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Friday, October 20, 2017

Devasahayam Mount (Kattadimalai), Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari

Devasahayam Mount (Kattadimalai), Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari
Devasahayam Mount is a Christian Pilgrimage center located at Aralvaimozhi in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. It is situated on the Nagercoil - Thirunelveli highway in Tamilnadu. Devasahayam Pillai was an 18th century convert from Hinduism to Christianity in the southern part of India. He may have been an official in the court of the Travancore king, Maharaja Marthanda Varma, during which time he came under the influence of the former Dutch naval commander, Captain Eustachius De Lannoy.










Some people believe that the soldiers went up the forested hills and tried to shoot Devasahayam, but were unable to fire; after which he took the gun in his hands, blessed it and gave it back to the soldiers to shoot him to death, if they wished to. The soldiers took the gun back and fired at him five times. His body was then carelessly thrown out near the foothills at Devasahayam Mount (Kattadimalai). It was at Kattadimalai in Kanyakumari district that Devasahayam Pillai died on 14 January 1752.










There is a Catholic church located in the hill of Kattadi malai where Devasahayam Pillai was martyred. His mortal remains were interred near the altar inside St. Xavier's Church, Kottar, Nagercoil, which is now a Cathedral. Devasahayam's tomb has been restored and beautified in view of the declaration of martyrdom and beatification. At that spot on the hillock (called Kattadimalai), devotees believe that rocks fell and were broken at that moment. One rock at the place makes bell-like sounds when knocked with a stone.










Life Story of Devasahayam Pillai
For brief details, please refer below link;
Connectivity
Devasahayam Mount is located at about 2.5 Kms from Aralvaimozhi, 2.5 Kms from Aralvaimozhi Railway Station, 2 Kms from Aralvaimozhi Bus Station, 2.5 Kms from Thovalai, 3.5 Kms from Thovalai Railway Station, 16 Kms from Nagercoil, 12 Kms from Boothapandi, 29 Kms from Kanyakumari and 94 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Stations are located at Aralvaimozhi and Thovalai. Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.