Pulikuthi Nadukal / Pulikuthi Hero Stone, Voipadi, ( Vadamugam ) Kangayapalayam, Kangayapalayam, Pongupalayam, Semba Gounden Palayam and Naduvacheri, Erode & Tirupur Districts, Tamil Nadu.

A Hero stone is erected for persons, to those lost their lives, in a war or to save people / cattle from wild animals, or to save the Village from the enemies. These types of acts will be considered as bravery and extraordinary. Some times after Hero’s death, his wife may took Sati by jumping in the funeral pyre and even separately by creating fire. This was mentioned in sangam literatures also. The sangam literatures gives the details of reasons for erecting a and process of erecting Hero stones.

As per the  Chozhan Poorva Pattayam, Chera and Chozha Kings created the Villages after clearing the forests. The continuation of the western Ghats, the forests spreads throughout Kongu region. When the forests are converted for habitation and cultivation the wild animals started intruding  these areas in search of food, especially the Tigers.  To save their cattle and people, from these Tigers, brave people has to fight with the tigers and in the process they will loose their lives. Most of the Hero stones found in the Kongu region is of Pulikuthi Hero stones. In this article we can see some of the hero stones erected in some Villages between Uthukuli to Avinashi.     

Pulikuthi Nadukal  / Hero Stone is in the premises of Sri Vakrakaliamman Temple at Voipadi.

The Nadukal is beautifully sculptured. The hero kills the tiger with katars holding in both hands. The katars are shown protruding on the tiger’s back. The tiger is shown on Hero’s left side keeping its front legs on the right hand thigh of the hero.  The Hero wears ornaments in his elongated earlobes, around neck and hands. A big mustache with a Vijayanagara style tuft is shown. He wears a half dress below his hip with a Kattar holder / Kattar.

The Inscription on the Pulikuthi Nadukal reads as…

1. ..௵ ஆடி ௨௰௫ ௳
2. வ.....
3. டிகண்
4. யளன்(?)
5. தருமன்
6. மகன்
7. பெரம
8. ண்ட(?)

Shanmuga Sundaram Gurukkal  of this Vakrakaliamman temple  may be contacted on his mobile  +91 8637452856, if the temple is closed, for further details.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

Pulikuthi Nadukal / Pulikuthi Hero Stones, 2 Nos, ( Vadamugam ) Kangayapalayam, Tiruppur District.

These two pulikuthi hero stones are installed on both sides of a memorial stone. In the memorial stone the person or the Hero is shown in worshiping posture with a big mustache.

One the left side pulikuthi nadukal / hero Stone, the hero kills the Tiger with a spear. A dog is shown between the hero and Tiger, biting the tiger. The tiger is shown on his right side, keeping its front legs on Hero’s right hand and hip. His tuft is shown on his left side and wears ornaments in the elongated earlobes and around neck. A big mustache is shown on his face. A half dress is also shown below his hip.

In the right side Pulikuthi Hero stone, the hero is shown killing the Tiger with a spear. The tiger is shown on his right side. The Tiger keeps its front legs on the hero’s shoulder and hip. His tuft is shown on the left and wears ornaments in his elongated earlobes and around neck. A big mustache is shown on his face. He wears a half dress below his hip and the hero is looking straight.

RE-INSTALLATION

There is an interesting story about the re-installation of these Pulikuthi hero stones. As per Mr Ponnusamy  of வீரராசேந்திரன் தொல்லியல் மற்றும் வரலாற்று ஆய்வு மையம், Tiruppur, These hero stones are worshiped by one Mr Eswaran of Avinashi. During Mr Ponnusamy’s visit these hero stones are dumped inside the bush and shrubs. When Ponnusamy Contacted Mr Eswaran, he told that they couldn’t take out of the bush, when they tried. Further told that, as per their Guru, these hero stones may come back to this world by the effort of only one person who has gap between the teeth. Since the said identification was matched with Mr Ponnusamy, he was involved in taking out these two hero stones out of the bush and erected on the same place. As per the Historians these Pulikuthi Hero stones belongs to 16^th Century.

LOCATION OF THESE PULIKUTHI HERO STONES : CLICK HERE

Pulikuthi Nadukal / Hero Stone, Pongupalayam, Tiruppur District.

This pulikuthi Hero stone is on the opposite side of Mariamman Temple at Pongupalayam. A drainage is passing by the side of this Pulikuthi Hero Stone. It was told that this pulikuthi hero stone was lying in that area for a long time and the children were playing on it. The leg portion of the hero stone is found damaged.

புலிகுத்தி பட்டான் நடுகல்.

இந்த புலிகுத்தி பட்டான் வீர நடுகல் திருப்பூர் மாவட்டம் பொங்குபாளையம் கிராமத்தில், திருப்பூர் வீரராஜேந்திரன் தொல்லியல் மற்றும் வரலாற்று ஆய்வு மையத்தினரால் மீண்டும் இவ்வுலகிற்கு அடையாளப் படுத்தப்பட்டது. இவ்வகையான நடுகற்கள் கல்வெட்டுக்களுடனும் கல்வெட்டு இன்றியும் கொங்கு மண்டலத்தில் அதிகமாகக் காணப்படுகின்றன. அதில் வட்டெழுத்து கல்வெட்டுடன் காணப்படுவது ஒரு சிறப்பு ஆகும். இந்த புலிகுத்திப்பட்டான் வீர நடுகல் சுமார் 1200 வருடங்களுக்கு முற்பட்டதாக ஆய்வாளர்களால் கருதப்படுகின்றது.

அக்காலத்தில் கொங்கு மண்டலம், காடுகளாகவும் மேச்சல் நிலமுமாகவே இருந்திருக்கின்றது. காடுகளில் வேட்டைச் சமுதாயமாக வாழ்ந்த மக்கள், ஓரிடத்தில் தங்கி ஆடுமாடு வளர்த்தும் விவசாயம் செய்தும் வாழ்ந்தனர். அப்படி அவர்கள் வளர்க்கும் கால் நடைகளை வேட்டையாட வரும் புலிகளுடன் போரிட்டு இறந்துபட்ட வீரர்களுக்காக நடுகற்கள் எடுக்கப்பட்டன.    

தற்போது பொங்குபாளையத்தில் மீண்டும் அடையாளப்படுத்தப்பட்ட புலிகுத்தி பட்டான் வீரநடுகல் 65 செமீ அகலம், 120 செமீ உயரம் கொண்டது. வீரனின் தலை வலதுபுறம் சாய்ந்த நிலையில் உள்ளது. வலது கையில் உள்ள ஈட்டியால் புலியின் கழுத்துப் பகுதியைக் குத்தும் வகையிலும் இடது கையை, தன்னைத் தாக்கும் புலியைத் தடுக்கும் வகையிலும் வீரநடுகல் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. வீரன் இடுப்பிற்கு கீழே அரையாடையுடனும்,  காது, கழுத்துப் பகுதிகளில் அணிகலன்களும், கையில் வீரக் காப்பும் அணிந்து காட்டப்பட்டு இருக்கின்றார்.

புலி பாயும் நிலையில் முன்னங்கால் இரண்டும் வீரனின் இடுப்புப் பகுதியிலும் பின்னங்கால்கள் இரண்டும் வீரனின் இடதுகால் அருகேயும் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன.     

இவ்வீரக்கல்லின் இடதுபுறம் மேலே வெற்றிடத்தில் 6 வரிகளைக் கொண்ட வட்டெழுத்துக்கல்வெட்டு கானப்படுகின்றது. கல்வெட்டு முதல் இரண்டு வரிகள் அடையாளம் காண முடியாத அளவிற்கு மிகவும் சேதமடைந்த நிலையில்  காணப்படுகின்றது. மீதி இருக்கும் கல்வெட்டுகளில் தேவரு, லிகு, (த்)தி பட்டார், கல் போன்ற ஓரிரு வார்த்தைகள் மட்டுமே அடையாளப்படுத்த முடிகின்றது. 

தொல்லியல் துறை வரலாற்றுப் பேராசிரியர் எ.சுப்புராயலு உதவி இயக்குநர் (ஓய்வு) மற்றும் ர.பூங்குன்றன் ஆகியோரின் கூற்றுப்படி  தேவரு என்பவர் இப்பகுதியில் இருந்த கால்நடைச் செல்வங்களைப் புலியிடம் இருந்து காப்பாற்றியபோது, புலி தாக்கி இருந்துவிட்டார். அவரது வீரத்தையும், தியாகத்தையும் போற்றி வழிபடும் வகையில் இவ்வீரநடுகல், 1200 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

PULIKUTHI HERO STONE

This Pulikuthi Pattan Hero stone was identified from the Village Pongupalayam near Tiruppur city, Tiruppur Veerarajendran Archaeology and History Research Centre. This type of Pulikuthi Hero Stone is found in many places in Kongu Mandalam. These Pulikuthi Hero Stones are with and without inscriptions. The speciality of this Hero stone is with Vattezhuthu inscription. As per the historians, this Hero stone maybe 1200 years old.

1200 years before the Kongu Mandalam was with forest and plain lands. The people, after hunting, settled in one place and cultivated lands and rear cattle.  People used to fight with wild animals like tigers to save their cattle. In the process, some people may be killed, and Hero stones will be erected in memory of the Heroes, who are killed. 

The Pongupalayam Pulikuthi Pattan Hero Stone measures 65 cm in width and is 120 cm tall. The Hero’s head is a little slanting position. Ornaments are shown over the neck, ears, and hands. A half dress is shown below his waist. The hero is killing the tiger with a spear in the right hand and the left hand near the tiger's mouth.

The Tiger is shown in a flowing /jumping position, keeping its front legs on the hip of the Hero.

On the top of the hero stone, a 6-line inscription is found. The first two lines are completely damaged. Only a few words like Thevaru, Liku, (th)thi, Pattar, and kal are identified. As per the Historians A Subbarayalu and R. Poongundran, the Hero Thevaru might have been killed by the tiger in the process of saving the cattle. In memory of the Hero, this Hero stone was erected about 1200 years before.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

Maybe a Sati stone near the Pulikuthi Pattan Hero stone 

LOCATION OF THE PULIKUTHI HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

2021 Visit

Pulikuthi Padukal / Pulikuthi Hero Stone / Sati Stone, Semba Gounden Palayam, Tiruppur District.

This Pulikuthi Hero stone cum Sati stone is inside a Coconut palm tree farm. The style of carvings are very much similar to the Voipadi Pulikuthi Hero stone. His tuft is shown on his back with a big mustache. He wears ornaments in his elongated earlobes, around neck and hands. He wears half dress below his hip. A big mustache is shown below his nose. The hero Kills the tiger with Katars on both hands. The Tiger is keeping its front legs on his right hand.

His wife who took sati after his death is shown on his left side. She is holding a toddy pot in her right hand. She is shown wearing ornaments in her elongated earlobes, around neck and hands. Her left hand is holding her hip. Dress is shown up to her ankle.    

LOCATION OF THE PULIKUTHI HERO STONE     : CLICK HERE

Pulikuthi Kal / Hero Stone  at Vinayagar Temple, Naduvacheri, Tiruppur District.  

This Pulikuthi hero stone is installed inside a Vinayagar temple, just opposite to sri Angalamman Temple. This pulikuthi hero stone is made of mica rich stone and most of the details are eroded due to age. The Hero is killing the Tiger with kattars in both hands. He wears ornaments  in his elongated earlobes, hands and around the neck. He wears a half dress below his hip and the tuft is shown straight.

LOCATION OF THIS PULIKUTHI HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Hero Stone, at Sri Ravimangalanathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ரவிமங்கலநாதர் ஆலயம் / காளமேடு, Kaala Medu, and in a Amman Temple V P Puthur / Thathanaikenpatti, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu

The visit to these Hero stones at Kaala Medu and V P Puthur near Palani in Dindigul District was a part of Visit to Rock arts, in Natural caves / Shelters, in Dindigul District near Palani on 3^rd July 2024. Thanks to Thenkongu Sathasivam, who took us ( Mrs. Sakthi Prakash and Mr. Srinivasan ) to this location of the Hero stone.

Hero Stone with vattezhuthu Inscriptions at Sri RaviMangalanathar Temple, Kaala Medu, Near Palani, Dindigul District.

This Hero stone was once dumped on the road side. The same was brought inside the temple premises and installed. Thanks to Thenkongu Sathasivan for the efforts taken. This hero stone is in a highly eroded condition, both bas relief and the Vattezhuthu inscription. In this two persons are shown. What are the weapons they are carrying is not known. A small dog is shown between their legs.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

 A small dog is shown between their legs

Arikanda Hero stone at an Amman Temple near Kaala Medu, V P Puthur, Thathanaikenpatti, Near Palani, Dindigul District.

Two Arikanda Hero stones with identical bas reliefs are installed in the premises of an Amman Temple. These two arikanda Hero stones are measuring 1.5 feet tall and one feet width. In these Ari kanda Hero stones Both heroes are shown cutting their heads with sword holding in both hands. The heroes are wearing ornaments around the neck and the tuft is shown above their head.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONES       : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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. 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.  

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 ---

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

 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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 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 ---