Madurai: Two rare hero stones and statues, estimated to be around 300 years old, have been found in the Thottapanaackanur near the USILAmpatti in the Madurai district.
It was found around 200 to 300 meters near the temple known as the Malaikail.
Historian T Gandirajan and his team found this structure near the Fortress Wall at the Thottapanaickanur Pass between USILAmpatti and Andipatti.
They explored the route to Chera Nadu (Cher Kingdom) from Tamil Nadu through Madurai Regency, Theni and Dindigul when they found the thickness of about six feet for one kilometer.
This is an important point between the Kingdom of Pandiya and Chera.
Gandirajan said the route through this route was said to have been put back during the period of Rani Management, which ruled Madurai.
Hillock on this route was said to have been inhabited by the Moopars tribe population, which was dominant in the area of 300 years ago.
Local people still refer to the road as Rani Mangammal Road, he said.
The statue of the relief is about three feet height including the base, and a width of about two feet.
The first hero who appeared like a tribal head, a hunter by the profession, as illustrated by the bow and arrow in his hand.
The deer statue and forest boar above also strengthen this theory.
The woman’s statue might be from his wife look near a male statue.
There are ten lines written on it, each consisting of three to four words.
This might belong to the 17th century or early 18th century.
Gandirajan said it was one of the first hero stones identified in the tribal area.
The Moopar community of people still worshiped this statue, he said.
“ There Wheel Thanappan Magan, Periya Adaikka Mooovi, ” read the writing on this stone.
Gandirajan said that the second stone hero was carved on three sides.
There was a statue of a king on his horse, the warnings or queen stood nearby and flanked by two soldiers on both sides.
“ This might be a statue of a king of nayak or tribal head, “he said.
One of the soldiers was seen holding an umbrella on the king’s head and the other was seen in the steps behind.
“ This is a very good exhibition in a very classic approach, with complicated details, “he said.
The female statue found along with these hero stones is probably Rani Manganmal, (1680 AD to 1704 AD) because he was worshiped as a goddess in this region.
TN: Stones Hero, Statue of ‘Rani Management’ found
