Hero Stone
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A hero stone (Vīragallu in
Kannada Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...
, Naṭukal in Tamil) is a
memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...
commemorating the honorable death of a hero in battle. Erected between the second half of the first millennium BCE and the 18th century CE, hero stones are found all over India. They often carry inscriptions and a variety of ornaments, including bas relief panels, frieze, and figures in carved stone. Usually they are in the form of a stone monument and may have an inscription at the bottom with a narrative of the battle. The earliest and oldest of such memorial hero stones is found in the Indian state of
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
is more than 2400 years old that is 4th century BCE. According to the historian Upinder Singh, the largest concentration of such memorial stones is found in the Indian state of
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
. About two thousand six hundred and fifty hero stones, the earliest in Karnataka is dated to the 5th century CE.Chapter "Memorializing death in stone", Singh (2009), p48 The custom of erecting memorial stones dates back to the Iron Age (400 BCE) though a vast majority were erected between the 4th century BCE to 13th centuries CE.


Description

A hero stone was usually divided into three panels, but occasionally, into four or five panels depending on the event. The upper panel depicts the subject worshiping a deity such as a Shiva ''
linga A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Upanishads and epic literature, wher ...
'',
vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
, gaja
lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...
or jain
tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...
, the middle panel depicts the hero sometimes seated in a palanquin or a shrine being lifted toward the heavens by ''
apsara Apsaras (, , Khmer language, Khmer: អប្សរា are a class of celestial beings in Hinduism, Hindu and Culture of Buddhism, Buddhist culture. They were originally a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters, but, later play ...
s'' (heavenly nymphs), and the lower panels would display battle scenes. One of the largest Viragallu, about 12 feet high is found in Betageri,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
. In
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
, Department of Archeology found several hundred hero stones that had been erected in the memory of warriors who sacrificed their lives defending their community or region. Those that are carved with inscriptions narrate the act of the hero, the battle, and the name of king who fought the battle. The stones are found alone or in groups, often near an irrigation tank or lake outside a village. One hero stone dating to the 9th century
Pallava The Pallava dynasty existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a significant portion of South India, the Deccan, also known as Tondaimandalam. The Pallavas played a crucial role in shaping in particular southern Indian history and heritage. The ...
King Dantivarman, depicts the hero riding a galloping horse beautifully dressed and carrying a spear. Another was recovered at Pappapatti in Usilampatti taluk and probably dates from the 18th century. This stone shows a warrior posed heroically, accompanied by his wife who holds a flower. Creating hero stones had been prevalent since the
Sangam period The Sangam literature ( Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam''), historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' ( Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ''), connote ...
dating back 2600 years, and continuing until the Nayaka and post-Nayaka period to about 19th century. In March 2014, a hero stone dating to the 8th century Pandya country, with a Tamil inscription in the Vatteluttu script was found in Vellalankottai in the Thoothukudi district. and another that was installed by a woman in memory of her husband who killed a leopard preying on cattle that strayed into the hamlet. In 2017, two rare hero stones raised in honour of warrior-women riding to a battle were found, dating back 13th century. Hero stones were not always made in honour of a person. The
Atakur inscription The Atakur inscription (sometimes spelt Athakur, Athagur, Athkur, Atkur or Atukur) dated 949-950 C.E. is an inscribed memorial stone (hero stone) in classical Kannada composition.Fleet in Hultzsch (1900), p.51Datta (1988), p.1717 It was discover ...
(also spelt Athakur) is one such hero stone. It is dated to 939 CE and includes classical Kannada poetic inscription commemorating the death of the favourite hound of Ganga King Butuga II (the hound died fighting a wild boar).Altekar (1934), p351


Gallery

File:Pulimo-Kombai.jpg, Hero stone, probably belonging to BCE. Tamil-Brahmi inscription during Tamil Sangam age in Theni district,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
File:Hero stone with old Kannada inscription at the Tarakeshvara temple at Hangal 1.jpg, Hero stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from the Tarakeshvara Temple at Hangal,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Hero stone (virgal) with old Kannada inscription at the Tarakeshvara temple at Hangal.jpg, Hero stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from the Tarakeshvara Temple at Hangal,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Hero stone with old Kannada inscription in the Tarakeshvara temple at Hangal 2.jpg, Hero stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from the Tarakeshvara Temple at Hangal,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:ಬೇಡ್ಕಣಿ ವಿರಗಲ್ ೧.JPG, Seven panel Hero Stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from Siddapur taluk,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:ಬೇಡ್ಕಣಿ ವಿರಗಲ್ ೨.JPG, Seven panel Hero Stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from Siddapur taluk,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Herostone - 3.jpg, Seven panel Hero Stone from 1152 CE Old with Old Kannada inscription from Shimoga taluk,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Herostone - 5.jpg, Seven panel Hero Stone from 1152 CE Old with Old Kannada inscription from Shimoga taluk,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Virgal (hero stone) in Kedareshvara temple at Balligavi 1.JPG, Hero stone with 1160 CE Old Kannada inscription from the rule of Kalachuri King Bijjala in Kedareshvara temple at Balligavi in Shimoga district,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Hero stone (virgal) with Kannada inscription in Kalleshvara temple at Bagali.JPG, Hero stone with 11th- or 12th-century Old Kannada inscription in Kalleshvara temple in Bagali in Davangere district,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Virgal (hero stone) in Kedareshvara temple at Balligavi 2.JPG, Hero stone with 1180 CE Old Kannada inscription from the rule of Kalachuri King Ahavamalla in Kedareshvara temple at Balligavi in Shimoga district,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:A virgal (herostone) in Kaitabhesvara temple at Kubatur.JPG, Hero stone with old Kannada inscription dated 1235 CE from the rule of Yadava King Singhana II in Kaitabeshvara temple at Kubatur in Shimoga district,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Herostones at Bandalike Trimurti Narayanagudi 1.JPG, Hero stone from 10th century with Old Kannada inscription at Trimurthi Narayana Gudi,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Herostones at Bandalike Trimurti Narayanagudi 3.jpg, Hero stone from 10th century with Old Kannada inscription at Trimurthi Narayana Gudi,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Herostone - 1.jpg, Hero stone with 1152 CE Old Kannada inscription, Shimoga district, Karnataka File:Herostone - 2.jpg, Hero stone with 1152 CE Old Kannada inscription, Shimoga district, Karnataka File:Herostone - 4.jpg, Hero stone with 1152 CE Old Kannada inscription, Shimoga district, Karnataka File:Herostone - 6.jpg, Hero stone with 1152 CE Old Kannada inscription, Shimoga district, Karnataka File:Herostone - 7.jpg, Hero stone with 1152 CE Old Kannada inscription, Shimoga district, Karnataka File:Herostone in Siddhesvara Temple at Haveri.jpg, Hero stone from Later Chalukya period at Siddhesvara temple at Haveri in Haveri district,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:Hero Stone with old-Kannada inscription at Arasikere.jpg, Hero stone with old Kannada inscription, 1220 CE, Arasikere,
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
File:முருகமங்கலம் நடுகல்.jpg, Murugamangalam hero stone,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
File:நரசிங்கபுரம் நடுகல்.JPG, Narasinga Puram hero stone, 12th century CE,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
File:தச்சாம்பாடி நடுகல்2.jpg, Tatchampadi hero stone,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
File:கொளக்கரவாடி நடுகல்.JPG, Olakkaravaadi hero stone 12th century CE,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
File:Mahadeva Sannidi Veeragallu.jpg, Two Hero stones from Kothapally Nizamabad district
Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
File:Tadpakal Veeragal.jpg, Hero stone found on the bank of river Godavari Tadpakal Nizamabad district
Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
File:Mallapur Veeragal.jpg, Hero stone found in Mallapur village Jagitial district
Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
File:Digital image of The Tamatakal 500CE Gunamadhura Herostone 02.png, 3D scanned image of The Tamatakal 500CE Gunamadhura Herostone File:Digital Image Obtained by 3D Scanning of The Marasuru Madivala 9th-century Puniseyamma Hero-stone 02.png, 3D Scanned image of The Marasuru Madivala 9th-century Puniseyamma Hero-stone File:Digital Image Obtained by 3D Scanning of The Marasuru Madivala 10th-century Butuga "Irivabedenga" Hero-stone 01.png, The Marasuru Madivala 10th-century Butuga "Irivabedenga" Hero-stone File:Digital Image Obtained by 3D Scanning of The Gulakamale Herostone 03.png, 3D Scanned image of The Gulakamale Herostone File:Digital Image Obtained by 3D Scanning of The Gulakamale 14th-century Kempanna Hero-stone (Kannada) 04.png, 3D Scanned image of The Gulakamale 14th-century Kempanna Hero-stone File:Digitally Produced Image Of Hebbala Kittayya 750CE Stone Inscription At Hebbala, Bengaluru 03.jpg, 3D scanned image of the Hebbal-Kittayya hero-stone inscription


See also

* Paliya


External links

Google map of herostones of Bengaluru


Notes


References

* *


External links


Hero Stones
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Huntington Archive Hero StoneAncient Hero stone goes missing in Goa
Monuments and memorials in India Inscriptions by type Monuments and memorials in Karnataka