Martyr Devasahayam [Lazarus] was a True and Staunch Roman Catholic Believer and His Canonisation Will be Held on 15th May ,2022 at Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by His Holiness Pope Francis . Part . A.

Introduction   : Great Roman Catholic Believer and Martyr  Devasahayam was a true  Roman Catholic Believer and he was martyred at the Kathadimalai near Aralvaimozhi in Kanyakumari district  for the cause of Christian faith  on  the 14th  January 1752.  Until his conversion to the Catholic religious faith, Martyr Devasahayam  was called by his original name Mr Neelakandan Pillai .. Martyr Devasahayam counted all things worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus [ The  Incarnate Word of God ] Sri. Devasahayan carried his own cross for the cause of the cross of Jesus Christ and deservedly Martyr Devasahayam's canonisation is to be held  at the Vatican City, Rome by His Holiness  Pope Francis on the  15th May 2022.  This canonisation event  will open a new  thought provoking chapter in  Indian Church history .  

  

                     

                                                        Martyr Devasahayam [ Lazarus].

                His Parents and Birth :  There lies a beautiful village called Nattalam on the western side ot Padmanabhapuram , [ a former capital city of Travancore kingdom ] and in this village Ms Devaki [ sister of Mr Raman Pillai ] was living with her husband Mr Vasudevan Numboothiri and this couple gave birth to a male child on 23rd April 1712 and this couple christened their male child as Neelam and  later people started to call Neelam as Neelakandan ,  Nattalam was famous for  its  Aathikesaperumal temple and Nattalam Sivan Temple . Ms Devaki Vasudevan Couple also gave birth to a female child by name Ms Lekshmi Kutty .

Neelakandan's [ Devasagayam ] Education  and Training    : Mr. Neelakandan's maternal uncle Mr Raman Pillai took a keen interest to provide good and standard education and training to his sister's son Mr Neelakandan Pillai .[ Kumari Aaathavan, p. 32] and by using his influence he helped his nephew Neeelakandan to be a student of the famous teacher Mr Muthappanar. Nellakandan studied  Malayalam, Tamil, Sanscrit , Vedas, Grammar, Philosophy,etc, and  young Neelakandan gained a reasonable hold and mastery  over these subjects [Ibid]. Neelakandan also took training  and effort to learn Martial Arts and became an adept and expert in  Martial arts . [ Ibid] 

Mr. Neelakandan's [ Devasahayam's] Wife :  .  The famous historical Eraniel town is situated on the banks of Valliyar and near Eraniel there lies a lovely village by name Mekkodu and in this Mekkodu village there lived a famous Nair family and Mr Neelakandan married Ms Parkavi from this Mekkodu Nair family [ Kumari Aathavan , p. 42]. 

Marthandavarma Maharaja,  DeLanoy  and Neelakandan [ Devasagayam  ] :  After a strong and consistent  struggle and battle against Maharaja Sri  Balarama Varma's Children namely Mr Raman Thambi and Pappu Thambi , Maharaja Sri Marthanda Varma captured the throne of Tavancore in 1729 [ Kumari Aathan p. 37] Maharaja Sri.Marthanda Varma was called , "The Maker of Modern Travancore" by the historians,   The maker of the modern Travancore Maharaja  Marthanda Varma ruled Travancore kingdom from 1729 until his death in 1758. and he defeated the Dutch East India Company forces at the battle of Colachel in 1741.. In this battle the Dutch Captain DeLanoy was defeated and arrested by Marthana Varma Raja but Marthanda Varma Maharaja recognised the valour and intelligence of DeLanoy and accepted him as his friend[ Aathavan p,.52].  and  Marthanda Varma also requested DeLanoy to train Maharaj's Army in the European way and style  [ Ibid p. 52 and Amalagiri Anthonimuthu, Mukthi Peru Petta Vethasatchi Devasagayam Pillai , 2013,  P. 38].. Maharaja Marthanda Varma also asked Delanoy to rebuild the historical  Uhdayagiri Fort and accordingly DeLanoy  within three and half years rebuilt the historical Uthayagiri Fort and settled inside the fort and also gave training to Marthanada Varma's forces in the European pattern.  Maharaja Marthanda Varma  and Delanoy became very great friends and they respected each other mutually.  .Mr. Delanoy also joined Maharaja  Marthanda Varma's Army as its general . .  Mr.Delanoy  married  Ms Margaret D Almetha in 1745 and she was a daughter of a British officer and they started to live inside the Udayagiri Fort [ Kumari Aathavan p. 54]

Mr. Neelakandan [ Devasahayam]  and DeLanoy   :  As Neelakandan's maternal uncle worked in the palace, Marthanda Varma Maharaja came to know about Mr.Neelakandan and his efficacy , knowledge and intelligence and so Neelakandan got a job in the Padmanabapuram palace [ Kumar Aathaven p. 41] and during this period, Maharaja Marthanda Varma wanted to renovate the Padmanabapuram palace and so Marthanda Varma Raja appointed the smart Neelakandan as the Administrator of the Neelakanda Swamy temple . Maharaja also wanted to renovate the palace and build a Fort around the palace , and so he appointed the efficacious Neelakandan  as the Supervisor of the labourers and construction workers [ Ibid p. 42] More over it is learned that Mr. Neelakandan was made , as the In-Charge officer of  a section of Maharaja's Army [ Ibid p, 42]. . Naturally Mr.Neelakandan and General DeLanoy got lot of natural and necessary opportunities to meet each other frequently  and as a corollary they became great true  friends. The meeting of these two great minds changed the social and religious history of  Travancore , Tamil Nadu and South India 

Next Part will follow soon. 

By P. Babu Manoharan, M.A,.[ All the Rights are reserved . This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed }.