10th-century Hero Stone identified at Telangana Heritage Museum

A 10th-century hero stone from Eleswaram has been identified at the Telangana Heritage Museum in Panugallu. It honours a warrior named Kakayya, who died in battle in 996 CE. The Telugu-Kannada inscription describes his bravery and sacrifice

Hyderabad: A hero stone, a memorial erected to honour individuals who died bravely in battle, preserved at the Telangana Heritage Department Museum in Panugallu, Nalgonda district, has been identified by Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam.

The hero stone brought from Eleswaram, depicting the hero holding a spear in his right hand and a shield in his left, charging forward with a battle cry, was identified by Voruganti Venkatesh, a member of the Brundam. At his feet lies a fallen enemy warrior, while another stands fighting. The hero is adorned on the right side with a crest, earrings, necklaces, sacred thread, waistband, armlets, bracelets, anklets, and toe rings.

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The inscription carved on this hero stone, dated to the 10th century, reveals that in 996 CE, a 21-line inscription in Telugu-Kannada script and Telugu language, a hero named Kakayya, under the command of Mallaya Komandivaradiya from Davalandi in the kingdom of Ariyarimma Kumara, fought relentlessly in battle without retreating and attained the heroic heaven (Veeraswarga).

The inscription was carved by Saraswatta, son of Pavakoju, as noted by Sriramoju Haragopal, the convener of the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam, who read the inscription.