Hoping to gain the king’s favor and renown, officials competed to convert Devasahayam back to his former religion through escalating punishments. Each sought to break his resolve, but their efforts were in vain. Devasahayam’s steadfast commitment to his Christian faith and principles remained unshaken.
The guards tasked with transporting and punishing him grew weary, lamenting, “For his sake, we endure sun, rain, and harsh elements. Despite countless punishments, he remains resolute. We punish him, yet our own condition is wretched.” Devasahayam declared, “Even if I am cast into fire, I will not speak evil.”
At Vettuvenni near Marthandam, Gnanappu Amma, his wife, and relatives visited him. Seeing her husband—once a dignified guard of the Travancore treasury and esteemed accountant—now chained like a criminal, Gnanappu wept uncontrollably, touching his countless wounds as her tears flowed. The contrast between his former prestige and current plight was heart-wrenching. The man once adorned in splendid attire, bearing noble knowledge, now stood in handcuffs. She bathed his feet with her tears, yet Devasahayam, despite his suffering and impaired vision from chili torture, comforted her, offering guidance amidst his own pain.
Local Nair community members supported Devasahayam, alleging that the Namboodiri Brahmins orchestrated the torture of Neelakandan (his pre-baptism name) and that Marthanda Varma’s actions stemmed from their influence, not personal animosity. Buttari Adigalar documented these sentiments.
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Choked by Cruelty: Devasahayam’s Torment with Chili and Pepper Fumes |
An hour later, assuming Devasahayam had succumbed, they returned. As the smoke cleared, they found him kneeling in deep prayer, his wounds miraculously healed and his appearance rejuvenated. Astonished and trembling, they approached cautiously, tapping him with sticks. Unfazed, he rose abruptly, steadfast in his faith.
In this region, De Lannoy erected a stone cross opposite the Vettuvenni Sasta temple, venerating it as a sacred sanctuary. Despite efforts by the king and officials to remove it, its miraculous resilience thwarted all attempts. Ultimately, Marthanda Varma ordered its preservation, and the site became the Vettuvenni Shrine church, known as Kurusadi.
Devasahayam was then transported to Kuzhithurai, Kappikkadu, Munjirai, Pudukkadai, Painkulam, Amsi, Midalam, Ramayundurai, and Tuttur, passing through Kollankodu, enduring relentless torture. Gnanappu Amma followed, pursued by servants. Despite her distress, Devasahayam urged her to pray for him. Heartbroken, she was dragged away by relatives, trailing his journey.
On the beaches, bystanders knelt in the sand, praying for him. When guards paused to eat, Christian fishermen read the Bible to Devasahayam, who found solace in its words. Requesting water, he was given seawater, but after praying over it, the water miraculously turned pure and drinkable, free of salt.
In January 1750, Devasahayam faced the Neyyattinkarai officer, who reiterated prior demands. The officer ordered guards to grind pepper, mix it with water, and force Devasahayam to drink it. He was then placed in a wooden box with biting ants for the night, tied to a tree to prevent sleep. Buttari Adigalar recorded that many gathered to hear Devasahayam’s teachings, with his words inspiring widespread shifts in perspective. Alarmed by his influence, authorities confined him to a dark room at night and banned his public speaking.
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