Muttuchira

Muttuchira
village
Muttuchira Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°45′20″N 76°30′0″E / 9.75556°N 76.50000°E / 9.75556; 76.50000Coordinates: 9°45′20″N 76°30′0″E / 9.75556°N 76.50000°E / 9.75556; 76.50000
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Population (2001)
• Total	14,303
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	686613
Vehicle registration	KL-

Muttuchira (malayalam: മുട്ടുച്ചിറ) is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.^[1]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Muttuchira had a population of 14303 with 7022 males and 7281 females.^[1] Saint Alphonsa was brought up in Muttuchira. It is a calm and quiet village where all live in religious harmony. The majority population are Syro Malabar Catholics and some Jacobite Christians, but many Hindus also live in Muttuchira harmoniously.

In ancient records, Muttuchira was recorded as Nayappilli. Muttuchira got its name from a series of small dams(chira) constructed in earlier times to prevent the entry of salty sea water into the fields.It currently has a hospital(muttuchira holyghost mission hospital), a church(holy ghost church),a temple and schools.

Muttuchira church is one of the oldest churches in India. There is an ancient Pahlavi inscribed granite bas releif Cross found in Muttuchira. According to the local tradition, The Church at Muttuchira was founded in AD 510. It was probably located near the ancient open air rock cross at Kurisum moodu, a little east of the present church dedicated to Mar Sliva ( Holy Cross) It is probable that a new Church was built in the present Church compound on the Eastern side in AD 1528 by Mar Denha and Mar Abo ( Mar Jacob Abuna) as narrated on the Muttuchita inscriptions. This Church was dedicated to Ruha D Kudisha- Holy Spirit. The Pahlavi inscribed granite Cross was transferred to this Church from the ancient Mar Sliva Church. Later, this sliva which was placed in the altar was covered by building a wooden raredos rathaal in front of it. In AD 1854-58 period, another Church was built in front the old Church dedicated to Ruha D Kudisha which is the main Church at Muttuchira today. In AD 1923, the old Ruha D Kudisha Church on the eastern side of the present Church was renovated to rededicate it to Saint Francis of Assissi. During the renovations, the ancient Pahlavi inscribed Granite Sliva was rediscovered behind the wooden raredos-rathaal of the old church fixed to the eastern wall of the Madbaha. It was again neglected and transferred to the new Ruha D' Qudisha Church in a very unimportant place- back side of the wall of the facade in a corner, probably because of the interests of the Archaeological Department of the then Government of Travancore. Now, this invaluable monument of Saint Thomas Christians of Malabar has been placed in a side altar of the main Church.

Muttuchira inscriptions are early Malayalam inscriptions- Vattezhuthu- Nanam Monum- on a granite tablet found in Muttuchira. The 'Muttuchira inscriptions' are inscriptions narrating about the installation of the free standing Cross and the Pahlavi inscribed bas relief cross-The 'Muttuchira Sliva'. The inscriptions are on a rectangular granite slab in two sections divided by a vertical line in between. According to Mr T K Joseph , this inscription must be of AD 1581 or later. This tablet has been the subject of extensive research by many scholars. This granite slab was found on the western wall of the ground floor room of the two storey building attached to the northern side of the old Church of the Holy Ghost. The upper story was used as the Priest's Home and the ground floor was used as the sacristy. Muttuchira Sliva, the Pahlavi inscribed Cross is an invaluable monument of the Christian community that was the symbol of veneration of the ancient Christian settlement of Muttuchira. Muttuchira inscription tablet is another landmark monument narrates installation of the Mar Thoma Sliva in the altar and the open air Rock Cross.

Muttuchira Church is historically important. Archdeacon Jacob of Muttuchira was a native of Muttuchira and was based in this church until his death. He was buried in the Church of Saint Francis of Assissi. He was appointed as Archdeacon by Mar Simon, the Chaldean Bishop who arrived in Malabar in 1576 AD during the time of Mar Abraham, as a rival. Mar Simon was sent to Rome but Archdeacon Jacob had followers until his death in 1596.

Bishop Chandy Parambil (Palliveettil Chandy Metran) celebrated his first Pontifical Mass at Muttuchira Church in AD 1663. Saint Alphonsa of India spent her early years in Muttuchira parish . Saint Alphonsa of India was brought up in her mother's house, the Muricken family of Muttuchira.

References

2 http://www.nasrani.net/muttuchira+church+sliva+lithic+inscriptions