Stories on stones

The tallest hero stone in Tamil Nadu providing insight into the social history of people has been sighted in Ambathurai

POINTER TO THE PAST The hero stone identified in Ambathurai. Photo: Special Arrangement

Little did art historian K. Raja know that when he arrives in Ambathurai he would find centuries-old Hero stone abandoned on the road. The seven-foot tall granite pillar with ornamental bas relief panels depicts the heroic fight and the death of the soldier in the war.

“It is one of the tallest stones identified in the State,” claims Raja. “Though I have seen many hero stones, this one looked special for its size and ornamentation. Also, such stones usually have three to five panels but this one had seven panels on each side. Such stones are erected in appreciation of the valour of the person who laid down his life,” he says.

This stone on all the four sides has panels of pictorial depictions of the soldier sacrificing his life in the war to protect his people and his wailing wife who also dies along with her husband. “It has survived the vagaries of nature and judging by the exquisite carving and the ornamentation, it belongs to 16th century,” says Raja.

The practice of erecting stones in the honour of brave hearts dates back to early historic period. According to C. Santhalingam, secretary, Pandia Nadu Centre for Historical Research, hero stones belonging Sangam era are located in Pulimankombai near Andipatti. “As in many civilisations our ancestors were also nomads rearing cattle for livelihood. There were frequent fights between communities to capture the rival’s cattle. Communities used to hail people who laid down their lives in the fight either to protect or capture the cattle. It is referred in literature as

Nirai Kavarthal or Nirai Meetal ,” he says.

There are different types of hero stones such as Pulikuthi pattangal (in memory of those who lay their lives while chasing tigers out of residential pockets) and navakandam (in honour of those who sacrifice their life by committing suicide for the welfare of the people).

Stones for woman who dies along with her husband are called as

sati kal.

There are also stones for jallikattu fighters, for those who die to protect women in the community and for men and women who die in safeguarding the water bodies. “Stones belonging to Sangam period had only inscriptions. Stones with linear drawings and bas relief panels came much later,” says Santhalingam.

There are stones erected in honour of roosters that get killed in the fight. “In those days rooster fights were popular. They were one of the major sources of entertainment for the people. “People breed roosters with a lot of passion and when the rooster happens to die after showing remarkable fighting skills, the owner erects a stone in memory of the rooster,” says Santhalingam.

There is a place called Veerakkal near Sempatty where two hero stones belonging to 16th-17th century are found. These stones have bas relief panels much similar to the one identified in Ambathurai. “So far 350 hero stones have been identified in Tamil Nadu of which 245 are on war heroes and those who laid down their lives for cattle protection,” says Santhalingam.

“In Kallimandayam near Oddanchathiram, people belonging to the Kambalathu Nayakkan community have erected a group of hero stones in memory of their ancestors. They are descendants of King Veerapandiya Kattobomman and call these stones as Thathaiya Samy and worship them,” says Raja. “Such stones are valuable part of history throwing light on the social life of the people. Unfortunately many stones are left abandoned due to lack of awareness. “They are cultural documents and need attention in order to be preserved for the next generation,” he adds.