Pakalomattom family

The Pakalomattam, Pakalomattum or Pakalomattom family is an ancient Suriyani (Syrian) Christian family in Kerala, India. They are popularly known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India. They are also known as Nasrani (followers of Jesus the Nazarene).[1][2]

History

Palayur St. Thomas Monument

According to tradition, St. Thomas, the apostle visited Kerala in AD 52, as part of his missionary work in Persia, India and Afghanistan.[3]It is believed that Pakalomattom family was evangelized by Thomas the Apostle.[4] There is no direct contemporary evidence for Thomas being in the subcontinent, though it definitely would have been possible for a Roman Jew of the time to make such a trip. The earliest known source connecting the apostle to India is the Acts of Thomas, written in Edessa likely in the 2nd century.[4][5] The text describes Thomas' adventures in bringing Christianity to India, a tradition later expanded upon in early Indian sources such as the Thomma Parvam (Song of Thomas).[6][7] According to a Malabar tradition, he ordained bishops and priests from the Pakalomattom family.[8][9][10][11][12]

Tradition

Palayoor was one of the places near the port of Muziris, where St. Thomas established a church. The place is referred as Palur in some old documents. At that time, according to tradition, Palayoor had a Brahmin village of 64 families. It is believed that in one of the temple ponds in Palayoor, St. Thomas performed a miracle. Some Vaidik Brahmins were performing Vedic ritual called Tharpanam in which they devote Lord Sun by the symbolic submission of water in their palms along with Vedic recitation. St. Thomas was attracted to the ritual and queried the logic of their submission since the water thrown above was not accepted and returned to earth. Thus St. Thomas got an opening to present his subject before that Brahmin community. St. Thomas threw water in the name of Jesus and it stood still in the air and glittered like diamond. By this experience, many Brahmins accepted Christianity while the other Brahmins cursed the place and left the place with their families saying that they would bathe their next bath at Vembanattu.[13] Nedumpally, Madeipur, Koykkam, Muttodal, Pakalomattom, Panakkamattam, Sankarapuri, Kalli, Kallikavu, etc. were among the families who were baptised in Palayoor.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Supporting facts

Even today the place is known as Sapa-kadu or Chavakadu which means "cursed forest". The unhappy Brahmins ran away to Vembanattu and settled down there. This place is still called Pudumanassery or the "Place of the new Mana" (Illam). It is stated that a Hindu temple that was abandoned by the Brahmins was converted into the present church. Temple remnants in the form of broken idols, sculptures and relics of the old temple can also be seen near the precincts of the church, in addition to two large tanks near the west and east gates of the church.[25][26]

It is also stated that the conversion of Brahmins has resulted in such an aversion among the Nambudri Brahmins that they do not even accept cold water or tender coconut water anywhere in the vicinity of the church. In Vembanattu there is a Brahmin illam of Kalatt, which according to tradition is one of the families which ran away from Palayoor.[27] Furthermore, a document called Grandavariola kept by a local Brahmin family (who had moved out from Palayur during the preaching) testifies to the date of the gospel work of St. Thomas. The document states:

"Kali year 3153 (52 AD) the foreigner Thomas Sanyasi came to our village (gramam) preached there and thereby causing ..."

[28][29][30]

In the song "Margam Kali" - one of the ancient round group dances of Kerala practised by Saint Thomas Christians, a brief description of this tradition is portrayed. A relevant part of the song is translated below:

He then heard about Kerala and went there, arriving at Malankara, preaching to the Brahmans of Cranganore and ordaining two of them priests. Then he went south, erecting crosses at Quilon, Niranam, Kokkamangalam, Kottukkayal, Cayal and Palayoor. The King sent for Thomas and inquired him of the completion of Castle's work. The King put him in prison when told he must wait till after his death to see the new palace, and was so mortified by the deception that he wanted to abdicate.However, his brother died at that time and saw the palace in heaven. He was resuscitated and told the King of its glory. The king, his brother, Habban and others were baptized, and the faith spread apace arousing the Brahmans’ jealousy ...[31]

Historicity of Brahmanical origin

Some historians argue that the Brahmin's arrival in Kerala happened much later. However, prominent Kerala historians like A. Sreedhara Menon are against this argument. Aryan religions like Jainism and Buddhism had already made inroads to Kerala in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. The consensus among scholars is that the Aryan Brahmin immigration to South India had started as early as 1000 BC, though there are differences of opinion. Some of the poets of the Sangam period were Brahmins, and there are references to the poojas and yajnas conducted by Brahmin priests in the court of Chera kings. It is clear that Syrian nasranis wanted aryan uppercaste status but history shows that they are semitic in origin. Brahmins came to Kerala only in 7th century AD. Nasranis had to either accept they were the late comers who were not converted by St Thomas or else they had to accept they were the Jews who were allowed to settle here in Kerala by the chera king.[32]

Medieval history of Palayoor families

Thus Christianity gained a foothold in Kerala well over 300 years before it succeeded in obtaining official recognition in Europe, or in becoming the established religion of Rome. This community, though a minor one, was aligned in the social crystalline structure with a respectable orientation. The respect and toleration shown to this faith, found expression in the fraternal treatment extended to its adherents, who were accorded and retained for themselves an honoured place, in the social and economic life of Kerala. They succeeded in doing this because they were Christian in faith only, but in all else, they were Indian. They were no doubt staunch in their adherence to their faith, and proud of the apostolic origin of their church. But their primary concern was to live in harmony and requite the hospitality and toleration shown to them by the Hindu kings and princes.[33]

Some of the Palayoor Christian families relocated as early as 2nd century AD. Pakalomattom and Sankarapury include in this list. Others stayed in Palayoor until Tippu Sultan (1749–99) attacked Kerala.

References

  1. Puthoor Family
  1. ↑ David Daniel (1986). The Orthodox Church of India: History. History of Christianity in India. (University of Michigan).
  2. ↑ Edgar Thurston. "Castes and Tribes of Southern India". Google Product Search.
  3. ↑ Bayly, Susan Saints, Goddesses and Kings in South Indian Society Cambridge University Press 22 April 2004 ISBN 978-0-521-89103-5
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Frykenberg, Eric (2008). Christianity in India: from Beginnings to the Present, p. 93. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-826377-5.
  5. ↑ Bornkamm, G. "The Acts of Thomas" in E. Hennecke, New Testament Apocrypha, Vol. 2. London: Lutterworth, 1965.
  6. ↑ Frykenberg, Eric (2008). Christianity in India: from Beginnings to the Present, p. 92. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-826377-5.
  7. ↑ "The Song of Thomas Ramban" in Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol. I, The Nazranies, Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8]
  8. ↑ James Arampulickal (1994). The pastoral care of the Syro-Malabar Catholic migrants. Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, India Publications. p. 40.
  9. ↑ Orientalia christiana periodica: Commentaril de re orientali ...: Volumes 17-18. Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum. 1951. p. 233.
  10. ↑ Adrian Hastings (2000-08-15). A World History of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-8028-4875-8.
  11. ↑ Benedict Vadakkekara (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: a historiographical critique. Media House Delhi. p. 61. ISBN 978-81-7495-258-5.
  12. ↑ Benedict Vadakkekara (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: a historiographical critique. Media House Delhi. ISBN 978-81-7495-258-5.
  13. ↑ George Menachery and Edward René Hambye - The St. Thomas Christian encyclopaedia of India, Volume 2
  14. ↑ Anthony Korah Thomas (1993). The Christians of Kerala: a brief profile of all major churches. A.K. Thomas.
  15. ↑ Orientalia christiana periodica: Commentaril de re orientali aetatis christianae sacra et profana, Volumes 17-18
  16. ↑ Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum (1951). Orientalia christiana periodica: Commentaril de re orientali aetatis christianae sacra et profana. Pont. institutum orientalium studiorum.
  17. ↑ Palayoor | Plathottam Family
  18. ↑ PALAYOOR CHURCH of ST. THOMAS Thrissur Kerala India
  19. ↑ Kerala History - Christians of Kerala
  20. ↑ Castes and tribes of Southern India, Volume 1 By Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari
  21. ↑ Balakrishna N. Nair: The dynamic Brahmin: a study of the Brahmin's personality in Indian culture with special reference to South India ; Popular Book Depot, 1959 - Page 228
  22. ↑ Joseph Thekkedath: History of Christianity in India, Volume 1; Theological Publications in India, 1982 - Page 33
  23. ↑ Indian antiquary, Volume 60 - Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
  24. ↑ Kerala State gazetteer, Volume 2, 1986
  25. ↑ Bezbaruah-Gopal-Girota 2003, pp. 60-62.
  26. ↑ Church 1969, p. 93
  27. ↑ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=pAncGlpGW8wC&pg=PA48&dq=hindu+traditions+of+St.Thomas+Christians+nasrani&hl=en&ei=-th9TqCyOoLTrQe96dTIAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Kalatt&f=false
  28. ↑ Kurikilamkatt 2005, pp. 173, 183
  29. ↑ MY Album
  30. ↑ Palayur Church, Chavakkad
  31. ↑ NSC NETWORK – Margam Kali – History, Theme, Early References and Modern Developments
  32. ↑ A. Sreedhara Menon - Political history of modern Kerala, D C Books, 1987, pp. 36 -39, ISBN 81-264-2156-8
  33. ↑ NSC NETWORK – The Heathen and the Syrian – Syrian Christian Ritual and Tradition pre 1599 A.D

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