Devasahayam Mount
At a time when India is celebrating the canonization of Devasahayam Pillai, India's first layman saint, Kattadimala or Devasahayam Mount, his place of martyrdom, is attracting visitors.
The town, which is located in the hills of Tamil Nadu's Aralvaimozhi and is home to Asia's largest wind farm, Muppandal, is also known for the Puliyoorkurichi church dedicated to Devasahayam Pillai. Kattadimala is worth a visit on its own or as part of a larger itinerary that includes the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Padmanabhapuram, and the Kanyakumari Beach. Here's what you should know before going on a trip.
Historical view
Devasahayam Pillai was born into a Nair household and went by the name Neelakanda Pillai. Kayamkulam was his father's hometown, and Kanyakumari was his mother's. Neelakanda Pillai joined the Travancore royal family's service as a young man and was assigned to state affairs.
Neelakanda Pillai met captain De Lannoy, the commander of the defeated Dutch army, after Travancore king Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch naval army in the historic battle of Colachel in 1741. Following his surrender, the monarch pardoned De Lannoy and appointed him head of the Travancore military forces.
Neelakanda Pillai became interested in Christianity after meeting De Lannoy, a devout Christian. In 1745, he became a Christian and took the name Lazarus Devasahayam. According to records, this enraged many people, and he was subsequently charged with treason for allegedly disclosing state secrets to Europeans. Devasahayam Pillai was detained for three years and tortured. He is thought to have been killed by the Travancore army in Kattadimala, which is today known as Devasahayam Mount, in 1752.
The church is a stately temple on the Thirunelveli-Nagarcoil highway, with an entrance arch built of basalt stones interlaced with white panes, precisely like the church itself.
Related places to Devasahayam Mount
- Church of Vadakkankulam
The church of Devasahayam's baptism.
- Nattalam
This is where Devasahayam Pillai was born, and there is a museum dedicated to him that includes a little wall from his original home.
- Puliyoorkurichi
'Muttidichaan paara' is present in Puliyoorkurichi. Devasahayam, who was thirsty while suffering the army's attack, is said to have fallen to his knees here and a fountain appeared to bring him water.
- Kattadimala
The hill where Devasahayam was killed by a bullet. The location is so named because it is exceedingly windy. It's noted for its cool environment and stunning views from the top. This place also has a lot of windmills and farms.
- Maniyadichaan para
A large piece of rock kept on the church grounds that is claimed to have fallen out of the hill after Devasahayam Pillai's murder and makes a bell-like sound when struck.
All of the above locations are within a 20 to 25-kilometer radius and are easily accessible.
How to get there
On the Nagarcoil-Tirunelveli route, Kattadimala is roughly two hours from Thiruvananthapuram.
En route stops
On the road to Kattadimala, visitors can visit Thuckalay's Udayagiri Fort, where captain De Lannoy was cremated, the Travancore royal family's Padmanabhapuram Palace, and even Colachel, which has a battle memorial.
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