The Faithful Family of Devasahayam Pillai

Gnanappu Ammaiyar: A Widow of Mission and Grace

After the martyrdom of Devasahayam Pillai, his faithful wife, Gnanappu Ammaiyar, chose not to return to her relatives but remained in Vadakkankulam, honoring her husband's final wishes. For fourteen years, she lived a life of quiet dedication and service, continuing the mission Devasahayam had begun.

Though others encouraged her to seek the security of family life, she instead embraced a Christ-like path of charity and perseverance, becoming a spiritual mother to the Christian community of Vadakkankulam. Her holy and virtuous life earned her enduring reverence. Even today, generations in the village remember her as a model of Christian widowhood and maternal devotion.

She entered eternal rest in 1766, and her tomb lies on the left side of Matha Church in Vadakkankulam, a site visited and venerated by the faithful.

Preserving Sacred Relics: Symbols of a Martyr’s Legacy

Several important relics associated with Devasahayam are preserved in Vadakkankulam and Nattalam, continuing to inspire generations:

• His turban, worn during his tenure as a palace official, and the manuscript chronicling his life, are safeguarded at Holy Family Church in Vadakkankulam.

• His sword, once kept in a small church near his pre-Christian place of worship in Nattalam, was relocated during the canonization process. It now rests in the museum built at his birthplace, which has been renovated to display images and artifacts from his life.

This museum is visited daily by pilgrims, drawn by the memory and spiritual power of the saint’s humble beginnings and courageous witness.

The Quiet Suffering of His Family

Devasahayam’s younger sister, Lakshmikutty, lived with their mother, Devaki Amma, after his death. Unmarried and deeply affected by the tragedy, Lakshmikutty bore silent witness to the sorrow that befell their family. The villagers and kin often spoke of Devasahayam’s conversion and cruel punishment, attributing it to destiny and the mysterious will of God.

Their grief endured for years:

• Lakshmikutty passed away in January 1754.

• Devaki Amma followed in 1755, heartbroken yet resigned.

This poignant family story has been preserved through oral tradition, passed from generation to generation.

A Living Memory: Testimony of a Descendant

One of the most enduring links to Devasahayam’s lineage is Vijayammai, an 85-year-old descendant who shared her family’s story during a recent field study. Tracing her roots nine generations back to Raman Pillai, Devasahayam’s uncle, she recounted cherished tales passed down from her grandmother, who heard them from elders long gone.

According to her, Raman Pillai’s descendants are the only branch of the family that remained faithful to the Christian tradition in the Kanyakumari district. She reverently guards a treasured Bible with a handwritten English note, believed to have been gifted to Raman Pillai by an American named Paul—a sacred relic that still holds a place of honor in her home.

Aunt Bhagwati Amma: A Journey of Conversion

Another remarkable member of the family, Bhagwati Amma, Devasahayam’s aunt, migrated with her daughters to Kottayam, where they embraced Christianity. Her descendants have since lived in Kerala for two generations, though they have lost connection with their ancestral homeland.

Though physically separated from their roots, the spiritual lineage remains intact—a quiet testament to the ripple effect of Devasahayam’s faith and martyrdom, which touched not only strangers but also transformed his own kin.