Three hero stones belonging to two different centuries unearthed in Krishnagiri district

KRISHNAGIRI: Three hero stones belonging to two different centuries -- 10th and 12 centuries -- were found at Anandur during a recent field survey conducted by the Krishnagiri Historical Research and Documentation Team, the District Government Museum and the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.Tamil Nadu Archaeological Research Centre secretary Govindaraj said the find would help researchers understand the transition from the Nolamba artistic style to the Chola style.According to him, the first two hero stones belong to the 10th century Nolamba period. One of them depicts the hero with his face turned sideways. The other depicts the hero facing forward.The third hero stone, belonging to the 12th century CE, is a more developed example of the Chola style, according to him. The hero is shown standing on a relief. Two cows are carved below his feet, suggesting he died in a battle to recover captured cattle. A horse is depicted walking with its head lowered. To the hero’s right is a small female figure holding an umbrella, indicating his status as a leader.Another warrior lies at the hero’s feet, apparently pierced by a spear. In the upper panel, two celestial women are depicted carrying the dead hero to heaven, reflecting the ancient Tamil belief that a warrior who dies in a battle attains heaven. Researchers believe that the fallen leader might have killed two people in the fight before his death.Govindaraj described it as an important example of a Chola hero stone.Historical Research and Documentation Team secretary Tamilselvan, teacher Balaji, Government Museum curator Sivakumar, research scholar Sneha and others took part in the survey.