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Two ‘Hero stones’ discovered

— Photo: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Rare find: The memorial stones discovered at Vanjikuli in Villupuram.

PUDUCHERRY: In an archaeological exploration, an M.Phil student of the Department of History of Pondicherry University has discovered two memorial stones dating back to the 7th century AD at Vanjikuli, a tribal hamlet on Kalrayan hills in Sankarapuram taluk of Villupuram district.

R. Ramesh found the ‘Hero stones’ in a dilapidated condition inside a thick forest. The first stone is said to be have been erected in 654 AD during the 24th ‘regnal’ year of Pallava king Narasimhavaram I, for a hero belonging to Vanjikuli, K. Rajan, Head of the History department at the University, said.

“This is an important hero stones. The village is called Vanjikuli and the inscriptions on one of the stones refer to the same name. As per the inscription, the village should be surviving for more than 1,300 years,” Mr. Rajan said.

Though the second hero stone also had inscriptions, it could not be deciphered due to weathering, he added.

In the stone, the hero is seen standing in a charging posture, holding a bow in his right hand and a sword in his left. Three arrows — one piercing the left shoulder, the second in the chest and third in the left thigh — have been depicted. Interestingly, villagers worshipped the stones as Vediyappan, he added.

Soon after the discovery, Mr. Rajan, along with S. Rajavelu of the Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai, and research scholars of the University visited the spot and deciphered the inscription.

“We have also discovered four hero stones in Mallapuram, 10 kilometres north-west of Sankarapuram in Villupuram district. The stones belonged to the 6th century AD,” Mr. Rajan added.

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