hero stone
{{Short description|Indian commemoration stones from 2nd century to 18th century in memory of a heroic warrior}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
File:Virgal (hero stone) in Kedareshvara temple at Balligavi 3.JPG inscription of 1286 CE during rule of Yadava King Ramachandra in the Kedareshvara Temple, Balligavi in Shimoga district, Karnataka]]
A hero stone (Vīragallu in Kannada, Naṭukal in Tamil) is a memorial commemorating the honorable death of a hero in battle. Erected between the second half of the first millennium BCE{{cite web
|url=http://www.brainkart.com/article/Sources-for-the-study-of-early-Tamil-society_35692/
|title= Hero Stones
}}{{Cite web|title=Memorial Inscriptions with Special Reference to Hero Stones|url=https://www.sahapedia.org/memorial-inscriptions-special-reference-hero-stones|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Sahapedia|language=en}} 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.{{cite web
|url=http://www.kamat.com/database/content/hero-stones/index.htm
|title=Hero-stone Memorials of India
|publisher=Kamat Potpourri
|access-date=2007-03-15
}} 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 is more than 2400 years old that is 4th century BCE.{{cite web
|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/herostone-discovered-in-tamil-nadu/article5849823.ece
|title= Hero-stone discovered in Tamil Nadu
|publisher= T. S. Subramanian
|access-date=2014-03-30
}} According to the historian Upinder Singh, the largest concentration of such memorial stones is found in the Indian state of Karnataka. 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
File:Hero stone with old Kannada inscription at the Tarakeshvara temple at Hangal 1.jpg
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, vishnu, gaja lakshmi or jain tirthankara, the middle panel depicts the hero sometimes seated in a palanquin or a shrine being lifted toward the heavens by apsaras (heavenly nymphs), and the lower panels would display battle scenes.{{cite web
|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/h/019pho0000965s1u00089000.html
|title=Hungul. Sculptured memorial stone.
|access-date=27 October 2014
|archive-date=11 June 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611133843/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/h/019pho0000965s1u00089000.html
|url-status=dead
}} One of the largest Viragallu, about 12 feet high is found in Betageri, Karnataka.{{cite web
|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/c/019pho000001003u01902000.html
|title=12 feet high Viragal
|access-date=27 October 2014
|archive-date=5 March 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020012/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/c/019pho000001003u01902000.html
|url-status=dead
}} In Tamil Nadu, 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.{{cite web
|url=http://tamilnation.co/heritage/dolmens.htm
|title=Dolmens, Hero Stones and the Dravidian People
|access-date=2009-06-30
}} One hero stone dating to the 9th century Pallava King Dantivarman, depicts the hero riding a galloping horse beautifully dressed and carrying a spear.{{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/11/24/stories/04242238.htm
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126202655/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/11/24/stories/04242238.htm
|url-status=usurped
|archive-date=2013-01-26
|title=Pallava period 'herostone' unearthed in Vellore dt.
|access-date=2007-03-15
}} 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 dating back 2600 years,{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/05/stories/2006040518340600.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409053927/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/05/stories/2006040518340600.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2006-04-09
|title= 2,300-year-old hero stones found in Theni district
|access-date=2008-05-14
|location=Chennai, India
|work=The Hindu
|date=2006-04-05
}} and continuing until the Nayaka and post-Nayaka period to about 19th century.{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072202680200.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001023228/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072202680200.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2007-10-01
|title='Hero stone' unearthed
|access-date=2007-03-17
|location=Chennai, India
|work=The Hindu
|date=2006-07-22
}} 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.{{cite news
|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-hero-stone-tells-a-tale-from-eighth-century/article6494077.ece
|title=A hero stone tells a tale from eighth century
|access-date=2014-10-13
|location=Chennai, India
|work=The Hindu
|date=2006-07-22
}} In 2017, two rare hero stones raised in honour of warrior-women riding to a battle were found, dating back 13th century.{{cite web
|url=http://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2017/04/03005110/1030460/Hero-stones-of-women-warriors-found-in-Krishnagiri.vpf?TId=112131
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026053901/http://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2017/04/03005110/1030460/Hero-stones-of-women-warriors-found-in-Krishnagiri.vpf?TId=112131
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=26 October 2017
|title=Hero stones of women warriors found in Krishnagiri
|access-date=2017-04-03
}}
Hero stones were not always made in honour of a person. The Atakur inscription (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
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
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
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
File:ಬೇಡ್ಕಣಿ ವಿರಗಲ್ ೧.JPG|Seven panel Hero Stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from Siddapur taluk, Karnataka
File:ಬೇಡ್ಕಣಿ ವಿರಗಲ್ ೨.JPG|Seven panel Hero Stone from 12th century with Old Kannada inscription from Siddapur taluk, Karnataka
File:Herostone - 3.jpg|Seven panel Hero Stone from 1152 CE Old with Old Kannada inscription from Shimoga taluk, Karnataka
File:Herostone - 5.jpg|Seven panel Hero Stone from 1152 CE Old with Old Kannada inscription from Shimoga taluk, Karnataka
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
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
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
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
File:Herostones at Bandalike Trimurti Narayanagudi 1.JPG|Hero stone from 10th century with Old Kannada inscription at Trimurthi Narayana Gudi, Karnataka
File:Herostones at Bandalike Trimurti Narayanagudi 3.jpg|Hero stone from 10th century with Old Kannada inscription at Trimurthi Narayana Gudi, Karnataka
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
File:Hero Stone with old-Kannada inscription at Arasikere.jpg|Hero stone with old Kannada inscription, 1220 CE, Arasikere, Karnataka
File:முருகமங்கலம் நடுகல்.jpg|Murugamangalam hero stone, Tamil Nadu
File:நரசிங்கபுரம் நடுகல்.JPG|Narasinga Puram hero stone, 12th century CE, Tamil Nadu
File:தச்சாம்பாடி நடுகல்2.jpg|Tatchampadi hero stone, Tamil Nadu
File:கொளக்கரவாடி நடுகல்.JPG|Olakkaravaadi hero stone 12th century CE, Tamil Nadu
File:Mahadeva Sannidi Veeragallu.jpg|Two Hero stones from Kothapally Nizamabad district Telangana
File:Tadpakal Veeragal.jpg|Hero stone found on the bank of river Godavari Tadpakal Nizamabad district Telangana
File:Mallapur Veeragal.jpg|Hero stone found in Mallapur village Jagitial district Telangana
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
{{Commons category|Hero stones}}
External links
[https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=15I1EDbDPleNu5mC8hnr5Qs_fNMYWIEc&hl=en_US&ll=12.98412374741306%2C77.54608476749677&z=11 Google map of herostones of Bengaluru]
Notes
{{reflist|refs=
}}
References
- {{cite book |last= Singh|first= Upinder |title= A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India:From the Stone Age to the 12th Century|year=2009|publisher= Pearsons Education|location= India|isbn=978-81-317-1120-0}}
- {{cite book |last= Altekar|first= Anant Sadashiv |title= The Rashtrakutas And Their Times; being a political, administrative, religious, social, economic and literary history of the Deccan during C. 750 A.D. to C. 1000 A.D|url= https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.8147|orig-year=1934|year=1934|publisher= Oriental Book Agency|location= Poona|oclc=3793499}}
External links
{{commons category|Hero stones}}
- [http://www.brainkart.com/article/Sources-for-the-study-of-early-Tamil-society_35692/ Hero Stones]
- {{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/herostone-discovered-in-tamil-nadu/article5849823.ece |title= Hero-stone discovered in Tamil Nadu |publisher= T. S. Subramanian |access-date=2014-03-30}}
- [http://www.kamat.com/database/content/hero-stones/index.htm Hero-stone Memorials of India]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001063100/http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/28/stories/2006092808360500.htm Rare Hero stone found near Erode]
- {{usurped|[https://archive.today/20130126202655/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/11/24/stories/04242238.htm Pallava period 'herostone' unearthed in Vellore dt.]}}
- [http://www.chennaimuseum.org/draft/gallery/01/04/stone.htm Government Museum Chennai]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060905191534/http://huntington.wmc.ohio-state.edu/public/index.cfm?fuseaction=showThisDetail&ObjectID=30033611 Huntington Archive Hero Stone]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110710124901/http://www.digitalgoa.com/ca_disp.php?id=1529 Ancient Hero stone goes missing in Goa]