Devasahayam’s Arrest and the Plot Intensifies

The Arrest at Kalkulam Kunrikkadu

On the morning of February 23, 1749, royal servants arrived at the home of Devasahayam Pillai in Kalkulam Kunrikkadu, bearing a grave message—an official arrest warrant had been issued. His wife, Gnanapoo Ammaiyar, trembled with fear, but Devasahayam remained composed and resolute.

When Commander De Lannoy learned of the situation, he acted swiftly. Fully aware of the court’s true intentions behind the arrest, he hurried to Devasahayam’s residence. Wishing to ensure his friend and fellow officer was spiritually fortified, De Lannoy arranged for him to meet Fr. Barrires before being taken into custody.

A Priest’s Farewell and the Example of a Martyr

Fr. Barrires, a priest well-versed in the lives of martyrs, spoke with deep conviction and tenderness. He offered Pillai a story meant to strengthen his soul:

“Dear Pillai, it seems God is calling you to bear witness for Him. Listen to this: Sebastien, a French commander, was arrested by King Theoclosian after converting to Christianity. Though offered riches to abandon his faith, he stood firm. The king tied him to a tree and shot him with arrows. Believed to be dead, he was later found and healed by an Areen woman. Sebastien returned to the palace, boldly defending the Christian faith. The king, stunned to see him alive, killed him with a blow to the head. Today, Sebastien is honored as a saint. Go with his courage.”

Devasahayam replied with unwavering faith:

“Even if my chest is torn open, even if I’m impaled or burned, I will never abandon Christ.”

Farewell to De Lannoy and Fr. Barrires

Having embraced the Catholic faith at the age of thirty-three, Devasahayam had lived devoutly for four years, forsaking former religious practices. Though he continued to serve under De Lannoy, his true loyalty was now to Christ the Lord.

With tears in their eyes, Fr. Barrires and De Lannoy entrusted him to the guards. Clad in his vesti and turban, Devasahayam was led through the streets. Onlookers, seeing his youth and status, pleaded with him to renounce his faith. But he walked on in silence, undeterred.

The Detention and Christian Companions

During his arrest, two of Devasahayam’s friends—Thomman Thirumuthu Pulavar and Kottavilai Asan Thommai Chinnathambi Annavi—were also taken into custody and held for interrogation at the Fort Jail.

One of them, Thomman Thirumuthu Pulavar, a renowned Christian poet, endured torture and imprisonment for refusing to compose songs in praise of Hindu deities. That night, he and Devasahayam spent time together in the prison, singing Christian hymns and consoling one another, their fellowship a light in the darkness of suffering.

A Poetic Legacy Preserved

Buttari Adigal later mentioned this same poet—believed to be Thomman Thirumuthu Pulavar—as the author of 190 poems about Devasahayam, composed on palm leaves in 1752. This remarkable collection, a blend of faith, resistance, and devotion, has survived to this day and remains a treasured historical artifact in the annals of Christian martyrdom in India.

Conspiracy Against Devasahayam

The Plot Against Devasahayam Pillai

False Accusations and Political Ambitions

The priests, infuriated by their encounter with Devasahayam, wasted no time in taking their grievances to Singaram Anna, the king’s personal assistant. They accused Devasahayam of insulting the king, the revered Namboodiris, and the Hindu religion itself. Singaram, who was already envious of Devasahayam’s superior position in the royal court, readily embraced these fabrications. Seeing a political opportunity to eliminate a rival, he began plotting Devasahayam’s downfall.

Enlisting Commander Ramayan

Aware that he needed support to succeed, Singaram turned to General Ramayan, a respected commander originally from Ervadi in Tirunelveli. Born into a humble Brahmin family, Ramayan had risen through the ranks, beginning as a civil servant in the Padmanabhapuram Fort and attaining the title of Thalavai (commander) by 1737. A devout Hindu and fierce loyalist, Ramayan had previously taken action against the Suchindram Namboodiri yogis on Marthanda Varma’s orders, demolishing their homes when they disrespected the king.

His intense commitment to preserving Hindu orthodoxy made him deeply opposed to the spread of Christianity—especially conversions among the higher castes. Singaram exploited this, stating:

“Devasahayam disrespects our land and religion. He mocks you and me, keeps company with outcasts, and openly embraces Christianity. His influence is leading nobles to convert. Can we tolerate this? He defies caste, insults the monarch, and still serves in the royal court. Is that not treason?”

These words ignited Ramayan’s fury. Rising like a lion, he declared:

“I will despise anyone who insults the king I serve, our religion, or the Namboodiris.”

Ramayan’s Attempt at Persuasion

Despite his anger, Ramayan recollected Devasahayam’s gentle nature and intelligence. Hoping for a peaceful resolution, he sent him a letter, appealing to him to abandon Christianity. But Devasahayam, unwavering in his faith, respectfully declined. This firm refusal only deepened Ramayan’s resentment, though he chose to wait for a more strategic moment.

The Letter from Vadakkankulam

Around this time, Father Paranjothi Nathar of Vadakkankulam wrote to Devasahayam requesting his help in securing timber for the construction of a church. The priest hoped Devasahayam could use his influence to acquire the wood from the king’s forests without cost.

When Devasahayam approached Commander Ramayan with the letter, he did so with confidence in his commander’s integrity. However, the timing could not have been worse. Singaram’s schemes were in full swing, and the letter gave Ramayan a new weapon. Though he assured Devasahayam he would consider the request, he again urged him to return to Hinduism. Devasahayam, consistent in conviction, refused.

Ramayan, known for his persuasive speech, was humiliated by his failure to sway him. In a moment of heated frustration, he exclaimed:

“I will eradicate Christians!”

To which Devasahayam calmly replied:

“Do as you will.”

He then took his leave. Devasahayam later recounted the incident to Fr. Paranjothi Nathar, who expressed his sorrow over the escalating danger.

Conspiracy Deepens: Exploiting the King's Decree

Realizing the political climate was shifting, Singaram and Ramayan escalated their efforts. They weaponized Devasahayam’s Christian faith and Father Nathar’s letter as proof of his subversion. They invoked King Marthanda Varma’s standing decree forbidding royal officials from converting to other religions. Ramayan pressed the issue further, leveling severe charges against Devasahayam:

• He mingled with lower castes.

• He encouraged Hindus to embrace Christianity.

• He was building a growing Christian community among his hometown kin.

• He mocked the poonool, the sacred thread, comparing it to a common waistband.

• He spoke of demolishing the Padmanabhaswamy temple.

• He was allegedly inciting riots by challenging the caste hierarchy.

“If Christianity spreads,” they warned, “what will become of Travancore? What will be the honor of a king who has dedicated his kingdom to Lord Padmanabha?”

Manipulating the King's Fears

At that time, Travancore's Hindu society was already riven by caste-based divisions, many of them deepened by the dominance of the Namboodiri Brahmins. Some, weary of injustice and discrimination, found solace in the Christian message of equality and hope. Alarmed by this shift, the Namboodiris stoked fear that conversions would fragment society further and erode the king’s power.

Singaram and Ramayan appealed directly to Marthanda Varma’s anxieties, portraying Devasahayam as a subversive threat to both religion and royal authority. They insisted that peace could only be preserved by eliminating him.

Eventually, their manipulation succeeded. The king, influenced by these accusations and eager to portray himself as a devout Hindu ruler safeguarding tradition—much like Herod’s political posturing during Jesus’ time—issued the order for Devasahayam’s arrest.