Hero Stones of Tiruvottiyur – Navakandam, Arikandam and Thoonguthalai Hero Stones at Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Group of Hero Stones at Tiruvottiyur was a part of “Hero Stones and Siddhars of Tiruvottiyur Visit”, on 11^th September, 2022.

Durga panel at Thirupullamngai

During Pallavas, Chozhas period, the Kings are being guarded by warriors, who takes 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 or over powered by the enemies forces.  The Chozhas has the army force called “Vela Padai” and the Pandyas has the “AapathuthavikaL”, a special warrior group, who guards the King always.

There are many reasons for giving Navakandam before Kotravai or Durgai.

1. 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.
2. For the wellbeing of the King or Queen.
3. A person found guilty and declared to be killed, took Navakandam with the permission of the King, to  die as Hero.
4. 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 warriors 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 warrior, 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 9^th 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 the 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

Veerabhadra

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---