HEROSTONES OF SOUTH INDIA 45 whose soul must be worshipped to transform it into a ben^fictel spirit. This straightforward concept was modified by other influences. Higher H€M€W The belief of the elite sections of society that the fallen hetros are welcomed into a special world of glory found expression in the later Ch€n-gam herostones. This mining of the two beliefs is reprcsented^ln a few pawls which contain two horizontal layers, one repr-Sisenting the simple foils belief and the other the elite belief. The lower layer represents the wounded hero and the upper layer ha^ two goddesses standing with. ga^l^nds, ready to welcome him.20 This concept of a glorknxs heroes heaven fb^th A few other herostones found in Tamil Nadu and Kerala show three horizontal layers. The first two are similar to those found in Chengam. The third layer depicts the soul of the hero standing with folded hands before the linga2 1. An image ofNandi is also found in one corner of the panel. These are indications of a new development in the belief structure regarding the final destiny ofth^ hero-souh. The BhakH movement of the Saivites overwhelmed the Tamil people from AD sixth to the eighth ccmurv. The religious faith of Saivism postulated the highest heaven, Sivaloka for th? blessed. The heroes were naturally counted among the blessed, fit for nothing less than Sivaloka. The Melor Ulagu thus became some kind of a half-wav paradise for the departed soul on its way to the highest glory and supreme bliss. Though the destination of the heroes moved to higher levels, the livinj carried on their rituals and ceremonies before the herostones with the purpose of obtaining material benefits here, of the earth, earthy. 1 R Nagas^vamy, Chengam Nadukarkal^ Department of Archaclogv, Madras. This book contains texts of about 60 inscriptions on herostones discovered in Chengani taluk. Nagaswamy, Director of the Department of Archaeology, Madras informed me that 126 herostones have so far been discovered in the Chengam taluk. a Kaoalalyakal (seu&oajs^), 9 Kadavnl eluthia kal (sL-ww 4 Puram23\. 8 Pnram243. 9 This poem mentions the herostone erected to tlie memory ofAthiaman. The ritual of feeding a spirit is also mentioned. 7 Aaraichi Vol I No, 2 p 190. 8 Sadasivam Filial, ^Chcra Nadum Gen Tamilum", Trauancore Manual. A photograph, of the herostone is printed at Nagercoil. 0 Found in many inscriptions appearing in Chengam Nedukaikal^ op.cU.