : Thiruppaigngneeli, Manachanallur. 

LOCATION       : Sri Gneeliwaneshwarar Temple

TITLE              : Arikandam Hero Stone    

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS          :

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kws7XNiqX1mHJUhf9

This Hero stone is along with the loose sculptures: Amman, Deity image, Rishabam, etc., is kept under a Neem tree in front of the unfinished Rajagopuram. The Hero is shown cutting his head with a sword, holding both hands. The Hero is shown with a Nayaka-style tuft and elongated earlobes.

226.04

PLACE             : Thiruvellarai

LOCATION       : Sri Swastikawell

TITLE              : Hero Stone/ Memorial Stone    

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS          :

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zREBQ2GfVFSum3pPA

These Hero stones are single, along with Lady statues. All males are shown with a sword in their right hand and a shield in their left hand, found in an abandoned, dilapidated temple on the east side of the swastika well at Thiruvellarai. The heroes have big mustaches. The Heroes and their wives are shown with Nayaka-style big tufts.

226.05

PLACE             : Thiruvanaikoil

LOCATION       : Sri JambukeswararTemple

TITLE              : Arikanda Hero Stone    

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS          :

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cEDKWSZ65qy83M2p9

This Arikanda  Hero Stone is on the right side of the Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanai Koil, Rajagopuram. The Hero is cutting his head with his right hand, holding the tuft with his left hand. The Hero is shown with a Nayaka-style big tuft and big moustache. He wears ornaments around the neck and elongated earlobes. The Hero wears a half-dress below his waist, and a kattar is tied to his hip.  

226.06

PLACE             : Woraiyur / Uraiyur

LOCATION       : Sri PanchavarneswararTemple

TITLE              : Arikanda Hero Stone    

PERIOD           : 17th to 19th century

DETAILS          :

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NbQstHzAKtkHARQv8

This Arikanda  Hero Stone is in front of the Uraiyur Sri Panchavarneswarar Temple, Rajagopuram. This arikanda Hero Stone is visible above the neck. The details of the hero below the neck are not known. The Hero is cutting his head with his right hand, holding the tuft with his left hand. The Hero is shown with a Nayaka-style big tuft and big mustache.

226.07

PLACE             : Thiruvasi

LOCATION       : Sri Matrurai Varadeeswarar Temple

TITLE              : Navakanda Hero Stone    

PERIOD           : 16th to 17th century

DETAILS          :

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xiv4ZnafabqhoUcJ8

The Navakanda Hero Stone is installed in the inner praharam along with deity images. The hero is shown cutting his head with a sword in his right hand and holding the tuft in his left hand. The hero is keeping his left knee on the ground, and his right knee is up, similar to Garudasana.  He wears a half-dress from his hips up to the bottom. He is shown with a big mustache.  

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

“Hero Stones of Coorg /Kodagu – Madikeri Fort Museum”, at Madikeri Fort, Fort Rd, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Kodagu District, Karnataka

The visit to these Hero Stones in Madikeri Fort, at Madikeri, in Kodagu District, Karnataka, was part of the “Kodagu Heritage Walk”, from 22^nd to 24^th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

In this museum, art objects belong to the Gangas, Kongalvas-Changalvas, the Hoysals, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayakas of Belur, the local chief, and the British period. The belongings of General Field Marshal Kariyappa, the post-independence war hero, are also preserved in this museum. The exhibits include the Hindu and Jain stone and bronze images, varieties of swords, odikattis belonging to the Virarajendra period, folklore objects, guns, and hero stones of various periods. The Hero stones are collected from various parts of Karnataka, especially from the Kodagu region.

HERO AND SATI STONES

PLACE             : Madikeri

LOCATION       : Madikeri Fort Museum

TITLE              : Hero and Sati Stones  

PERIOD           : 16^th – 17th century

DETAILS          :

The Hero and Sati stones are kept on display in the Madikeri Museum, which is a collection of Hero and Sati Stones collected from various parts of Kodagu District. Of these, one is a Yanai Kuthi Pattan Kal, i.e., the Hero fought with an elephant and died. Another one, nadukal, was established for cattle. The rest are Sati Stones. One of the interesting Sati Stones belongs to Kodavas Tribal community.

LOCATION OF THE MUSEUM: CLICK HERE

 Hero Stone - Yanaikuthi Pattan Kal

 Hero Stone erected for cattle with inscriptions 

 

The following are Sati Stones, which include Coorg Tribals

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---