Buttari Adigalar and De Lannoy’s Legacy

The Legacy of Those Who Shaped Devasahayam’s Journey

Buttari Adigalar: The Priest Who Baptized a Saint

Buttari Adigalar, the revered Jesuit priest who baptized Devasahayam Pillai, continued his mission of evangelization after leaving Vadakkankulam Parish. In 1751, he was transferred to the historic Periyanayaki Madha Kovil in Avoor, a town in the southern part of Tiruchirappalli.

It was during his ministry in Avoor that Devasahayam attained martyrdom. Buttari Adigalar remained in Avoor for six years, guiding the faithful with unwavering commitment. He passed away on May 19, 1757, at the age of fifty, a date marked by deep reverence as it coincided with the Feast of the Assumption.

He was buried near the Avoor church, and according to longstanding oral tradition, Gnanappu Ammaiyar, the widow of Devasahayam, journeyed to attend his funeral—a testament to the deep spiritual bond between them and the gratitude she bore him for introducing her husband to Christ.

De Lannoy: The Dutch General and Defender of the Faith

General Eustachius De Lannoy, a key figure in the life of Devasahayam, was instrumental not only in his conversion to Christianity but also in the shaping of modern Travancore. A former Dutch naval commander, De Lannoy entered the service of Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore, after being captured during the Battle of Colachel in 1741.

Embracing his new role with distinction, De Lannoy:

• Introduced Western military tactics and modern weaponry.

• Built formidable fortifications at Padmanabhapuram, Udayagiri, and the Travancore Lines, strengthening the kingdom’s defense against external threats such as those from Mysore.

• Constructed a chapel dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel in Udayagiri, where he and his family worshipped. This chapel, though now a roofless structure, is revered as part of the present-day Puliyoorkurichi shrine.

De Lannoy faithfully served the Travancore kings for thirty-seven years. He passed away on June 1, 1777, at the age of sixty-three, followed shortly by his son that same year. His beloved wife, Margarita, died in 1783.

The graves of De Lannoy and his family rest within the Udayagiri fort, adjacent to the now-ruined chapel where he once prayed. These tombs are lovingly honored each year on the tenth day of the Puliyoorkurichi festival, during which the Christian community and local faithful clean and venerate the site.

Preserved in Memory and Stone

Today, the Udayagiri fort and the remnants of St. Michael’s Chapel stand as silent witnesses to the enduring legacy of De Lannoy. Maintained by the Central Government’s Archaeological Survey of India, the site is not only a sacred memorial for pilgrims but also a popular destination for tourists, drawing interest in its layered history of faith, sacrifice, and cultural exchange.