Marthanda Varma and Devasahayam’s Persecution
Marthanda Varma’s Rise and the Expansion of Travancore
Until the reign of Marthanda Varma, the kingdom of Travancore remained relatively modest, entangled in the intricate politics of Malabar. His ascension marked a turning point. Through military conquests and administrative reforms, Marthanda Varma significantly expanded the kingdom—from Kanyakumari in the south to the Periyar River in the north, and from Kalakkadu in the east to the Arabian Sea in the west. Padmanabhapuram became the political and spiritual heart of this enlarged kingdom.
Moral Decline and Persecution of Christians
Once hailed for his bravery and wisdom, Marthanda Varma gradually lost his moral compass. His deepening reliance on religious orthodoxy eroded his capacity for justice and compassion. Increasingly, he became intolerant of Christianity, which he perceived as a threat to the traditional order.
To safeguard the Brahminical hierarchy, he issued a strict royal edict: no one except coastal fishermen was allowed to convert to Christianity. He ordered his ministers and governors to enforce this decree with unyielding severity.
Devasahayam Pillai’s Conversion and Opposition
In this climate of religious rigidity, Devasahayam Pillai’s conversion to Christianity and his unshakable fidelity to Christ became a direct affront to the king’s religious policy and the caste orthodoxy upheld by the Namboodiris. His bold and public embrace of the Christian faith provoked widespread resentment among the ruling elite, fueling the conspiracies and opposition that would ultimately lead to his persecution and martyrdom.
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Royal Hesitation and Political Intrigue
In Travancore, those who displeased the king were often accused of treason and executed without delay. However, Devasahayam's immediate execution was not feasible. He had earned great respect among both palace officials and the common people for his honesty and fairness in managing palace salaries. Even King Marthanda Varma held a favorable opinion of him.
In Travancore, those who displeased the king were often accused of treason and executed without delay. However, Devasahayam's immediate execution was not feasible. He had earned great respect among both palace officials and the common people for his honesty and fairness in managing palace salaries. Even King Marthanda Varma held a favorable opinion of him.
Initially, the king was skeptical of the allegations—particularly the claim that Devasahayam obstructed tax payments. But due to the relentless assertions of Lieutenant Ramayan, the king chose to delay execution and instead ordered Devasahayam’s imprisonment.
Rumors and Secret Persecutions
News of Devasahayam’s possible execution spread rapidly. While compassionate citizens were filled with sorrow, opportunists at court saw a chance to eliminate him. During the king’s absence on a northern campaign, those in charge of Devasahayam’s confinement attempted to kill him by starvation. But their schemes failed—he survived, upheld by divine grace.
De Lannoy, deeply concerned, sent trusted friends to check on Devasahayam and to offer comfort. He even arranged for a European guard to protect him. However, tensions intensified between Lieutenant Ramayan and De Lannoy, stemming from Devasahayam’s conversion—an act attributed to De Lannoy’s influence.
Royal Rebuke and Political Tensions
Ramayan urged the king to reprimand De Lannoy, warning that his support for Devasahayam might alienate European allies. The king, concerned about his military commander interfering in internal religious matters, formally censured De Lannoy. Although there may have been hidden resentment toward him for Devasahayam’s conversion, Marthanda Varma refrained from open hostility, aware of De Lannoy’s strategic importance to the army.
De Lannoy, distressed by these events, confided in Puttari Adigalar. With a heavy heart, he knelt with his wife and children to pray for Devasahayam’s safety.
Endurance in Suffering
Despite repeated visits from his grieving wife Gnanappu, Devasahayam endured imprisonment with unwavering faith. Even as guards mistreated him, he comforted her and encouraged her to remain strong in Christ.
The scholar Thomman Thirumuthu Pulavar testified: “He endured mockery that made others tremble, bearing thirty lashes daily.” His unshakable faith deeply moved many visitors, and several from other religions—including Nairs—converted to Christianity. This enraged Ramayan and Singaram Anna, who feared the collapse of caste dominance.
Widespread Persecution
In response, the king issued a royal edict in 1750, commanding all Christians in Travancore’s interior to renounce their faith and return to their former religion. Many Christians courageously refused.
What followed was a wave of persecution. Converts faced scorn, seizure of property, public humiliation—often paraded on animals—and the destruction of their homes and churches. Some, unable to withstand the torment, reverted to their previous beliefs.
Puttari Adigalar, an eyewitness to these trials, documented:
“Thousands of Christians fled to the forests and mountains, surviving on porridge made from palm jaggery and water. Some took shelter with priests along the coast. Guards even forced the faithful to drink water mixed with cow dung.”
Chaos engulfed the land.
Target of Hatred
Devasahayam remained the primary target of envy and hatred. Lieutenant Ramayan and his allies returned to the king with new accusations. They denounced Devasahayam as a traitor for embracing Christianity and dismantling caste distinctions. They warned that Christian influence, supported by De Lannoy and others, might one day transform Travancore into a Christian state—undermining the king’s rule.
Humiliation and Parading
Determined to crush him, they subjected Devasahayam to public humiliation more severe than that meted out to common criminals. They imprisoned and tortured him, parading him through towns and villages as a warning.
When these efforts failed to produce his renunciation, they brought him before the Kalkulam Taluk officer for judgment. As a final insult, they transported him in a “Yaman’s vehicle” (a cart associated with death), adorned with a garland of calotropis leaves—reserved for the condemned.
Bureaucratic Machinery of Persecution
Travancore was administratively divided into eight taluks, each referred to as a “zone gate” (Mandalavasal). Each taluk was governed by a local officer or kariyakarar. These officials coordinated Devasahayam’s movement between locations for judgment and punishment, ensuring the state's machinery worked efficiently against one man whose only crime was faith in Christ.
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