• Raj Kumar Rate
• Dr. Chanderkant Chawala

The district of Kalahandi is located in the south-western part of Odisha. The literary meaning of the word Kalahandi means “the Pot of Art”. In fact in the field of art Kalahandi has a rich culture. Artistic activities of man has been discerned Kalahandi at least since the pre-historic age, which witnessed the splendid development of art and architecture in this place. This region has a great antiquity, starting from the Mahabharata, various literature refers to the land in one geographical unit or the other. The landmass had variegated identities in different historical epochs. It constituted a part of Taitilaka Janapada in 5th Century BCE Kalahandi was centre of the far-flung Atavika land during the Maurya reign in India (4th – 3rd Century BCE). According to Kautilaya’s Arthasashtra during 4th Century BCE the land between the river Indravati and Tel (South-West part of Kalahandi) known as Indravana. Hero Stones is an integral part of Memorial Stones tradition. Memorial Stones are erected to commemorate dead. The tradition of erection of a monument for the memory of the dead person originated from Vedic period when the dead bodies were not cremated but buried. The spot of burial are initially marked with single stones and later stone circle. The Hero Stones are erected to honour an individual for his heroism, allegiance and sacrifices. Most of the Hero Stones sculptures of Kalahandi are associated with battle fields and we noticed that a hero holds a sword on his raised right hand and shield on his left, also having a head wear and on the upper part symbol like- sun, crescent moon, female palm with bangles were depicted. So far as Hero Stones tradition of Kalahandi as well as Odisha is concerned no such major survey and research is conducted. The present paper attempts to study the nature and form of the Hero Stones, sculptural art traditions and their evolution. The present paper contains both primary and the secondary sources to reveal the political and socio-religious significance of the Hero Stones tradition of Kalahandi.

Kalahandi, Hero Stones, Memorial Stones, Tradition, Sculpture

"Hero Stones of Kalahandi: A Preliminary Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 5, page no.d353-d367, May-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2405337.pdf

"Hero Stones of Kalahandi: A Preliminary Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 5, page no. ppd353-d367, May-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2405337.pdf