Historic Hero Stone

Historic Hero Stone

The Historical Hero Stones of Mulshi Taluka

Hello friends, today we are going to learn about the Hero Stones in Mulshi Taluka.

First, let’s understand what a Hero Stone is. A Hero Stone is a stone pillar erected in memory of brave warriors. It is also called a Veer Stambh (Warrior Pillar). A stone pillar is created by carving specific sculptures on a rock slab, and that pillar commemorates the warrior. This stone pillar is known as a Hero Stone. Similarly, there are also types like Gadhgal and Satigal.

It is believed that the tradition of Hero Stones came to Maharashtra from Karnataka. Large Hero Stones can be found in Karnataka, some of which are inscribed with inscriptions. In Maharashtra, Hero Stones with inscriptions are relatively fewer. In the Kannada language, the word Kallu means stone, and Veerkallu means a warrior’s stone. This term might have led to the word Veergal being used in Maharashtra.

Typically, the Hero Stone is about two to two-and-a-half feet tall and is divided into four or five sections. In the lowest section, the fallen warrior is depicted lying down. In the section above that, a war scene is shown. In the next section, Apsaras (celestial maidens) are depicted taking the warrior to heaven. In the section above that, the warrior is shown worshiping the Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) with his wife. At the very top, there is a central Shivling, flanked by the sun and the moon. This indicates that as long as the sun and the moon exist, the memory of the warrior will remain among the people.

The depiction of the warrior being taken to heaven symbolizes that if a warrior dies in battle, it is believed that they attain heaven. Additionally, the worship of Shiva is often shown because many warriors considered Lord Shiva their deity, which is why Shiva worship is portrayed. Since no inscriptions are found on Hero Stones, they are considered silent witnesses of history.

Now, since Mulshi Taluka also has a rich historical background, many villages in our taluka have Hero Stones. Some of these villages include: Kondhawale, Bhadas, Darwali, Pimpri, Akole, Uravade, Andgaon, Pirangut, Bhugaon, Bhukum, Ghotawade, Kolwan, and some other villages also have Hero Stones.

However, despite Mulshi Taluka having such a rich history, we are aware of the current state of these Hero Stones. Young people from every village should take responsibility for preserving and conserving the Hero Stones in their respective villages.