14th August 2017.
Marayoor, Dolmens and Rock art visit was planned on 13th Aug 2017,
about two months before and booked the train ticket too. But the plan was changed last week, to visit Hero stones and Neolithic
tools near Belur on Saturday, 12th Aug 2017 and proceed to
Marayoor. Travelled through bus from
Perungalathur along with Raja, since we could not get the train tickets due short
notice. Found very difficult to get seat
at Perungalathur due to heavy crowd. The reason was consecutively leave for 4
days to many of the software industries and Offices.
Boarded in a TNSTC, Salem bus, Raja asked me to sit in the only one
available seat and he travelled sitting on
floor till Valapady ( Sorry Raja ). Had our bath in a lodge at Valapady ( The
Lodge charged us an exorbitant rate of Rs 200 for two hours stay that too only to
take bath ). Dr Udhaya Shankar,
Srinivasan and Perumal joined with us
from Valapady. Hired a Maruti Omni and started our visit after breakfast,
Our first stop was at Belur. Seen already these inscription stones during Belur Heritage Walk organized by the Salem
Historical Research Center. Most of the Hero stones and Neolithic stones are in
the tribal Villages. Some of the Heroes were died due to hit of multiple arrows
maximum of 5.
I extend my sincere thanks to M/s Aaragalur Pon
Venkatesan, Dr Ponnambalam, Kalai selvan, Srinivasan and Perumal of Salem Historical Research Center for providing me details and special thanks to
Perumal for accompanying with us
throughout our Heritage visit.
MOOKKARUPPU INSCRIPTION STONE ( மூக்கறுப்பு நடுகல் ), AT BELUR.
This is the 17th century, Thirumalai
Nayakar period mookkaruppu inscription
stone. The Kanthiruva Narasa of Mysore king under stood wrongly that Thirumalai
Nayakar was the key person for attacking
Mysore by Bijapur Sultan. So Mysore army
under the leadership of Kembayya marched to Madurai. On the way to Madurai he cut
the nose with upper lip of those are
found, including children. With the help of Ramanathapuram King Sethupathy,
Thirumalai Nayaks chased Kembayya away from the territory. To take a revenge,
of this Thirumalai nayakar also send his
brother Kumaramuthu Nayakar and he cut the nose with upper lips of those found
on the way to Mysore. It was told that large amount of gift was given for the upper lip with
mustache.
KOMARIKAL, AT BELUR
This inscription stone was erected for the cattle
infected with disease After pooja to
this inscription stone the cattle will made to circumambulate this stone to get
cure from the disease.
CHOZHA INSCRIPTION STONE, AT SRI ANGALAMMAN TEMPLE BELUR
This is a 10th century Chozha King Parantaka-I's, 41st year rule inscription stone ( partial ) unearthed during excavation. This
has 8 lines starts with ‘ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ
மதிரையும் ஈழமுது கொண்ட கோப்பரகேசரி பன்மருக்கு”. This is the title of Parantaka Chozha-I and it is an
evidence that Belur region was under the direct rule of Chozha’s.
MENHIR & CAIRN CIRCLES AT THUMBAL
Though Dr. Ponnambalam couldn’t come along with us,
arranged a person to show the Menhir and the Cairn circles at Thumbal. The
menhir is about 6 feet high erected at the center of the Cairn circle. It was
noticed that the menhir is under worship. There is a stone contains the reliefs
of Ladies. Since this is erected very near to the cairn Circle with menhir,
this may to show some rituals followed. There were about 20 cairn circles on foot
hills of Thumbal. All of them are disturbed. We used to the iron slags near
Cairn Circles at various places like, Kodumanal, Thiruporur, Aamoor etc. But we
could not see any iron slags at Thumbal.
INSCRIPTION STONE, THURUGOOR, SRI VALLABHA GANAPATI TEMPLE.
The inscription stone belongs to Parantaka Chozha
Period. The inscription contains 19 lines speaks about the gold given as a
penalty to the temple for burning a perpetual lamp for the
Kalaiyankali’s death due to clash between two villagers. The inscription starts
with “ஸ்வத்ஸ்ரீ கோப்பரகேசரி பன்மற்கி யாண்டு நாலாவது
துறவு நாட்டுதுருகூரும்…”
LOCATION:
HERO STONES, AATHU VALAVU
There are two hero stones erected under a tamarind
tree. The third side inscription stone was fallen down. The inscription stone
belongs to 10th Century Uthama Chozha Period. The inscription
mentions the name of a person Chiruman who died during the process of
recovering the cattle from the enemies and other persons name is not
written. The inscription goes like this…ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ
உத்தம சேழற்கு யாண்டெட்டாவது துறவி நாட்டு துருகூரிருந்து வாழும் முடாவச்சாத்தன் சிறுமன்
நிரை மீட்டுப்பட்டான்…..
HERO STONE, AT YELUPULI ( ஏழுபுளி )
Based on the hair style and the relief projection,
experts of the opinion that this hero stone may be belongs to Pallava Period.
At the feet of the hero stone there are some Neolithic tools also. The Hero
stone and the Neolithic tools are under worship.
HERO STONES, AT PUZHUTHI KUTTAI
These hero stones are in the midst of the beetle
nut tree farm. Based on the style of inscriptions the experts of the opinion
that these hero stones belongs to Chozha Period. The inscriptions are not
readable and hence the details are not known. In the big Hero stone provision
was chiseled for burning an oil lamp.
HERO STONE, CHINNAKUTTI MADUVU.
This hero stone is erected in the midst of the
filed, and now in a slanting position due to age. Located in a beautiful
location and seems awesome. The Photos,
details and Location will be up loaded after the article published.
NEOLITHIC TOOLS AT SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE AT, CHINNAKUTTI MADUVU.
Stone age tools are dumped at the Sri Mariamman
Temple front mandapam. These tools includes stones used for sharpening the
tools also. It was told that these tools are erected under the Vinayagar
Statue. Reason for dumping here is not known.
SATI STONE, AT CHINNAKUTTI MADUVU.
This half buried Sati stone belongs to 18th or 19th
century. Erected in a field little before the village under an athi tree
at Chinnakutti Maduvu. In the image a Man is shooting a tiger with
his rifle. His wife is shown on his left. This is clear with eyes and eyebrows
and a rifle, hence it belongs to latter period.
HERO STONES AT PERIYAKUTTI MADUVU
These hero stones belongs to Chozha period erected
in the midst of the field in Erikadu of
Periyakutti maduvu. The 11th century bigger hero stone has the
inscription on the side. The hero died due to hitting of 5 arrows. The hero was
shown with sword on right hand and bow on the left hand, which shows that he
must be a master of both. The hero’s name is Senan and belongs to Chandrathitha
kula. Experts of the opinion that a caste formed combining both Chandra and
Surya Kulas. The Smaller Hero stone
belongs to 12th century with out any inscriptions.
NEOLITHIC TOOLS AT PERIYAKUTTI MADUVU
These Neolithic tools are erected along with
Vinayagar and worshiped as Vinayagar Swamy. We could find various types and
sizes of tools used by the stone age peoples.
HERO STONE AT SIRUMALAI.
This hero stone is without any image and has only
the inscriptions. The Hero stone belongs to Kulothunga Chozhan–I, period. This hero stone was
erected for the Chirumalai soldier
Aranamudayan Puyilan Senthan kesan who was killed in the war. This now stands on the boundary of a field. Also we had
seen some Neolithic tools under a tamarind tree trunk along with sharpening
stones.
சிறுமலையில் நடந்த பூசலில் இறந்த தோட்டப்
படப்பையை சேர்ந்த அரணமுடையான் புயிலன் செந்தன் கேசன் என்பவனுக்காக எடுக்கப்பட்ட நடுகல்.
கல் வெட்டின் வாசகங்கள் இதோ…
(திரி) புவநச் சக்க(ரவத்திகள்) ஸ்ரீ குலோத்துங்
(க சோழ) தேவற்கு இயா(ண்)டு இரு (பத்)து நாலாவ(தி)ல் மகதை(நா)-டா(ழ்) வார் சேலஞ்(சூ)ற்றிய் (இ)-னாட்டைச் சிறுமலையில் (கா)-ணத்தில்
தோட் பக்க (ப்)-டப்பில் இருக்கும் அரணமு-டையான் புயிலன் சேந்த—ந் நான கேசந் எந் மண்ண-ழிய
வந்திடத்தில் படை .னய் காத மாறு கெடுத்து எய்த
புயிலன் கேச-நேந் பட்டேந்..
