HERO STONES OF MANDYA AND KOLAR DISTRICTS, KARNATAKA - A Comparative Epigraphical, Sculptural, Iconographical and Cultural Study of Heroism, Cattle Raids, Warfare and Collective Memory

ABSTRACT

Hero stones are among the most valuable memorial sources for reconstructing the social, military, economic and religious history of medieval Karnataka. This article presents a comparative study of the hero-stone traditions of Mandya and Kolar districts. It examines chronology, inscriptions, sculptural composition, Turugol or cattle-raid memorials, warfare, village defence, hunting, weapons, animals, religious symbolism and cultural memory. Kolar is identified in regional scholarship as one of Karnataka's important hero-stone concentration zones, while Mandya preserves significant early and medieval examples. Published Mandya evidence includes the eighth-century Hebbalu hero stone, a ninth-century Karabayalu example, the 906 CE Chinakurali Turugol memorial and the 949–950 CE Atakur memorial inscription. Kolar evidence includes eighth- to tenth-century hero stones associated with Nolamba contexts, cattle raids, warfare and hunting. The study uses comparative qualitative analysis and deliberately distinguishes documented examples from a complete monument census. It proposes a standardised monument-level database combining epigraphy, iconography, GPS, GIS, photography and field documentation for future quantitative comparison. The central argument is that Mandya and Kolar share a common southern Karnataka memorial culture while displaying distinct political, economic and iconographic emphases.

INDEX TERMS

Hero Stones, Vīragallu, Mandya, Kolar, Turugol, Gograhana, Warfare, Cattle Raids, Epigraphy, Iconography, Gangas, Nolambas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Cultural Memory.