The Muttidichan Parai Church, also known as the St. Mary’s Church, is a historic Roman Catholic church located in the village of Muttidichan in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. The church is named after St. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and is a popular place of worship for the Catholic community in the region.
Devasahayam Pillai, also known as Neelakanta Pillai, was born into a Hindu Nair family in 1712 in Nattalam, in the Kingdom of Travancore (now part of Tamil Nadu, India). He was appointed as the steward of the Neelakantaswamy Temple at Padmanabhapuram and also managed the affairs at the Maharaja’s palace. He had a good relationship with the Maharaja and the ministers. After the Battle of Colachel, the Dutch captain Eustachius De’Lannoy was taken prisoner by the Maharaja and made the “Commander in Chief” of the Travancore Army, working at the Udhayagiri Fort.
In time, De’Lannoy and Neelakantan became good friends, and De’Lannoy recommended that Neelakantan visit the Vadakankulam Church. Neelakantan was baptized as Lazerus, also known as Devasahayam, meaning “God’s Help,” on May 14, 1745. However, when some Brahmins complained about Neelakanta Pillai’s conversion to Christianity and accused him of insulting the gods, Brahmins, and the royal throne, he was arrested on February 23, 1749. Despite being advised by the Maharaja to give up Christianity, Devasahayam Pillai refused and was imprisoned in Thiruvithancode, where he was tortured for about three years. On January 14, 1752, he was shot and killed by the soldiers of the Maharaja at Kattadimalai in Aralvoimozhi.
The Muttidichan Parai Church, also known as the St. Mary’s Church, is located near Puliyoorkurichi and is known for its miraculous fountain. According to legend, on his way to be killed by the Travancore soldiers, Devasahayam Pillai, who was seated on a buffalo and feeling very thirsty due to his torture, requested some water to drink. The soldiers gave him dirty water, which he was unable to drink. He prayed to Jesus and hit a rock with his elbow, causing a miraculous fountain to appear from which he drank. The rock is now known as Muttidichan Parai, and people still come to drink the miraculous water, believing it has healing powers.
St. Michael’s Church is located opposite the Muttidichan Parai Church. The foundation stone of the church was laid on January 14, 2007, and it was consecrated on January 14, 2011, by His Excl. Dr. Peter Remigius, the Bishop of the Kottar Diocese, in the presence of Very Rev. Fr. George Ponnaiah, the Vicar Forane of the Mulagumoodu Vicariate. The church is designed in the ancient Travancore architecture, with a mixture of Portuguese art in the interior, and is meant to resemble a palace, as Devasahayam Pillai worked at the Padmanabhapuram Palace during the reign of King Marthanda Varma.
According to legend, the church was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese missionaries who were working in the region at the time. The church is built in the Gothic style of architecture, with a tall spire, stained glass windows, and ornate carvings on the walls and pillars.
The main altar of the church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is adorned with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The church also has several smaller altars dedicated to other saints and figures of the Catholic faith.
The church is a popular place of worship for the Catholic community in Muttidichan and the surrounding region, and is visited by a large number of devotees throughout the year. The church is also a popular tourist destination, and is known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere.
In addition to its religious significance, the Muttidichan Parai Church is also an important cultural and historical landmark in the region. The church has played a significant role in the history of the Catholic community in Tamil Nadu, and has been a center of devotion and faith for many generations of believers.
The church is open to visitors throughout the year, and is easily accessible by road or rail from the nearby cities of Nagercoil and Kanyakumari. If you are visiting the region, make sure to visit the Muttidichan Parai Church and experience the beauty and tranquility of this historic place of worship.