Travel
Sites Visit
Goa, Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in South
India, Delhi, Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh in North India, Assam, Bengal,
Sikkim in East India |
Overseas
Tourist Offices
Tourist
offices in India Helpline
| |
Religion Back
To Index Page
Malayatoor
shrine a major attraction during festive season
by Juhan Samuel Malayatoor
(Kerala): The St. Thomas international hill shrine in Kerala's Malayatoor
is a symbol of communal harmony as it attracts thousands of devotees from all
religions during the festival season. During April and May, people from all age
groups and religions carry a wooden cross to share the pain and hardships that
Jesus went through the way to crusification at Mount Calvary. "I am visiting the
shrine for the last three years. I believe in temple as well as church. I believe
that by visiting this place, I won't suffer from any disease," said Mankya Amma,
a Hindu pilgrim from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. Hindu devotees flock from nearby states
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in large numbers and climb the hill shrine
with the same passion as any Christian devotee. The St. Thomas International hill
shrine, also known as Malayatoor Kurisumudi is Kerala's most famous hill shrine
and is the only international pilgrim centre in Asia and fifth in the world, which
is approved by the Vatican. "People from across the world come here as the shrine
of St. Thomas is wide open for anyone. Even Jesus once said that 'all worship
places will be open for all'. Lakhs of people irrespective of caste, creed, language
and religion come to this place and pray," said Fr. Rockey Chully, the Chaplain
of the St. Thomas International shrine, Kurisumudi. The famed church lies 54 kilometres
from Kochi and stands at the top of the Malayatoor Hill, which is 609 metres high.
The church is consecrated to St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ
and enshrines a full-size image of St. Thomas. The climb is difficult with rocks
and uneven surfaces but it still remains a major attraction for the pilgrims.
According to the church authorities, more than 80 lakh devotees visit this place
every year during the period which lasts till May 31. According to a belief, the
footprints St. Thomas are engraved in a rock, which is protected here. Sailing
in an Arab merchant vessel, St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Kodungalloor
port in Kerala, India in AD 52. It is believed that St. Thomas took the initiative
for establishing a Christian community at Malayattoor. St. Thomas founded seven
churches in Kodungalloor, Quilon, Niranam, Nilakkal, okkamangalam, Kottakavu and
Paalayoor on his journey in Kerala. He died in 72 A.D. after he was pierced by
a lance while praying on St. Thomas Mount, a 91m-high hill 14km southwest of Chennai.
His body was taken to Mylapore and buried in the chapel he had built with his
own hands.
-Apr 25, 2009
|
|