A CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL STUDY OF HERO-STONE (NADUKAL) WORSHIP AMONG MALAYALIS (TRIBLE) IN THE KALVARAYAN HILLY AREA OF HERO-STONE WORSHIP

Abstract

Background: This paper analyzes the hero-stone (Nadukal) traditions of the Malayali tribes in the Kalrayan Hills. From the Megalithic era through the Sangam age, erecting memorials for warriors who perished in battle was a cornerstone of Tamil culture, extensively documented in the Tolkappiyam, Sangam literature, and devotional hymns.  The study employs a Qualitative Descriptive-Historical Design. It adopts a longitudinal perspective to track the evolution of worship from prehistoric archaeological evidence to contemporary ethnographic practices. By integrating archaeology and anthropology, the research maps the continuity of tribal belief systems across millennia. A multi-disciplinary approach was utilized, involving. Direct observation of hero-stones (e.g., Vediappan and Karuppurayan deities) in the Kalrayan, Servarayan, and Kolli Hills. Correlating Neolithic tools, rock engravings, and Megalithic monuments with existing hero-stones. Comparing ritualistic descriptions in Sangam texts with physical ground-level evidence. The study highlights these stones as "open-air museums" requiring urgent protection from environmental decay and modern encroachment. It reveals how Nadukal serves as a focal point for tribal identity, reinforcing social cohesion and ancestral spiritual trust. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the Sangam-era heroic code is not extinct but survives through modern folk deity cults, providing a vital link between Tamil Nadu’s martial past and the present.  In these highlands, hero-stone worship is more than a ceremony; it is a profound symbol connecting religion, history, and the enduring cultural heritage of the Malayali tribes.