Coimbatore: A team of archaeological enthusiasts from Tirupur have found two 13th century and one 17th century hero stones at Vinnamppallai village near Pujaippulliyampatti-Sathiyamangalam highways in Erode district.
The exploration was done by a team comprising S Ravikumar, K saravanakumar, C M Rameshkumar and K Ponnusamy, all members of Virarajendran Archaeological and Historical Research Centre in Tirupur.
The team found the hero stones on December 2 and they were installed at the same location for public worship on January 25 after obtaining permission from various authorities, including the village administrative office and panchayat president.
Ravikumar, director of the research centre, said two of the hero stones were unique. “While most of the hero stones that have so far found in the state depict fight between a warrior and tiger, one of the stones that we have found depicts a fighting scene between two tigers and a warrior. While the hero attacks a tiger with a sword in his right hand, his left hand is pointed to another tiger that is attacking him from behind. Two of his dogs were seen fighting the tiger behind him.” According to him, the stone is 170cm high and 105cm wide.
Based on the sculpture design, dressing style and hair style of the hero, he said, the hero stone was estimated to be at least 800 years old.
“In another hero stone, which is 205cm high and 95cm wide, the hero is seen holding a tiger by its neck with his left hand and attacking it with a sickle in the right hand. Apart from a sword in his hip, a gun is also seen near his legs. The stone is estimated to be from the 17th century, because guns were introduced in the region only after 15th century,” Ravikumar said.
According to him, on the northern boundary of Vinnamppalli is a village called Pulivettiasathanur, which if translated verbatim means “tiger massacred sathnur”.
“The third stone, which is 190cm high and 95cm wide, depicts a fight between four people. While a hero is seen fighting his enemy, another hero is seen behind him with an opponent lying on the ground. As similar hero stones found in Karur and Selakarachal belonged to the 13th century, this one is also believed to be from the same period,” he said.
Ravikumar said the hero stones were found buried amidst bushes near a stream. “They were surrounded by stones. And it implies they were maintained and worshiped by the public once upon a time. The stones were carved and installed in the memories of the warriors who sacrificed their lives fighting wild animals or enemies to safeguard or rescue cattle, which were considered real wealth in the region since Neolithic age.”