Devasahayam’s Trial and Torture

Summoned to the Palace
Devasahayam was brought to the royal palace in Padmanabhapuram for interrogation. Contemporary historical accounts reveal a barrage of accusations from influential figures, including the Namboodiris, General Ramayan, Singaram Anna, and others close to the king. They charged that after embracing Christianity, Devasahayam had distanced himself from his native community and publicly criticized royal authorities and Hindu customs, claiming that many practices were displeasing to God.

Offenses Against Tradition
Among the accusations was his refusal to participate in the Bhadhrakali temple festival, which was seen as a grave insult to Namboodiri worship. He had reportedly condemned the influence of the Namboodiris and Vedic Nairs and allegedly threatened to strip their sacred poonool (threads) and wear them as a waistband—an act that symbolically rejected caste privileges.

During the Thiruvonam festival at the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Devasahayam refused to offer traditional gifts such as yogurt, milk, and vegetables. Instead, he encouraged only the oppressed to contribute simple items like bananas, bamboo, and vegetables for Hindu temple festivals, openly challenging social and religious hierarchies.

Advocacy for the Oppressed
Devasahayam’s actions were rooted in his Christian conviction that all human beings are equal in the eyes of God. He rejected caste discrimination, treated slaves as equals, and avoided Hindu religious ceremonies at both the Padmanabhapuram Palace and Fort. His message of equality and his ability to attract even high-caste individuals to Christianity provoked fear and hostility.

He also advocated for Christians to be exempted from certain taxes, and helped secure timber for the construction of the Vadakkankulam church, arranging for the trees to be freely supplied to Fr. Paranjothi Nathar, the parish priest.

Refusal to Recant
Presented before the king’s court, Devasahayam was offered a harsh ultimatum: renounce Christ or face death. He chose silence over betrayal. When the king’s messengers reported this silence as defiance, Marthanda Varma himself interrogated Devasahayam. Yet the saint resolutely defended his faith and dismissed the false charges. Infuriated, the king ordered him to be handcuffed and imprisoned—ignoring the earnest pleas of Fr. Perririse and Commander De Lannoy.

Brutal Torture
Once imprisoned, Devasahayam was subjected to cruel and relentless torture. His tormentors beat and trampled him, inflicting wounds that rendered him helpless, like a bird with torn wings. In an act of extreme humiliation, they forced cow urine and dung into his mouth. Other Christians were also harassed and persecuted during this time.

Pressure for Execution
Worried that public sympathy for Devasahayam might inspire further conversions, his adversaries urged the king to hasten his execution. They argued that his faith was contagious and dangerous. Yielding to their pressure, Marthanda Varma issued an order for Devasahayam’s execution in the forest near Madathattuvilai.

March to the Forest
The soldiers obeyed. As a sign of condemnation, they placed a garland of erukkam (calotropis) leaves around his neck—a symbol usually reserved for criminals. Yet Devasahayam, clothed in serenity and innocence, bore it like a crown.

He was laid on a rock beneath the scorching sun. A woman was ordered to grind Gandhari chili to apply to his wounds. Feeling pity, she added turmeric to ease his pain. But Devasahayam, embracing his suffering for Christ, gently insisted that she obey the command fully. When she applied only the chili, he responded with holy irony: “It feels cold.” Hence, the forest came to be known as Kulumaikkadu—the “Cold Forest.”

A Temporary Reprieve
As the execution neared, a royal servant arrived with a sudden change in orders: the king had decided to imprison Devasahayam indefinitely in Travancore, hoping to force him to renounce his faith over time.