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Location
: 12-km South Of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Also Known : Sacred Arockia Madha Church
Dedicated To: Our Lady Of Health
Important Festival: Velankanni Festival
Celebrated Annually From 29th August to 8th September
Velankanni (also
spelt Velangani) also known as the "Mecca of South Asian
Christianity" is located 12 km south of Nagapattinam, on the
Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu. The shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of
Health, the Madonna of Velankanni and is popularly called as 'Sacred
Arockia Madha Church' and people of all faiths and religions visit it.
About The Church
The church has an
imposing facade with tall spires and the wings present the shape of a
cross. In a niche in the alter is enshrined the statue of Our Lady of
Health. Many bring with them small gold and silver replicas of parts of
the body to donate to the church. There is a small church museum which
has a display of the offerings made by those whose prayers were
conceded.
Legend
Connected Behind The Construction Of The Church
It is here that
in 1560, Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a shepherd, asking him
for milk to quench the thirst of baby Jesus. When the shepherd returned
to his master, after performing the good deed, his pitcher kept filling
up with milk. Consequently, a small thatched chapel was built at the
site. At the end of the 16th century, Virgin Mary materialized again, in
front of a lame boy, who, after the divine visitation, regained the use
of his limbs. This occasioned the construction of an actual church.
The legends that
go behind the construction of this Church are many-the most famous being
that of the ship-wrecked Portuguese sailors, who in the 18th century,
vowed to build a great shrine for the Virgin Mary, for saving their
lives in a terrible storm.
On 8th September
1869, a Portuguese ship sailing from Macao to Goa, got caught in a
massive storm in the Indian Ocean. The sailors, prayed to Virgin Mary to
rescue them, promising to build her a magnificent church if she did so.
Some time later, their wrecked ship was deposited on the shores of
Velankanni. The sailors not only built a Basilica in Velankanni, but
also returned year after year, bringing from their trips, exquisite
items to decorate the church.
The Portuguese
annexed the area and brought it under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of
Mylapore. To commemorate the miraculous escape of the Portuguese
sailors, every year a fascinating festival is held here.
The
Outstanding Feature Of The Shrine
The outstanding
feature of the shrine is the miracle angle attached to it. Ever since
the sailors were saved three centuries ago, by dint of their prayers,
Velankanni has acquired a formidable reputation of curing sicknesses and
maladies, thus earning the sobriquet, 'Lourdes of the East'.
The tradition is
to offer to Our Lady of Health, a candle in the shape of the respective
ailment- a red heart in case of cardiac complications, a liver in case
of jaundice, yellow lungs in case of tuberculosis and so on. In case of
the ailment getting cured, the Virgin Mary and the church are to be
thanked by offering a solid silver replica of the part of the body that
has been cured.
Festival
Celebrated
Every year a
fascinating festival (29th August to 8th September) is held and pilgrims
from all over the country and even abroad flock to the site, bathe
religiously in the sea, have their heads shaved, (the hair later being
auctioned by the priests), and then walk on their knees or roll up to
the shrine, lending a unique Indian touch to the entire ceremony. The
shrine also has its share of Hindu pilgrims.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Velankanni, an
important tourist place is easily accessible. It can be accessed from
Trichy, Chennai and Thanjavur by rail. Buses are available for
Chidambaram, Chennai, Madurai, Pondicherry, Trichy and Thanjavur. Buses
and trains frequently run from Nagapattinam.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is
available at the moderate class and small budgeted hotels and lodges in
Nagapattinam
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