HERO, SATI & NAVAKANDA STONES, PULIKUTHI KARKAL, VEERA KALLU, நடு கற்கள்.

The hero stones/ Nadukarkal in Tamil are erected in remembrance of a hero who lost his life either in a battle/ war,  in the process of recovering the cattle, or killing wild animals that attack and kill the villagers/cattle. In some cases, the hero stones are also erected for domestic / pet animals like dogs, Cock, etc, which save the life of their master or the general public.  In addition to the above memorial stones called Navakandam / Arikanda stones, there are also memorial stones erected for the heroes who killed themselves by cutting their heads. This is mainly for the victory of their country in a war between two countries, to save the king from any disease, etc. This used to happen in front of Kotravai. The hero stones are worshiped by their descendants. If a lady, along with the hero, is shown, it means that the hero's wife took sati after the hero's death. These types of nadukarkal are called "Sati Stones".

Some of the hero stones have inscriptions in Tamil vattezhuthu, which speak about the hero's Name, the reason for his death, and the person who erected the hero stone ( only the blood relatives used to erect - Pangalikal ), etc.  Usually, the hero will be holding an arrow, a Bow, a spear, a Sword, or a Shield in his hands. The dress below the waist will be shown. In some of the heroes, stones, and arrows will be shown on the body of the hero, which means the hero died due to the hitting of a single or multiple arrows. The hero stones are mainly found in the districts of  South Arcot, North Arcot, Thiruvannamalai, Erode, Salem, and Dharmapuri, ie north part of Tamil Nadu.

The erection of hero stones has been followed since the 3^rd century BCE. The erection of hero stones and worship are mentioned in the "Sangam literature" Purananooru, Akananooru, Pattinapalai, Aingurunooru, and Malaipadukadam. In 23 places or songs, the hero stones are mentioned. It was also learned from the Sangam literature that the hero stones were erected for the Kings Koperunchozhan and Adhyaman Neduman Anchi. Unfortunately, these hero stones cannot be traced now. The 3 hero stones found by the Archaeology department at Puliman Kombai in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, are believed to be the oldest and belong to the 3^rd Century BCE in India.

Poetry from Purananooru, a Sangam period (300 BCE to 300 CE) Tamil Literature mentions a hero stone of the Chozha King Koperun Chozhan.

நினையாக் கூற்றம் இன் உயிர் உய்த்தன்று

பைதல் ஒக்கல் தழீஇ அதனை

வைகம் வம்மோ வாய்மொழிப் புலவீர்

நனந்தலை உலகம் அரந்தை தூங்கக்

கெடுவில் நல்லிசை சூடி

நடுகல் ஆயினன் புரவலன் எனவே  

(புறநானூறு 221, 8-13)

PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Ariyalur Dist
Kelaiyur	Arikanda Hero stone
Chengalpattu Dist
Indalur	Kozhikal
Irusumanallur	Sati Stone
Kondangi	Pallava period Hero Stone
Manampathy	Navakanda Sculptures
Orathy	Thalaipalikal
Punnamai	Theepanjamman
Chennai Dist
Mambalam-West	Hero Stone
Mint Street	Hero Stone at Rettai Pillayar Temple
Mylapore-Draupati Amm..Temple	Sati and Memorial Stone
Tiruvottiyur	Navakandam, Arikandam & Thoonguthalai
Koyambedu	Sati Stone Theepanja Amman Temple
Coimbatore Dist
Devanampalayam	Hero Stones
Kapplangarai	Sati Stone
Malumixhampatty	Pulikuthi Nadukal
Periyakalanthai	Hero Stone
SP Vadukapalayam Kuttai	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
SP Vadukapalayam Kuttai	Memorial Stone for Musicians
Vadasithur	Sati Stone
Cuddalore Dist
Thillai Kali Amman Temple	Navakanda Nadukarkal
Dindigul Dist
Kalamedu - Amman Temple	Arikanda Hero stone
Kalamedu - Shiva Temple	Hero Stone  with Vattezhuthu inscriptions
Erode Dist
Anthiyur	Hero Stone
Bommanahalli	Pandrikuthi Pattan & Sati Kal
Chennimalai	Navakandam & Temple
Chikka Halli School	Eruthu vandi ottipattaan kal
Chikka Halli School	Karpu neri Kaththu Pattan Kal
Chikka Halli School	Ondikai massti Sati Stone
Gobi Arts & Science	Hero, Sati & Pulikuthi Karkal
Gundri	Pulikuthi Hero Stones
Gundri, Roland Nagar	Arikanda Hero Stone
Iggalore	Eradukai massti Sati Stone
Ingur	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Injampalli	Hero Stones
Kalaimakal School	Pulikuthi and Hero Stones,
Kaliyur	Eruthu vandi ottipattaan kal
Kangeyam	Pulikuthi Karkal
KanjiKoil	Pulikuthi Viran Nadukal
Kavindapadi	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Malayapalayam	Hero Stone
Malayapalayam	Thai Nadukal - A Herds Woman
Marur	Hero Stone & Cairn Circles
Mottanam	Hero Stone
Nambiyur	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Narasamangala	Eruthu vandi ottipattaan kal
Neithalapuram	Sati Stones
Olagadam	Navakanda  & Hero Stone
Palappalayam	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Patlur	Hero Stones
Patlur	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Pazhamangalam	Hero Stone With Song ( VeNba)
Periyapuliyur	Three tier Hero stone at Kali Temple
Perundalaiyur	Pulikuthi Pattan Kal
Sarkar Periyapalayam	Navakanda Statue
Thalavadi	Hero Stone & Pulikuthi Nadukarkal
Thingalur	Hero and Navakandam
Thukkachi	Hero Stone with Rajendra Chozha Meikeerthi
Vijayamangalam	Navakandam Hero Stones
Voipadi	Pulikuthi Nadukal
Kanchipuram Dist
Kachabeswarar Temple	Hero Stone
Kayar	Veeraiyan & Veerayee Memorial stone
Manimangalam	Navakandam Statues - In Shiva Temple
Marakkanam	Hero Stone Navakandam
Melolakkur	Jyeshta Devi and Hero Stones
Munnur	Hero stone - Arikandam
Palur	Navakandam-Sri Pathangeswarar
Karur Dist
Munnur	Chekku & Inscrption Stones
Munnur	Hero Stones
Nerur	Navakanda Hero Stones
Pasupathypalayam	Hero stone
Pavithram	Hero Stone - Horse pattan kal
Krishnagiri Dist
Ar Thalli Koot Road	Hero Stone for Ladies and Sati Stone on boulders
Avalur	Sati Stones
Badethalab Eri	Hero and Sati Stones
Beyanapalli	Hero Stone
Guddapatti	Hero Stone with Parrot
Gullupatti	Sati Stone ( Rifle Nadukal )
Kaveri Pattinam	Pallipadai Temple
Kaveripattinam	Sati Stone
Kundani	Hero and Sati Stones
Kundani	Hero, Sati, Navakanda Stones
Molankuttai	Hero and Sati Stones
Nedungal	Sati and Hero Stones
Pachakanampalli	Selaikarappan Samy ( Hero Stone & Pulikuthi Stone )
Pagalahalli	Hero and Sati Stones
Penneswaramadam	Navakandam, Sati & Hero Stones
Pulla Kovilur	Sati Stone with Stone House
Madurai Dist
Keezhakuyilkudi	Hero & Sati Stones
Namakkal Dist
Kolli Hills	Kalari Hero stones
Kolli Hills	9th-century Hero stone
Namakkal, Narasimhar Temple	Hero stones
Sowdapuram	Hero stone
Nilgiris Kothagiri
Banagudi	Hero Stone with Dolmens
Betalada	Hero & Sati Stones with Dolmens
Sholurmattam	Sati Stone as Saptha Kanniyar in Dolmen
Ranipet Dist
Pallur	Thoonguthalai Nadukarl
Salem Dist
Aragalur/ Periyeri	Nadukarkal .. Navakandam
Aruna	Sati Stone
Athivalavu	Hero stones
Athuvalavu & Yelupuli	Hero Stones
Chinnakuttimaduvu	Hero stones
Chinnakuttimaduvu	Sati Stone
Chittoor	Sati Stone
Periya Kuttimaduvu	Hero stones
Puzhuthikuttai	Hero stones
Sri Kailasanathar	Navakandan - Avinasiappar Sannadhi
Tharamangalam	Navakanda Stone at Kailasanathar
Tharamangalam, Murugan Temple	Sati stone
Tharamangalam, Police Station	Hero stones
Vellarivalli	Sati Stone
Yelupuli	Hero stones
Thanjavur Dist
Saraswathy Mahal	Navakandam Statues - Museum
Thiruchotruthurai	4 Tier Hero stone
Theni Dist
Sengulam, Thangammalpuram	Hero Sthambam/ Malakoil
Sengulam, Thangammalpuram	Sati Stone
Sengulam, Thangammalpuram	Yanaikuthi Pattan Kal
Thiruvannamalai Dist
Arani	Sati Stones
Eduthanur	Hero Stone worshiped as Vediappan
Jambai	Navakanda Statues
Kappalur	Hero Stones & Nadukarkal
Mallikapuram-Sathanur	5 Hero Stones of Palava & Chozha
Manampathy	Navakandam
Melapunjai	Hero Stones are worshiped as Vediappan
MelChenga ( Pannai)	Anandhavadi Nadukarkal
Mothakal	Hero Stone and Pulikuthi Stones
Mottur	Anthropomorphic Figures
Nedungunam	Hero and Sati Stones
Padiagragaram	Hero Stones as Vediappan
Periakolapadi	Hero Stone Worshiped as Ayyanar
Periakolapadi	Hero Stones - Vediappan Temple
R Kunnathur	Hero Stone
Se. Gudalur	Hero Stone
Thandrampattu	Two Hero Stones
Thenmathimangala	Hero stone at Pachai Amman Temple
Thorapadi	Hero Stones are worshiped as Vediappan
Ukkal	Navakanda Hero Stone
Tirunelveli Dist
Manur	Hero Stones
Tirupattur Dist
Alankuppam	Hero Stone
Elagiri Village	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Semmanthikuppam	Hero Stone Draupathi Amman Temple
Vinnamangalam	Memorial Stone-Perumal Temple
Vinnamangalam	Thoonguthalai Hero Stone
Vinnamangalam-Chavadi	Hero Stone
Tiruppur Dist
Amandakadavu	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Amandakadavu	Thai Nadukal
Avinashi	Navakanda / Arikanda bas-relief
J Krishnapuram	Thai Nadukal
Kadathur	Sati Stone
Kangeyampalayam	Pulikuthikal
Kariyagoundanur	Hero Stone
Karumpuravipalayam Site 1 & 2	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Kethanur	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
Kottamangalam	Hero Stones
Metrathi	Hero Sthambas
Navanari	Hero Stone - Head Priest
Navanari	Hero Stones
Navanari	Memorial Stone
Palladam, Panapalayam,	Hero Stone
Palladam, Panapalayam,	Hero Stone, Sri Soriya Appichi Temple
Periyamolarapatti	Malakoil - Hero Sthambam
S Kumarapalayam	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
SarkarPeriyapalayam	Navakanda Statue
Sarkarperiyapalayam	Sati Stone
Sembagoundampalayam	Pulikuthi Hero Stone
Sevur	Pulikuthi Hero & Sati Stone
Sinnaripalayam	Hero - Sati Stone
Tiruppur, Pichampalayam	Puli Suttu Pattan Nadukal
Tiruppur, Pongupalayam	Pulikuthi Pattan NadukaL
Tiruppur, Sellandiamman Temple	Memorial stone
Vadakkalur	Pulikuthi Nadukal
Trichy Dist
Thiruvaanaikaval	Navakandam
Thiruvellarai	Hero Stones & Thavvai
Tiruvallur Dist
Pakasalai, Lakshmivilasapuram	Arikanda Hero Stone
Panabakkam	Arikanda Hero Stone
Thiruvalangadu	Hero Stones as ellai Sami
Thiruverkadu	Hero stones at Panaiyathamman Temple
Thirumizhisai	Nadukal/ Kings Potrait
Vellore Dist
Melpadi	Hero Stone - Sri Somanatheswarar
Thiruparkadal	Hero & Sati Nadukarkal with Harichandra
Vellore Fort	Hero & Sati Stones - ASI Museum
Villupuram Dist
Chemmaneri	Hero Stone
Munnur Colony	Ma Sati Kal near Mariamman Temple
Munnur, Selliamman Temple	Navakanda Hero Stone
Ongur	Hero Stone
Udayarnatham	Anthropomorphic Figures
OTHER STATES
Andhra Pradesh
Amaravati	ASI, Buddhist Museum
Appalayagunta	Hero stone
Gudimallam	Hero Stone
Gudimallam	Hero Stone ( Iragalappa Chelam )
Kesavaram	Hero stone
Mallam	Hero stones
Ramagiri	Hero Stone - Arikandam
Sejerla, Sri Kapoteswara Temple	Hero stones
Thondamanadu	Thoonguthalai Hero Stones
Goa
Old Goa	Archaeological Museum
Karnataka
Aihole,  ASI Museum	Hero and Sati Stones
Badami,  ASI Museum	Hero and Sati Stones
Bannur	Hero Stone
Basaral	Sati Stone
Begur	Hero & Sati Stones
Chikkahole	Hero and Sati stones
Doddagadavalli	Hero stone
Doddathuppur	Pulikuthi Sati Stone
Hale Alur	Hero and Sati Stones
Hale Budanur	Hero and Sati Stone
Halebeedu	Hero Stone
Halebeedu	Niseethigaikal
Hampi	Hero Stone/Uddana Veerabhathira Temple
Honganoor	Hero Stones
Kalale	Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple
Kaliyuru	Hero stone victory over the Gangars by Chozha
Kaliyuru	Hero, Sati, Pulikuthi Stones
Kamalapura & Hampi	Hero & Sati Stones ASI Museum
Kambadahalli	Hero and Sati Stone
Kolaramman	Hero Stone (war) and Navakandam
Koravangala	Hero Stone
Malahalli	Hero Stones
Mudikondam	Hero stone & Durgai
Nandhi Hills	Hero Stones
Pattadakal,  ASI Museum	Hero and Sati Stones
Savappapetta	Royal Sati Stone and Ondikai maasti kal
Thondanoor	Hero Stone
Thondanoor Lake bed	Hero Stones
Kerala
Wayanad Heritage Museum	Hero Stones
Wayanad Museum	Wayanad Heritage Museum
Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal	Tribal Museum
Mandu	Archaeological Museum
Telangana
Ramappa Temple	Hero Stone
Warangal Fort, Entrance	Hero Stone
Warangal Fort, Khush Mahal	Hero stones