Photograph of two memorial stones from the Tarakeshvara Temple at Hungul (Hangal), Karnataka. The temple was dedicated to Siva and built in c. 1050. The tradition of memorial stones appears to have started in about the sixth century AD, and sati-stones (satikals) commemorating women who committed the rite of sati or self-immolation, and hero-stones (virakals) commemorating dead warriors, are particularly found in central, western and southern India.

Hangal, in the Dharwar district of Karnataka, was initially a territory of the Chalukyas of Kalyana, who were the dominant power in the Deccan from 973 to 1189 AD.