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, which  attacks and kills the villagers / cattle. In some cases the hero stones are also erected for the domestic / pet animals like dog, Cock etc, which saves the life of his master or the general public.  In addition to the above memorial stones called Navakandam / Arikanda stones  are erected for the heros  who kills 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 decease, 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, which means that the hero's wife took sati after the hero's death. These types of nadukarkal are called as "Sati Stones".

Some of the hero stones has the inscriptions in Tamil vattezhuthu, which speaks 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, arrow, Bow, spear, Sword, Shield in his hands. The dress below the waist will be shown. In some of the Hero stones  arrows will shown  on the body of the hero, which means the hero was died due to hitting of single or multiple arrows. The hero stones are mainly found in the districts of  South Arcot, North Arcot, Thiruvannamalai, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, ie north part of Tamil Nadu.

The erecting of hero stones are followed since 3^rd century BC. The erection of hero stones and worshipping are mentioned in the "Sangam literature" Purananooru, Akananooru, Pattinapalai, Aingurunooru and Malaipadukadam. Totally in 23 places or songs mentions about the hero stones. It was also learnt from the Sangam literature, that the hero stones are erected for the Kings Koperunchozhan and Adhyaman Neduman Anchi. Unfortunately these hero stones could not be traced now. The 3 hero stones found by the Archaeology department at Puliman Kombai in Theni district, Tamil Nadu was believed to be the oldest and belongs to 3^rd Century BC in India.

A poetry from Purananooru, a sangam period ( 300 BC to 300 AD ) Tamil Literature  mentions about 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)

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