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| Image 1- Kaimada (Landscape) |
Since
the ancient times the Rajas would dedicate hero stones, called Bira
Kall, to the memory of martyrs. Many
hero stones were found in North Kodagu, especially around Somwarpet.
These coarsely sculpted granite tablets, often issued by the rulers
and otherwise commissioned by affluent families, were also known as
Kolle Kallu, stones of the killed. A number of them have been lined
up around the Government Museum within the Madikeri Fort.
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| Image 2 - The Bira Kall within the Kaimada |
Often
the hero stone comprises of two or three panels. Usually at the top
of the hero stone is inscribed a circular sun and a crescent moon. At
the bottom are the carved figures of men and women holding weapons
such as swords, shields and bows. Some sculptures were in the classic
style found elsewhere in Karnataka, such as in Mysore and Shimoga,
until as north as Belgaum, and in parts of Tamil Nadu to the South.
In such hero stones the topmost compartment, underneath the etched
sun and moon, would have a Linga and a bull with worshippers around
them. The second would show the hero ascending the heavens with
apsaras on either side fanning him. The third would have the hero
battling other warriors during his life on earth. Sometimes there is
a fourth, the bottommost, compartment which might have a horse and an
elephant etched.
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| Image 3 - The Bira Kall of Kannanda Doddayya |
The
most well-known of these Bira kall
in Kodagu, also one of the more recent ones made in 1768, has
an image representing Kannanda Doddayya the Dalavayi, or army
general, wearing the traditional Kuppya Chele costume with an
early gun in one hand and a native Oide katti war knife in the
other. When Hyder Ali unsuccessfully attacked Kodagu, Doddayya stood
before Muddu Raja II on the eve of the battle and declared: “Twice
before have I returned after defeating Hyder and bowed to you but
this time I shall not be back”. Indeed in 1767 Doddayya was fatally
wounded near Kajur Bagilu even as his army returned victoriously.
Later, his house was destroyed and twenty four members of his family
were killed by Hyder's son Tipu Sultan. According to G. Richter, in
the 1870 book 'Manual of Coorg', Doddayya's Bira Kall was first
placed in a paddy field, upon a hill slope and opposite the Mercara
Central School.
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| Image 4 - Bira Kall of other Kannanda family members |
A
Kaimada, a small sanctuary built in remembrance of ancestors,
was built a few decades ago and the Bira Kall was shifted into it. In
front of this place, which is also called the Birappa sanctuary, and
to its right is a shrine dedicated to Vishnu Murthy (Vishnu's
image). To the left of the Bira sanctuary is a shelter, called the
Pavali, where a number of devotees can sit within. Behind the
sanctuary and to the left is a Trishul, planted upon a raised
platform. There are two raised stone seats, one behind the other and
facing the Birappa sanctuary.
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| Image 5 - The Birappa Temple shrines |
The
Kannanda family has three more memorial stones, featuring some more
family members, placed inside another shrine. While one stone has a
male ancestor with younger members, the second has a woman with
children around her and the third shows two male ancestors holding
weapons. Beside this second shrine is another Pavali with
stone benches inside.
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| Image 6 - Figures etched on hero stones |
When I
paid a visit to this Bira Kall site Mr. Kannanda Suresh, his wife
Mrs. Kannanda Ashwini and a clan elder Mr. Kannanda Pookunhi narrated
the legend of Doddayya. Accordingly, Doddayya's Kodagu army had
successfully defeated Hyder Ali's army and were returning back
victoriously. But unfortunately Doddayya was struck and wounded on
the way. The Raja, initially pleased upon seeing the return of the
victorious army, was dismayed when he heard of the dying general.
Doddayya was led up the walls of Madikeri fort and all the lands that
he looked upon were then granted to his family by the grateful Raja.
Part of this was what is today called the Kannanda bane (land)
in Madikeri, the area beyond Mann's compound and Ajjamada Devaiah
circle. Doddayya passed away and a Bira Kall was made for him. Some
more land grants were made to the Kannanda family by the Rajas. Thus
the family came to own lands in seven places: Bavali, Madikeri,
Haleri, Poramale, Kajur, Noorokkal and Katakeri. At one point the
Kannanda family owned half of Madikeri. Family members sold away most
of their lands over the years. Now only three of the original seven
places exist with them.
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| Image 7 - Herostone figures |
A week
after the festival of Shivaratri the Pade Bira (war hero)
Kannanda Doddayya is remembered and a two-day festival is organised.
Dance and enactment performances, called There, are arranged.
On the first day Prasada is prepared and the Guru Karana,
an ancestor who was the preceptor as well, is remembered. The
Bhandara, money offered at the temple, is moved that evening.
Throughout the night the Anji Koot Murthy (five spirit
deities) There is held. At dawn the next day the Vishnu
Murthy There is held. In the finale the Pade Bira There
has a performer imitate Kannanda Doddayya and the Nari Pooda
(tiger spirit) There
has another performer emulate a tiger. The Pade Bira and the Nari
Pooda performers together dance frantically around the place but
while the Pade Bira sits upon the seat near the temple, the Nari
Pooda sits upon the seat away from the temple. The Nari
Pooda performer leaves early while the Pade
Bira performer is the last one to remain.
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Image 8 - A couple etched on a hero stone
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| Image 9 - A figure weilding a primitive gun |
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| Image 10 - Hero-Stones |
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| Image 11 - A standard hero stone |
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