“I have known the Pulikuthi Kal’ since I was a young schoolboy in our village…” – Balu.
Balu, a 64-year-old agriculturalist at Pattanam on the banks of river Noyyal near Ondipudur, did not know the historical value of a hero stone, which was lying for several years on a mud road beside his farm popularly called ‘Vaathiyar Thottam’. But, he was amazed, when he came across the history behind the memorial in a museum, which was set up at the World Classical Tamil Conference held in Coimbatore in 2010.
The hero stone, which is called Pulikuthi Kal, contains the engraving of a warrior with his sword stabbed into the body of the tiger. The culture of erecting such Hero Stones in memory of the slain warriors dates back to the period of Tholkappiyam, an ancient Tamil treatise, which says that erecting Nadukal is a custom that ought to be performed for the slain warrior.
“I have known the Pulikuthi Kal’ since I was a young schoolboy in our village Pattanam. As I wanted to trace its history, I went through several books on the regional history for years. However, I found its history only at the museum in the World Tamil Classical Tamil Conference” says Balu, who is also a graduate in Economics from Government Arts College, Coimbatore.
He also jotted down the history on a piece of paper, which says that the warrior depicted in the hero stone was Pulikuthi Pattayan and his history is engraved in many stone inscriptions in Tamil Nadu. Pulikuthi Pattayan, was a brave warrior and protected his people from the dangers of wild animals. Also heading a team of soldiers, he guarded the people from the anarchic rule of certain chieftains.
“People of those days could have erected the Pulikuthikal in memory of the sacrifices made by a great warrior. He could have been killed by the wild animals like tiger and leopard in a fight with them” opines Balu.
“A motorist, who traveled on the road, one day, carelessly, ran on the Pulikuthikal and the memorial was a little damaged Hence, my father Krishnasamy Konar and I built a pedestal for the Hero Stone in 1980. Later, my elder brother Kannan constructed walls around the stone and erected a roof over it” informs Balu.
The memorial, which has got a temple now, witnesses devotees from the Devendra Kula Vellalar community from Vellalore and Singanallur, who say that Pulikuthi Pattayan is their family deity. They conduct poojas and ceremonies like goat sacrifice, tonsuring head, and ear-boring at the little temple.
“Since devotees of Pulikuthi Pattayan believe that they get self-confidence, physical strength, and valour by worshiping Him, people cutting across caste and clan, are now visiting the little temple” informs Balu.
The hero stone, which is called Pulikuthi Kal, contains the engraving of a warrior with his sword stabbed into the body of the tiger. The culture of erecting such Hero Stones in memory of the slain warriors dates back to the period of Tholkappiyam, an ancient Tamil treatise, which says that erecting Nadukal is a custom that ought to be performed for the slain warrior.
“I have known the Pulikuthi Kal’ since I was a young schoolboy in our village Pattanam. As I wanted to trace its history, I went through several books on the regional history for years. However, I found its history only at the museum in the World Tamil Classical Tamil Conference” says Balu, who is also a graduate in Economics from Government Arts College, Coimbatore.
He also jotted down the history on a piece of paper, which says that the warrior depicted in the hero stone was Pulikuthi Pattayan and his history is engraved in many stone inscriptions in Tamil Nadu. Pulikuthi Pattayan, was a brave warrior and protected his people from the dangers of wild animals. Also heading a team of soldiers, he guarded the people from the anarchic rule of certain chieftains.
“People of those days could have erected the Pulikuthikal in memory of the sacrifices made by a great warrior. He could have been killed by the wild animals like tiger and leopard in a fight with them” opines Balu.
“A motorist, who traveled on the road, one day, carelessly, ran on the Pulikuthikal and the memorial was a little damaged Hence, my father Krishnasamy Konar and I built a pedestal for the Hero Stone in 1980. Later, my elder brother Kannan constructed walls around the stone and erected a roof over it” informs Balu.
The memorial, which has got a temple now, witnesses devotees from the Devendra Kula Vellalar community from Vellalore and Singanallur, who say that Pulikuthi Pattayan is their family deity. They conduct poojas and ceremonies like goat sacrifice, tonsuring head, and ear-boring at the little temple.
“Since devotees of Pulikuthi Pattayan believe that they get self-confidence, physical strength, and valour by worshiping Him, people cutting across caste and clan, are now visiting the little temple” informs Balu.