NADUKARKAL - HERO STONES ( VEERAKALLU ), NAVAKANDAM, ARIKANDAM AT GUDIMALLAM, RAMAGIRI, APPALAYAGUNTA OF ANDHRA PRADESH.

12^th May 2019.

During our Gudimallam ( Ramagiri, Nagalapuram, Narayanavanam, Suruttapalli and Appalayagunta ) Temples Visit on 12^th May 2019, we came across Hero stones ( Virakallu ) erected in temple premises. These Hero stones belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century. Usually Hero stones also called as Nadukarkal are erected for a Hero who sacrifices his life, by cutting his head and offer to Kali to get Victory in the war, to get cured from chronic deceases, for a King’s well being, died in the process of stealing or recovering cattle of enemies. These types of  Nadukarkal comes under Navakandam / Arikandam Catagorey. Nadukarkal also erected for the Hero or warriors / soldiers who died in the war or died in the process of stealing or recovering the cattle.

HERO STONE AT GUDIMALLAM

This hero stone is erected in front of Gudimallam Sri Parasurameswar Temple’s South entrance. The hero’s legs are in marching position and head turned towards his left side. The Hair style and the tuft looks similar to Vijayanagara / Nayak period. The tuft is tied with a cloth and the ends are shown. The hero wears ornaments on his ears and neck. A half dress is shown below his hip. The hero holds a sword in his right hand and a shield in the left hand. This confirms that the hero died in war.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

NAVAKANDAM / ARIKANDAM AT RAMAGIRI.

This Navakanda/ Arikanda Nadukal was found in front of Sri KaalaBhairavar temple at Ramagiri. In the Nadukal, the hero is shown standing in straight ( samabanga ) position. The hero holds a sword in both hands. The Hair style and the tuft is very much similar to Vijayanagara / Nayaks period hair style. He wears ornaments on his neck and ears.  The hero also wearing an Yaknopavithira. A Half dress is shown below his hip. Full detail couldn’t seen due to apply of  oil on which dust deposited on the hero stone. The Hero might have cut his head to get a victory in the war or for a King or for to get cured from chronic decease.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

HERO STONE AT APPALAYAGUNTA.

This hero stone is erected in the premises of a Vinayagar Temple opposite to Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple, Appalayagunta.  The hero is standing in threebanga. The hero holds a sword in his right hand and a spear on the left. The hero wears a half dress below this hip.  A knife or a kattar is shown on his hip. The hair style with tuft belongs to Vijayanagara / Nayak period. Cattle are shown on the bottom of the spear. This clearly shows that the hero might have died in the process of cattle stealing or recovering ( ஆநிரை கவர்தல் அல்லது ஆநிரை மீட்டல் ).

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

HERO STONE AT GUDIMALLAM IRAGALLAPPA CHELAM TEMPLE.

After lunch, Mr Loganathan, a Lawyer by profession from a Village near Gudimallam, took us to a Shiva Temple on the base of a Hill. The Villagers worships this Hero stone as Lord Shiva with a Parvati statue on the left. As per the experts this is a Hero stone erected for the hero who is riding on a Horse. The hero holds a sword in his right hand. There is a lady also shown with bow and arrow in her hands, which means, she is also a hunter.  There are two animals like pig, Deer, Goat is shown. Finally on the top a Shiva Linga is shown. The Shiva linga represents that the hero attained Shivalok after death.  It was told that the hero might have died in the process of hunting. 

  

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---