A stone sculpture believed to be from the 17th or 18th centuries was unearthed by a teacher and students from the Lakkapuram Government Higher Secondary School at Pudur village in 46, Pudur Panchayat in Modakkurichi taluk of Erode district. The sculpture, which has no inscriptions, depicts a couple.
The school’s Thonmai Pathukappu Mandram (Antiquities Conservation Forum), led by headmistress G. Kalaiselvi, aims to foster archaeological interest among students. A team, headed by social science teacher D. Dani, along with students Kanish, Kadirvel, and Sasikiran, was conducting field research in the area when they discovered the stone in the temple, surrounded by coconut groves.
The stone, measuring 43 cm in width and 51 cm in length, depicts a male and a female in a standing position, along with images of the sun and moon. “The man is holding a trisulam (trident) in his right hand and a bag in his left, while the woman also holds a bag and wears earrings and necklaces,” said Mr. Dani. He suggested that the stone, which has more detailed carvings on the man’s head, was likely a memorial to the couple, who might have been clan leaders, after their passing.
“The image of sun and moon carved on the stone at the top could symbolise they left the world with bags containing gold, flowers or ornaments,” he added. “Since there were no inscriptions, exact details on why the stone was carved are unknown,” he said.
People in and around the village continue to perform puja and prayers to the stone on new moon day and other auspicious occasions, believing it to carry divine significance. However, nobody seems to know its history, except that it has been worshipped for over a century.
Mr. Dani stated that the discovery has sparked greater interest among students, and further research is needed to uncover the stone’s origins. He also emphasised the importance of preserving the memorial stone.
Published - October 01, 2024 05:58 pm IST
