14th Century stone carving shows ‘Baahubali’ act

These two hero stones found at Jihoor settlement near Thally, about 10 km from Hosur, could date back to the 13th and 14th century AD. They could have been carved in a gap of 50 to 100 years. “They are different persons as their physique and hair style are completely different. Long ago they could have been collected from different places and preserved between two Peepal trees that are more than 200 years old,” he said. 

The expert archers in the hero stones could have been from the Kangars community, as they are known to be skilled warriors, he explained. Krishnan said that since these two hero stones did not have inscriptions the villagers did not know the value of the heroic deeds of the heroes, though they stand testimony to bravery of people of this region – which is only a few feet away from the Karnataka border. 

He said that more than hundred hero stones have been identified in and around Hosur. But over 95 per cent of them don’t have an inscription. Hero stones were carved to praise the heroics of a hero who got killed in battle or while protecting people from wild animals. 

“Hero stones of kings and the like had inscription,” he said and added that hero stones for other war heroes (like soldiers) were made by their family and villagers and did not have an inscription. However, they had carved these stones to pass on the legacy to the next generation.