Brief history of Vallarpadam
The National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam is popularly known as the Lourdes of Kerala. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Varapoly. People all parts of Kerala and outside, irrespective of cast and creed come here to seek the blessings of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, traditionally known here as Vallarpadathamma. Kochi the “Queen of Arabian Sea” has got a number of small Islands in the backwaters and Vallarpadam is one such island having an area of only six kilometers. On it stands the magnificent Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam. Till 2004 the access of Vallarpadam was only by the regular boat service, of course, though the breathtakingly beautiful backwaters. After the construction of the Goshree bridges make the access a lot easier and faster.
Christianity of Vallarpadam
It is with the arrival of the Portuguese missionaries by the end of 15th century the mass conversions and Latinization started in India. The Portuguese were both colonialists as well as strong Christian specialized in Church architecture. No doubt they formed colonies in Kerala especially in Christian dominated areas but more than that they built beautiful churches, they built was the one at Vallarpadam. It was actually a reconstruction of the damaged church at Vallarpadam, the first church ever in Asia to be named after the Holy Spirit. On the Pentecost Day in 1524, the Christians of Vallarpadam were accepted in to the Latin rite, en-masse, and to commemorate that event the Portuguese missionaries dedicated an altar to Our Lady of Ransom venerating it with the portrait of Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, which they had brought from Portugal. Many people experienced miraculous healings, others a strong sense of protection after praying at this altar. From that day onwards the Holy Spirit as well as that of Our Lady of Ransom is being celebrated with much solemnity.
Paliyath Valiyachan and Our Lady’s Portrait
In 1676 a heavy flood destroyed the church at Vallarpadam, devastating the area almost totally. The Portrait of Our Lady of Ransom was seen the swollen river. Many tried to retrieve the Portrait but in vain. Then the Divan (Prime Minister) to the King of Cochin, Paliyath Valiyachan Succeeded in retrieving it from the water. He was surprised to find that the picture was not wet! His surprise gave way to piety as he heard about the many miracles experienced by the devotees. Getting down at Vallarpadam and realizing the need, he donated a sizable area of land on the waterside to build a new church enshrining this portrait. When the new church was blessed the generous Divan also donated Sanctuary Lamp which has been burning day in and day out from 1676 onwards. The oil for burning the Sanctuary Lamp was regularly supplied from ancestral palace of the Divan. The flag post at the church courtyard marks the place the Divan landed. As a symbol of unparalleled devotion to Our Lady of Ransom the Pontifical high mass on 24th September begins with the pouring of the oil in the sanctuary by the Royal family members and lighting it.
The Miraculous Rescue from the Deep Back-waters
On 23rd May 1752, a Nair lady, Meenakshi-Amma and her son of Palliyil House, Vallarpadam, were going to the family temple Mattanchery. When the boat reached the deep waters the gales blew and the boat was tossed up and down by the towering waves. Immediately boat capsized in the heavy storm. Meenakshi-Amma seeing that there is no way to escape, implored Vallarpadathamma to save them and vowed that they would be her slaves (Adima) for rest of their lives. Those who escaped catastrophe reported the whole thing to others and people came in boats with nets to rescue the mother and the child. In the bad weather they couldn’t continue much longer. The next day they searched again but had to abandon the efforts due to the storm.
Meenakshi-Amma’s faith in Our Lady was indomitable and so her prayer with deep faith was readily heard. She was miraculously found on the third day and saved by the local people who cast nets across the river as per the instructions of the Vicar of the church, Rev. Fr. Miguel Correa. It was recorded by the priest that Our Lady appeared to him for consecutive nights in the dream and on the third day he could not but instruct to search for the lost mother and her son. The news reverberated across the land of Kerala and people from all walks of life flocked to the church not only to pray but also to see Meenakshi-Amma and her child and to hear the very mouth of her the encounter with Our Lady.
To the crowd who came to her, Meenakshi-Amma recounted her experience. “Just I prayed to Vallarpadathamma for help and vowed our allegiance by becoming her servants, the boat capsized and I, together with my son sank into the deep. We went straight to the bottom of the sea and found ourselves at peace in the presence of Vallarpadathamma. We were in such a serene and beautiful place that we did not feel the passing of time. We were just gazing at the face of Our Lady and her Son. Now we find ourselves at the feet of the same Vallarpadathamma”. All those who heard it glorified God who saved her and praised Vallarpadathamma for her powerful protection. Meenakshi-Amma and her son used to sweep the church and entire courtyard every morning and evening with broom. Even now, the devotees bring brooms and sweep the church floor and courtyard clean as a sign of their commitment and their gratitude to Our Lady of Vallarpadam.
It was real rebirth to Meenakshi-Amma and her son and they expressed their indebtedness by not only baptizing themselves as Mary and Yesudas (Servants of Jesus), but also becoming staunch devotees of Our Lady of Vallarpadam. Faithful to her promise they lived the rest of their life at the church-yard praising God who has done marvelous things for them. According to the elders Yesudas expired at the age of 16th and Meenakshi-Amma lived her full life and went to receive her eternal reward at the ripe age of 72. In order to make this miracle ever fresh in the minds of the people a local painter, with the permission of the Church authorities, added the picture of Meenakshi-Amma and her son to the Portuguese portrait at the shrine. The portrait of Vallarpadathamma was thus made complete. The generations of lineage, most of them even now Hindus, surrender their new born babies as adima of Vallarpadathamma and offer buttermilk or samba ram in a wooden boat to the devotees on the day of the annual feast of Our Lady of Ransom.