A Life of Service and Suffering
For forty years, Devasahayam Pillai served the Travancore kingdom with distinction, carrying the cross of suffering both physically and spiritually. Through his conversion and steadfast witness, he became a living seed of Christianity, planted deep in the soil of South India. When his earthly life ended, his martyrdom gave rise to miracles that confirmed his sanctity.
A Miraculous Sign: The Rock that Split
At the moment of his death, a miraculous event unfolded at Aralvaimozhi. The rising rock, beneath which he had been martyred, split into two, its fragments falling with a sound likened to a resonating bronze temple bell. This phenomenon was revealed later by the very guards who had executed him, moved by the awe of what they had witnessed.
Abandoned in Death
At dawn, Officer Singaranna and the soldiers, fearful of the strange signs at the site, left Devasahayam’s body where he had fallen. As night passed and morning broke, they removed the chains from his limbs and hastily dragged his body a short distance away. Their intent was to leave him exposed to wild beasts, hoping his remains would be devoured before any traveler or merchant could intervene.
The Hidden Burial and Public Silence
The next morning, travelers passing by noticed that Devasahayam was no longer tied to the Poovarasa tree where he had been last seen. Upon inquiry, the guards confirmed his death but refused to disclose his burial place, fearing public unrest and backlash from the local Christian population.
The people quickly reported the matter to Fr. Tomaso D. Bansika, the parish priest of Kottar. Though Jesuit fathers and De Lannoy attempted to retrieve the body for a proper burial, they were denied. A prohibition existed against burying those executed as criminals, particularly those accused of treason or murder.
However, the priests managed to obtain Devasahayam’s turban and chains by paying the guards. While the turban was preserved and enshrined at Vadakkankulam Church, the chain was sadly lost en route to Rome. Still, divine providence made known the resting place of His servant in a miraculous way.
The Discovery of the Martyr’s Body
One week later, a group traveling in a cow cart experienced an unusual halt—their oxen refused to move forward. Interpreting this as a sign, they searched the surrounding area and discovered a partially eaten human body lying on a nearby cliff.
Turning it over, they found a cross around the neck, confirming it was Devasahayam Pillai, whom the Christian community already venerated. Bullet wounds and animal bites had marked his body, yet his identity was unmistakable. Word spread quickly to Kottar and Vadakkankulam, and traders brought his remains to St. Xavier’s Church.
A Martyr’s Burial at Kottar
With permission from the Jesuit Superior of Madurai and the Bishop, a funeral mass was celebrated for the martyr at St. Xavier’s Church, Kottar. His body was laid to rest in front of the main altar, a rare and solemn honor. This burial was lovingly chronicled by Puttari, and the act itself is vividly preserved in tradition:
“As if flowing like a stream, they buried the good man,”
writes Thomman Thirumuthu,
“laying stones in his honor.”
Present at the burial were De Lannoy, priests from his hometown, and faithful catechists, all moved by the grace of his sacrifice.
The News Spreads and Honors Begin
News of Devasahayam’s martyrdom reached the Christian faithful across the land. Under the direction of the Bishop of Kochi, a pontifical Mass—usually reserved for martyrs—was held in his honor. The ancient hymn Te Deum was sung in praise of God for the grace shown through Devasahayam’s witness.
Even Marthanda Varma, the king who had authorized his imprisonment, is said—according to palace tradition—to have regretted his death, acknowledging his servant’s virtue and talents.
Sacred Relics and Lasting Signs
Devasahayam’s personal belongings have become relics of great devotion:
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His turban and upper garment, preserved at Vadakkankulam Church, were entrusted by his wife, Gnanappu Amma.
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His sword and axe, symbolic of his former rank, are safeguarded at Nattalam Church.
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The rock that split, still echoing like a bell, remains at the site of his martyrdom.
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The tree that shaded him, adorned with leaves of varying hues, continues to grow.
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His birthplace, well, and tree of prayer before conversion have become pilgrimage sites.
Each location associated with Devasahayam is now hallowed ground, drawing pilgrims who come in prayer and tears, touched by the memory of this saintly soul.
An Eternal Witness in the Land of Travancore
Though the names of kings and nobles have faded into obscurity, the name of Devasahayam, a man devoted wholly to the Lord, shines brighter with each passing generation. The seed of faith he planted in the southern soil has taken root, growing into a tree that now spreads its branches across the world.
He is no longer merely a servant of a king—but a martyr of the Kingdom of God, a defender of Christianity, and a beloved son of India.
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