Korattymuthy

Background Information

St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Koratty, in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, is the most revered Marian Pilgrim Centre in India after Velankanni. It is also the largest Marian Pilgrimage travel and Catholic tour travel destination of Kerala. Millions of devotees throng to this Marian Apparition of India every year. Many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady at this Shrine. The ill and the infirm and the distressed, damsels who yearn for partners in life, the parents who long for a child - flock to this shrine to seek solace.

Myth and the Mystery

Kodungalloor, Angamaly and Ambazhakad were the ancient Christian centers of Kerala, and their history is associated with Hindu Feudal Lords, namely with Thampuratty (queen) of Koratty Swaroopam. There were many landlords, also known as Swaroopams, in Kochi region; they had armies and could rule independently and had their own armies. They could judge people and even pronounce death sentence, as long as they were loyal to the king. Koratty Kaimal and Kodassery kartha were the two major feudal lords of Kochi royal family, and they used to fight each other all the time.

Ambazhakad church was established in 300 and was the parish of the Christians resident of Koratty. The church was under the administrative rule of Kodassery Kartha. Christians had acquired military training. They used to go to the church wearing sword and shield. The position, eminence, humbleness and truthfulness of Christians in business, agriculture and military service were the reasons for getting fondness of Hindu rulers.

Koratty was the administrative region of Koratty Kaimal. For military service the Nairs were under Kartha and Christians were under Kaimal. As already seen, they used to fight each other. Kodassery Kartha was much ahead in military power than Koratty Kaimal. Sri Kavalakkadan Kochu Vareeth was the chief commander of the Kaimal’s army. (It is told that in Ambazhakad parish, namboodiris from five families (Illam) got baptized and became Christians. Kavalakad family was one among them.) Kochu vareed’s leadership and military strategies lead the Kaimal’s party close to victory, but then Kochu vareed had to embrace heroic death unexpectedly by the sword of the enemies. But Thampuratty (the queen), the ruler of the Koratty Swaroopam, bravely led the army and won the battle. She was so sad for the death of Kochu Vareeth, who was the chief commander of her army and her chief advisor. Thampuratty gave orders to conduct the funeral according to Christian rituals and in full military honours. The chief commander’s dead body was taken to Ambazhakad church for funeral. As Ambazhakad parish was under the administrative area of Kodassery, due to his interference the vicar did not give permission to bury the body there. They were asked to take the coffin from that place. In the return procession, carrying the coffin to Koratty region, the weary pallbearers placed the coffin down. After rest, they could not lift the coffin from there. When they informed Thampuratty about the situation, order was given to bury the body there itself. In reverence to the chief commander, a cross in granite, of around 20 feet high and 12 inches width, was posted there. This is the granite cross that stands in front of the church even now. Chief Commander and Chief Advisor Sri Kavalakkadan Kochu Vareeth’s descendants are still in existence and are recognized by the Surname ‘Kavalakatt’ today.

Thampuratty constructed a church near the burial place of her chief commander, for the spiritual needs of the Christians living in that region. Land free from taxes was given to support the church activities and rituals. Construction work started on 15 August 1381 and was completed and consecrated on 8 September 1382. The altars and the artworks above it date back to the 15th century.

This church gradually was known as the Marian Pilgrim Centre of Koratty Muthy.

Another mythical story has it that a pilgrim from Meloor was carrying a basket of bananas as an offering to the Koratty Muthy. On the way, he had to pass through a paddy field, where a rich landlord was supervising his laborers. On seeing the basket of bananas, he ordered the pilgrim to hand him two bananas. The pilgrim refused, explaining that it was an offering to be placed before the Koratty Mutthy. This irked the landlord and he forcibly took out two bananas from the basket and ate it. As sooner as he had eaten the bananas, the landlord started writhing with intense pain in his stomach. Medicines could not cure the pain and at last the landlord realized that it had been some divine intervention and he immediately gave away half of the paddy field as an offering to Koratty Muthy. The moment he did this, the pain subsided. Since that day, pilgrims throng from all parts of the hamlet with bananas as an offering for the Koratty Muthy.

The Koratty Angadi Railway Station is also part of a popular tale. During one of the annual feast and festival of Koratty Muthy, a train which never had a stop in Koratty came to a mysterious halt when it reached Koratty. Neither could any mechanical snag be found out, nor could anyone restart the train. The passengers joined in the celebrations at the Koratty Muthy Church and gave offerings to the Muthy. Later, when they came back, the mechanical snag was mysteriously rectified and the train could proceed. Sensing divine intervention, the authorities immediately made arrangements for a railway station at Koratty and that is how the present day Koratty Angadi Railway Station came into existence. The Madura Coats Factory has a similar awe inspiring tale to tell. The area where the factory is situated at present was originally planned to be an airport. Work was in full swing for the airport and even a helicopter had landed there. The work kept on being hindered in one way or other by a mysterious lady with a child in hand. The Hindrances grew to such an extent that the plan for an airport was abandoned and instead the Madura Coats Factory came up, which employs over 1000 employees today. Koratty Muthy's (St. Mary’s) Forane church at Koratty, in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam is the most revered Marian Pilgrim Centre in India after Velankanni (Vailankanni). It is also the largest Marian Pilgrimage and Catholic tour travel destination in the state of Kerala. Millions of devotees from far and wide throng to this Holy Place, which is one of the biggest Marian apparitions location in India.

Location

Devotees Include

Devotion to Our Lady

Annual Feast and the Festival

Marian Prayer to Korattymuthy _ Our Lady with Poovan Bananas

Amen.

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