Devasahayam: A MARTYR of FAITH and COURAGE in SOUTH INDIA

DEVASAHAYAM, born as Nilakanta Pillai on 23 April 1712, in the village of Nattalam in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, came from a Hindu-Brahmin family. He served in the army of the king of Travancore and was a respected figure in his community.

In 1745, Devasahayam made the life-changing decision to convert to Christianity. On May 14 of that year, he was baptized at the Catholic church in Vadakkankulam village (now in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu) by Jesuit priest Father R. Bouttari Italus. After his baptism, he adopted the name “Lazarus” or “Devasahayam” (Malayalam), which means “God is my help”.

Despite facing significant opposition from his family and the local rulers, Devasahayam remained steadfast in his new faith. He worked tirelessly to spread the Gospel and advocated for the rights and dignity of lower-caste individuals, challenging the rigid caste system of the time. His efforts to promote social equality and Christianity earned him both admiration and enemies. In 1752, his bold stance led to his arrest by the king’s forces. He was tortured, including being forced to march barefoot to the capital, before being executed on 14 January 1752. Devasahayam was shot with arrows, a brutal execution that marked him as a martyr for his faith.

Despite his controversial decision to convert, Devasahayam’s life became a powerful testament to the rejection of the caste system and the embrace of equality. In 2012, he was beatified by the Catholic Church (Vatican), and in 2022, he was canonized as a Saint, further cementing his legacy as a pillar of Christianity in South India.

Devasahayam, became the first canonized Indian layman, which marked a significant moment in Indian Christian history, highlighting his courage and dedication to his faith despite facing intense opposition.

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