The
visit to this Group of Hero Stones at Tiruvottiyur was a part of “Hero Stones
and Siddhars of Tiruvottiyur Visit”, on 11th September, 2022.
During Pallavas, Chozhas and Pandyas period, the Kings are being guarded by warriors, who took an oath /
vow, before Kotravai / ( Latter ) Durgai to give navakandam, arikandam, Thoongu
thalai etc, if anything happens to King, after crossing them. The reason may be
due to the negligence of the warrior / guards or over powered by the enemies forces. The Chozhas had the army force called “Vela
Padai” and the Pandyas had the “AapathuthavikaL”, a special warrior group, who
guards the King always.
There are many reasons
for giving Navakandam before Kotravai or Durgai.
- When the victory couldn’t be assured, during war, the hero will sacrifice him self in front of Durga, believing that Durgai will give victory.
- For the wellbeing of the King or Queen.
- A person found guilty and declared to be killed, took Navakandam with the permission of the King, to die as Hero.
- When a person expecting death in the war or due to decease and left some commitments to be completed, prayed to Durgai to extend his life. After completion of the Commitment, the person will sacrifice himself in front of Durgai.
Sacrificing by the Heroes will be done in many ways. They are, Navakandam, arikandam, Thoongu thalai etc,. In Navakandam, the hero will cut the blood vessels on 9 places of his
body and finally cuts his head. In Arikandam, the hero will hold his head with
one hand and cuts off his head with the other hand. In memory of the Hero,
his blood relatives used to erect Hero stone which contains the image of the
warrior, which depicts the incidence of the Hero’s death.
A Group of 8 Such warriors
Hero stones are under worship on the North Mada Street of Tiruvottiyur. These Hero stones belongs to 9th
Century Pallava period. It was learnt that, sacrificing was done in front of
Vattaparai Amman sannidhi of Sri Padampakka Nathar Temple / Adhipureeswrar
Temple of Thiruvottiyur. Even now we can see an entrance on the high Compound
wall in front of Vattaparai Amman Sannidhi.
NAVAKANDA ARIKANDA HERO STONES
Out of the 8 heroes stones
7 Hero Stones are Arikanda Hero Stones. These Hero stones are little different
from the similar hero stones available in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Here all
the Heroes are in knelt position. The same posture can be seen on the Kotravai
Panels at Mahabalipuram, Thirupullamangai and other places. All the heroes are holding the sword on
their right hand and holding the tuft on the left hand. All the heroes are wearing
ornaments on the neck and half dress below the waist.
THOONGUTHALAI HERO STONE.
Out of eight
Navakandam Arikandam Hero Stones, one near Veerabhadra idol is a Thoonguthalai
Hero Stone. Usually in this form, the hero will be sitting in padmasana. The
hands will be in meditation posture or Anjali hastam. His head will be tied to
a bamboo sort of a stick. After Poojas to Durgai, a person will chop the hero’s
head with sword. As soon as the head is cut, the head will be lifted upwards.
But in this case the hero himself is cutting his head with his sword in knelt
position.
The process of
giving Thoonguthalai is recorded in the Sangam literatures like Manimegalai,
Kalingathuparani etc,. Few lines of the poems
are as given below..
“உலையா உள்ளமொடு உயிர்க்கடனிறுத்தோர் தலைதூங்கு நெடுமரம்….”
“வீங்குதலை நெடுங்கழையின் விசைதொறும்
திசைதொறும் விழித்துநின்று தூங்குதலை….”
LOCATION OF THE HERO STONES : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
