Unyielding Faith Amid Escalating Persecution
In a desperate bid to regain the king’s favor and secure renown, officials vied with one another to force Devasahayam back to his former religion. With each passing day, the punishments became more severe, yet his unwavering faith in Christ stood like a rock against their violent tide.
The guards themselves began to complain of their exhaustion and misery:
“For his sake, we suffer sun, rain, and the hardships of the road. Despite countless tortures, he remains unshaken. We afflict him, yet it is we who are afflicted.”
To this, Devasahayam answered with serenity,
“Even if I am cast into fire, I will not speak evil.”
The Grief of Gnanappu Amma: A Wife’s Tears at Vettuvenni
At Vettuvenni, near Marthandam, Devasahayam was allowed a brief visit from his wife, Gnanappu Amma, and some of his relatives. She broke down in tears at the sight of her once noble husband—formerly a distinguished accountant and guard of the Travancore treasury—now standing in chains, broken and wounded.
She wept as she touched his battered frame. Her tears washed his feet, once adorned in the dignity of royal service. Though nearly blinded by chili rubbed into his eyes, Devasahayam consoled her, offering words of guidance and strength in the midst of his own suffering.
Support from the Nair Community and Witness of Buttari Adigalar
Members of the local Nair community openly supported Devasahayam, asserting that the Namboodiri Brahmins were responsible for his torture and that King Marthanda Varma acted under their influence, not from personal hatred. This perspective was recorded by Buttari Adigalar, a contemporary chronicler.
Choked by Cruelty: The Fumes of Persecution
Moved by Devasahayam’s growing influence, the general urged the king to intensify his punishment. The king ordered the Vilavancodu officer to devise a harsher method. The officer had ten large pots filled with fermenting wood, chili, and pepper placed around Devasahayam to emit suffocating fumes.
The choking smoke was so unbearable that even the guards fled. After an hour, assuming him dead, they returned—only to find Devasahayam alive, kneeling in prayer. His wounds appeared healed, and his body radiated strength. Trembling, they approached, tapping him gently with sticks. He rose abruptly, unharmed, a sign of divine preservation.
The Cross at Vettuvenni: A Sacred Testament
Moved by the miracle, De Lannoy erected a stone cross opposite the Vettuvenni Sasta temple. Despite repeated royal orders to destroy it, the cross remained immovable, resisting all efforts. Finally, King Marthanda Varma relented and ordered its preservation. The site later became the sacred Vettuvenni Shrine Church, also known as Kurusadi, meaning “place of the cross.”
The Road of Suffering: Town to Town
From Vettuvenni, Devasahayam was dragged to town after town—Kuzhithurai, Kappikkadu, Munjirai, Pudukkadai, Painkulam, Amsi, Midalam, Ramayundurai, Tuttur, and Kollankodu. Each stop was marked by relentless torture and mockery.
His faithful wife, Gnanappu Amma, followed him, chased and harassed by guards and servants. Though grief-stricken, she remained nearby. Devasahayam, even in agony, consoled her:
“Pray for me always.”
Eventually, her relatives forcibly dragged her away.
Miracle by the Sea: The Gift of Pure Water
As the procession neared the coastal regions, bystanders knelt in the sand and prayed for Devasahayam. While the guards paused to eat, Christian fishermen read the Holy Scriptures aloud to him. He found great consolation in their words.
When he asked for water, they mockingly gave him seawater. But after he prayed over it, the salty water miraculously became fresh and drinkable, astonishing all who witnessed it.
Final Trials at Neyyattinkarai: Ants and Darkness
In January 1750, Devasahayam was brought before the officer at Neyyattinkarai, who echoed previous threats and commands. Under his orders, the guards mixed pepper with water and forced it down Devasahayam’s throat.
That night, they confined him in a wooden box filled with biting ants. To ensure no rest, he was tied to a tree. Despite the torment, his teachings drew large crowds. Many who heard him began to question their beliefs and consider the truth of Christianity.
Alarmed by his influence, the authorities locked him in a dark cell each night and forbade him from speaking publicly.
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