Articles on Hero Stones
Hero Stones: Cattle Raids, Tiger Hunting, and Religious Sacrifice in Ancient South India
Journal of Indian History and Culture, 2016
The PDF content discusses hero stones in Kolar and Chittoor districts, primarily from the 8th to 10th centuries, linked to the Nolamba dynasty and Bana period. These stones commemorate heroes who died defending property during cattle raids, hunting tigers or…
Cattle Raids and Heroic Resistance in Medieval Karnataka
Journal of Indian History and Culture, 2015
Cattle raids, known as *Goghrahana*, were a significant social and political issue in historical Karnataka and Chittoor, often leading to conflicts between groups. These raids, driven by theft or political motives, required collective defense, with entire…
Hero Stones and Hero Worship in Ancient Tamil Country
By M. Amirthalingam · Journal of Indian History and Culture, 1999
Hero worship in ancient Tamil country involved commemorating heroic deaths through hero stones, as evidenced by Sangam literature and grammatical works like Tolkappiam. These stones, often erected at the site of death, were central to rituals involving…
Hero Stones of Tiruvannamalai: History and Cultural Significance
By M. Amirthalingam · Journal of Indian History and Culture, 1999
Hero stones, known as virakals, birkals, tirakal, lam kokals, and nadukals in Tamil, are memorial stones erected to honor soldiers who died in battles or skirmishes, as well as those who protected villages from wild animals. The practice dates back to 600…