Friday, November 20, 2009

Christianity in India

"The Catholics in Kerala, India
Part-I

INDIA
Introduction
NAMASTE
I know this is not an easy subject for me to explore because it deals with culture and people. But I am very glad that I got a chance to talk about the amazing and incredible India, my home country. It's hard to find a country with as much variation, contrast and contradictions as India. A wealth of culture, art and history, stunning scenery and wildlife, adventure, spirituality, hot cuisine and a multitude of traditions, that India! This country really contains something for every taste.
India is bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches.

Indians date their history from the Vedic Period which historians place between 2000 and 1000 BC. This is the period when the Vedas, the oldest and holiest books of Hinduism, were compiled. The earliest archaeological traces are from the Indus Valley Civilization which peaked around 1800 BC before declining and disappearing around 1500 BC, possibly due to a drought.

Most North-Indian languages come from Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas. These languages together with Sanskrit are members of the Indo-European group of languages.
European traders started visiting India beginning in the late 16th century. By the 19th century, the British East India Company had, one way or the other assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. There was an uprising by Indian rulers in 1857 which was suppressed, but which prompted the British government to make India a part of the empire. Many Indians converted to Christianity during the period, for pretty much the same reasons as they converted to Islam, though forcible conversions ended in British India after 1857, when the British Government took over from the East India Company, and Queen Victoria promised to respect religious faiths of Indians.
Non-violent resistance to British colonialism under Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru led to independence in 1947.

About 60% of Indians live on agriculture and around 25% remain in poverty.
Relations with Pakistan have been frosty. They have fought three (or four, if you count the Kargil conflict of 1999) wars, mostly over the status of Kashmir. The third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh. China and India went to war in 1962 over a border dispute. Viewed as a "betrayal" in India, it still rankles.
Government
India is the largest democracy in the world. The Constitution defines India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. India has a federal form of government and a bicameral parliament operating under a Westminster-style parliamentary system. It has three branches of governance: the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
The President of India is the official head of state elected indirectly by an electoral college for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is, however, the de facto head of government and exercises most executive powers. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, with the requirement that they enjoy the support of the party or coalition securing the majority of seats in the lower house of Parliament.
The legislature of India is the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the upper house called the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the lower house called the Lok Sabha (House of People). The Rajya Sabha has up to 250 members serving staggered six year terms. Most are elected indirectly by the state and territorial legislatures in proportion to the state's population. The Lok Sabha's 545 members are directly elected by popular vote to represent individual constituencies for five year terms.
States and union territories
India is a union of twenty-eight states and seven federally governed union territories. All states and the union territories of Pondicherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi have elected governments. The other five union territories have centrally appointed administrators.
Demographics
With an estimated population of 1.1 billion, India is the world's second most populous country. Almost 70% of Indians reside in rural areas. India's largest urban agglomerations are Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore).
India is home to two major linguistic families: Indo-Aryan (spoken by about 74% of the population) and Dravidian (spoken by about 24%). Other languages spoken in India come from the Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman linguistic families. The Indian constitution recognizes 23 official languages. Hindi and English are used by the Union Government of India for official purposes, wherein Hindi has a de jure priority. Sanskrit and Tamil enjoy classical language status in India. The number of dialects in India is as high as 1,652.
Although 80.5% of Indians report themselves as Hindus, India's Muslim population is the world's second largest; they constitute 13.4% of the population. Other religious groups include Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís and others. Eight percent of India's people are classified as tribal.
At the time of India's emergence as a nation-state in 1947, India's literacy rate was 11%. Since then, it has increased to 64.8% (53.7% for females and 75.3% of males). The state of Kerala has the highest literacy rate (91%); Bihar has the lowest (47%). The national sex ratio is 933 females per 1,000 males.

Religions in India
Hinduism
A foreigner (visiting India) is struck with astonishment when he hears about the diverse sects and creeds of Hinduism. But these varieties are really an ornament to Hinduism. There is room in Hinduism for all types of souls- from the highest to the lowest- for their growth and evolution.
The Rig-Veda declares: "Truth is one; sages call it various names- Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti." The Upanishads declare that all the paths lead to the same goal, just as cows of variegated colors yield the same white milk.
The major Sects of Hinduism
The Hindu tradition encompasses four major sects - Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta, and Smarta - and dozens of minor subsects. It is typically held that Hinduism has four major sects: Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta, and Smarta. Although this is in a sense technically accurate, it is also only one of many potential ways of classifying the varieties within Hinduism. In practice, these divisions often overlap, and individual Hindus do not necessarily define themselves in such terms.
1. Vaishnavaswho worship the Lord as Vishnu;
2. Saivaswho worship the Lord as Siva; and
3. Saktaswho adore Devi or the Mother aspect of the Lord.
4. Smarta- the term smarta, which comes from the Sanskrit "smrti," or "remembered," generally refers to those Hindus who understand the ultimate form of the divine to be abstract and all encompassing, Brahman. This theological position is most saliently associated with the Upanishads, a genre of literature that posits that the cosmos is permeated by Brahman (indeed, it is Brahman). The philosopher/saint Shankara (or Adi Shankara, or Shankaracarya), who lived in the 8th century C.E., is often seen as the founder of the Smarta tradition.
In addition, there are the Sauras, who worship the Sun-God; Ganapatyas who worship Ganesh as supreme; and Kumaras who worship Skanda as the godhead.
The Jains
The first founder of the sect was Parsvanatha. Its first active propagator was Mahavira. The Jains are found in great numbers especially in the western coast of India. They are divided into two principal sects- the Svetambaras (clothed in white garments) and the Digambaras (sky-clad or naked).
The Jains do not admit the divine origin of the Vedas. They do not believe in any Supreme Deity. They pay reverence to holy men or saints who are styled Tirthankaras, who dwell in the heavenly abode and who, by long discipline, have raised themselves to divine perfection. The images of one or more of these Tirthankaras are placed in every Jain temple.
The Jains are strict vegetarians. They attach great sanctity to life. They practice Ahimsa (non-killing, non-violence). Strict Jains strain water before drinking, sweep the ground with a brush before treading on it or before sitting, never eat or drink at night and sometimes cover their mouths with muslin to prevent the risk of swallowing minute organisms.
There are two classes of Jains, viz., Sravakas who engage themselves in secular occupations and Yatis or monks who lead an ascetic life.
The Sikhs"Sikhism, while some of its' founding Guru's were Hindu, was created as a response to Hinduism and the reign of the Muslim Mughal empires."-KS Gidda
‘Obedience to the Guru brings release from future births’ this is a firm conviction of the Sikhs.
No Sikh smokes tobacco.
Sadhus and Sannyasins
Salutations unto the ancient Rishis, seers, saints, paramhansa sannyasins and sadhus, who are the repositories of divine knowledge and wisdom and who guide the destiny of the world in the past, present and future.
Every religion has a band of anchorites who lead the life of seclusion and meditation. There are Bhikshus in Buddhism, Fakirs in Mohammedanism (Islam), Sufistic Fakirs In Sufism, and Fathers and Reverends in Christianity. The glory of a religion will be lost absolutely if you remove these hermits or Sannysins or those who lead a life of renunciation and divine contemplation. It is these people who maintain or preserve the religions of the world. It is these people who give solace to the householders when they are in trouble and distress. They are the messengers of the Atman-knowledge and heavenly peace. They are the harbingers of divine wisdom and peace. They heal the sick, comfort the forlorn and nurse the bed-ridden. They bring hope to the hopeless, joy to the depressed, strength to the weak and courage to the timid, by imparting the knowledge of the Vedanta and the significance of the ""Tat Tvam Asi" Mahavakya (great saying).

Caste system in India
The Indian caste system (English pronunciation: /kæst, kɑst/,) describes the social stratification and social restrictions in the Indian subcontinent.
The practice of untouchability was formally outlawed by the Constitution of India in 1950, and has declined significantly since then. K. R. Narayanan, who became the President of India in 1997, and K. G. Balakrishnan (the present Chief Justice of India) have belonged to castes formerly considered untouchable.
There are five different levels of the system: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and Harijans. Within each of these categories are the actual "castes" or jatis within which people are born, marry, and die. They all have their own place among each other and accept that it is the way to keep society from disintegrating to chaos. This system has worked well for Indian people and still has a major role in modern India.
Brahman :-priest
Kshatriyas, which is right below the Brahmans
Vaishya:- merchants
Shudra:-artisans, agriculturalists
Harijan:-"outside" the caste system
(once known as "untouchables")
The Dalits, or the people outside the varna system, had the lowest social status. The Dalits, earlier referred to as "untouchables" by some, worked in what were seen as unhealthy, unpleasant or polluting jobs. In the past, the Dalits suffered from social segregation and restrictions, in addition to extreme poverty. They were not allowed temple worship with others, nor water from the same sources. Persons of higher castes would not interact with them. If somehow a member of a higher caste came into physical or social contact with an untouchable, the member of the higher caste was defiled, and had to bathe thoroughly to purge him or herself of the impurity. Social discrimination developed even among the Dalits. Upper sub-castes among Dalits, like dhobi, nai etc., would not interact with lower-order Bhangis, who were described as "outcasts even among outcastes".
Flexibility in caste laws permitted very low-caste religious clerics such as Valmiki to compose the Ramayana, which became a central work of Hindu scripture.
The Government lists consist of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes:
Scheduled castes (SC)
Scheduled castes generally consist of former "untouchables" (the term "Dalit" is now preferred). The present population is 16% of the total population of India (around 160 million). For example, the Delhi state has 49 castes listed as SC.
Scheduled tribes (ST)
Scheduled tribes generally consist of tribal groups. The present population is 7% of the total population of India i.e. around 70 million.
Other Backward Classes (OBC)
The Mandal Commission covered more than 3000 castes under OBC Category and stated that OBCs form around 52% of the Indian population.

Common Practices special to India

BINDI
A bindi (from Sanskrit bindu, meaning "a drop, small particle, dot") is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia (particularly India)[1] and Southeast Asia, not to be confused with a tilaka. Traditionally it is a dot of red colour applied in the center of the forehead close to the eyebrows, but it can also consist of a sign or piece of jewelry worn at this location.
Religious significance
The area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the sixth chakra, ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom". According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. [4] It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck.
In modern times, bindis are worn by women of many religious dispositions in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Muslim and Christian women, and is not restricted to Hindus.
Bindhi is derived from the Sanskrit word "Bindu" or a drop, and according to the beliefs of Hinduism, it is supposed to signify the mystic third eye of a person and therefore, when properly marked, becomes the central point of the base of the creation itself. It is an auspicious symbol of good fortune and festivity. In Indian culture, it commonly denotes the woman's married status, black signifying someone who is single, and red for married women. A bride's make-up is incomplete without it. When the decked Indian bride steps over the threshold of her married home, resplendent with the red bindhi on her forehead, the red color is supposed to augur prosperity for the home she is entering. The mark makes her the preserver of the family's welfare and progeny.
Bangles : Customarily, the bride receives ornate bangles from her family just before the marriage takes place to be worn during the ceremony and onward when she goes to her married home. Bangles are believed to be auspicious in that the sounds they generate invoke happiness and joy in a household. It is said that medieval India included bangles in various customs and gave the ornament a ritualistic significance. As a result, married women and young girls customarily wear bangles today. It is considered inauspicious, by those who choose to believe so, to have arms bereft of the colorful adornment.
Saptapadi (Seven Steps Ritual) : In a traditional Hindu marriage ceremony, the bride and groom take seven symbolic steps together around the fire which is representative as God's presence in their union. These seven steps are taken as vows toward a long and happy union, with each step representing a different blessing of marriage, nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, harmony and loyalty respectively. Our Saptapadi reads as follows :
Let us take our first step to unconditionally love, cherish and nourish each other,the second step to be each other's pillars and grow together in strength and spirituality,the third step to count, share and preserve our blessings everyday,the fourth step to share our passion, joy and happiness,the fifth step to love and care for our children and raise them to be virtuous and loving,the sixth step to live our lives together in harmony, compassion, respect and understanding, the seventh step to be true to each other and remain lifelong companions to each other. With these seven vows, we have bound your friendship, love and marriage for all eternity.
Namaste
The gesture of Namaste is performed by placing both the palms together in front of our heart and slightly bowing the head. It is considered as a humble greeting straight from the heart.
Namaste is a composite of Sanskrit words: Namah and Te. Namah means “to bow” while te means “you”. So, the word means “I bow to you”. The word Namah itself can be broken down into Na which means “No” and Mah which represents “I”. It thus means “not mine”. It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one’s ego in the presence of another. It also implies that there is nothing that the individual soul can claim as its own.
This method of greeting has three-fold effect: mental, physical and verbal.
The effect of Namaste at the mental level is that it is accompanied by a rejection of “I” and thus a sense of selflessness, recognition of the equality of all, and honouring everyone’s sacredness.
The commonly prevalent problem of stress these days is, in large part, due to our cynical mindsets that lead us to constantly think about ourselves alone. This greeting elevates us from this type of thinking and subtly leads us into believing in the worth of each individual and inculcating a considerate feeling for others.
At the physical level, this greeting has several symbolisms. The five fingers of the left hand are said to represent the five senses of karma, while the other five of the right hand symbolize the five senses of knowledge. It is therefore a representation of the fact that our action should be governed by true knowledge.
The other symbolism associated with Namaste is that both hands are joined together making a total of ten fingers. The number “ten”, in all ancient traditions, is considered to be a symbol of perfection and unity e.g. the number of commandments in the Bible is ten, so is the number of rules of the Arya Samaj; Pythagorean system considered ten to be a symbol of the whole of creation while in the Ancient Chinese culture, ten was taken to be a perfectly balanced number.
At the verbal level, the utterance of the word Namaste is equivalent to the chanting of a mantra. The sonority of the sanctifying sound of the word is believed to have a kind of a miraculous effect, by causing a change in the energy vibrations. The goal of the change is to fuse in harmony and become one with the cosmos itself.
The greeting "Namaste" is the divine spark in one person recognizing the divine spark in another.
To perform Namaste, we place the hands together at the heart charka, close the eyes, and bow the head.
"I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you, where lies your love, your light, your truth and your beauty. I honor the place in you, where...if you are in that place in you ... and I am in that place in me...then there is only one of us"... Leo Buscaglia
NAMASTE ~, ""The spirit within me bows to the spirit within you."
NAMASTE


Indian mythology is divided into two categories - Vedic mythology and Hindu Mythology. The both have their different significance in Indian History.
Hindu Mythology is a large body of myth related to the Hindu religion and the main source of the myths are the Sanskrit epics such as Puranas. The four Vedas, the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda are also the sources of Hindu mythology.
The Vedic Mythology are the roots of mythology that evolved from the classic Hinduism come from the times of Vedic civilizations or Vedic times.
Two great epics of Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata and Ramayana tell the stories of the two incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Rama and Krishna). These two epics are also known as the Itihasa. These epics are divided into various chapters where character takes certain course of action in accordance to the Hindu laws and code of rightness. The most famous chapter in these epic is Bhagvad Geeta (Lord's Song). Mahabharata is also the longest epic poem in the world going up to more than 30,000 lines. These epics not only pay a mythological and cultural importance but also a religious importance.
It is not fair to end this Hinduism without mentioning:
The Trimurthy
Famous Gods in Indian Mythology
Shiva - Shiva is one of the most important gods of Hindu religion. He is the destroyer in Trimurti gods.
Vishnu - Vishnu is the protector. and also the supreme God of the Trimutri. He is also known for his famous avatars including Rama and Krishna.
Brahma - Brahma is the creator. He is the third god of Trimurti. He is self born. He was created in a lotus flower that grew from Lord Vishnu's navel at the beginning of the universe.
The harmony of the three great gods who were accepted as the creators of the universe is called Trimurti in Hinduism.
Hinduism Traditionsand Christianity
Hinduism stresses the right way of living, "dharma": The Commandments of the Law of Manu can be taken by any Christian: Love your neighbors, tolerance, compassion, respect, humility, do not harm other people, do not commit evil acts not harbor evil thoughts... with the 5 rules of "right conduct", the "niyana": Poverty, serenity, austerity, learn about God, obey his laws.
Hinduism claims many deities, ranging from 1,000 to 33 million gods... but all of them are just manifestations or symbols of the only Absolute, and they are different ways to know and serve the only Brahman.
The Christian Holy Trinity... and the Hindu Trimurti: It impressed me to know that the 3 manifestations of Brahman, have some similarities with the Christian "Holy Trinity", in Hinduism called the "Trimurti". - Brahma is like the Father, the creator, the cosmic mind. As God the Father has few temples dedicated to him, in fact only one in all India. - Vishnu, like the Son, Jesus Christ, the preserver, the cosmic lord... with 9 reincarnations, ten avatar manifestations... and the one to come, Kalkin... however, Jesus is the only one incarnation of God. Vishnu had already 9 incarnations ("avatars") and he is shown as one them, as fish, tortoise, a boar... the last 3 were Rama, Krishna, and Buddha, who are very popular
- Shiva like the Holy Spirit, destroyer of the bad things to renew the universe, the transcendent Godhead... so, Hinduism in some way it is a "monotheistic" religion... however the Bible condemns any kind of polytheism, the adoration of anything or anybody besides the only God, because the gods that are not God, are idols or devils (Psalm 96:5).
The Vedas pantheon mythology, includ the Cosmic Trinity of Agni (god of fire), Vayu, (god of air), and Surya (god of energy or life). The Gita, the main "Bible of India", contains many concepts compatible with Christianity, and Krishna, the god of the Gita, and the most popular in India, is like a shadow painting of Jesus Christ when he claims, "I am the source of the forth going of the whole universe... I am the Father, the Holy One, Abode, Shelter, Lover, Origin, Path, Seed imperishable... they who worship me with devotion, they are in me, and I also in them"...
There are 2 problems with Krishna: 1- He is not a "Savior", he can not erase any bad karma (deeds); 2- He never existed, he is a hero of a novel, of the 18th chapter of the Mahabharata epic, he only existed in the mind of the novelist, like Hamlet or Sherlock Holmes, or the gods of the Greeks, or Romans...
... all a Hindu needs is to pass from the shadow of Krishna to the reality of the resurrected and living Jesus Christ; you will understand him very well, because he is like Krishna... and the Savior, merciful God!.We shall comment on the "Law of Karma", with its many similarities to Christianity... ... But the doctrine of "Reincarnation", resulting in the infamous "Caste System" is totally opposed to the teachings of the Bible.We also shall see that most of "Yoga" can be part of a Christian life, but Hindu "Meditation" is a misunderstood word and may be devastating.Most Hindu worship is not congregational but individual, either in the temple or at home, with prayer and magic rites aimed to expel bad spirits. Feasts, Sanctuaries, Pilgrimages, Monasteries, are important part of Hinduism and Christianity.
Part II
Indian Christianity

Jesus came to the eleven apostles and said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am always with you, until the end of the age." Mt 28:18-20 I think this is the mission statement of the spreading Christianity around the Globe.

Christianity in India is originated with Apostle Thomas.Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas, Didymus (meaning "Twin") or "Didymus Judas Thomas", was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel. During his teaching, he crossed the largest area of any of the Apostles, which includes the Persian Empire and India.
St Thomas in the Gospel of John
Thomas’ name occurs in Matthew (10:3), Mark (3:18), Luke (6) and Acts of the Apostles (1:13), but in the Gospel of John he plays a particularly distinctive part. Thomas appears in a few passages in the Gospel of John. In John 11:16, when Lazarus has just died, the disciples are resisting Jesus' decision to return to Judea, where the Jews had previously tried to stone Jesus. Jesus is determined, and Thomas says bravely: "Let us also go, that we might die with him" .
He also speaks at The Last Supper in John 14.[Jn. 14:5] Jesus tell his disciples that he will go and prepare a place for them. Thomas protests that they don't know where he is going or the way to get there, as if it is a physical place.
In Thomas' best known appearance in the New Testament, [Jn. 20:24-29] he doubts the Death and resurrection of Jesus and demands to touch Jesus' wounds before being convinced. After seeing Jesus alive, (the Bible never states whether Thomas actually touched Christ's wounds), Thomas professed his faith in Jesus, exclaiming "My Lord and my God!" On this account he is also called Thomas the Believer.
According to The Passing of Mary, a text attributed to Joseph of Arimathaea, Thomas was the only witness of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The other apostles were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness her death. Thomas was left in India, but after her burial he was transported to her tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven, from which she dropped her girdle. In an inversion of the story of Thomas' doubts, the other apostles are skeptical of Thomas' story until they see the empty tomb and the girdle. Thomas' receipt of the girdle is commonly depicted in medieval and pre-Tridentine Renaissance art.
Apostle Thomas took with him the message and authority of Jesus and reached India, landing at the Malabar Coast in AD 52.
He was martyred in 72 A.D. by a fanatic at Little Mount (near Madras) and his body was brought to Mylapore (near Madras) and was buried there. His tomb is venerated until this day.
There are several medieval references to the tomb of St. Thomas in India, some of which name Mylapore; and in 1522 the Portuguese discovered the tomb there, with certain small relics now preserved in the cathedral of St. Thomas at Mylapore. In 232 the relics of the Apostle Thomas are said to have been returned by an Indian king and brought back from India to the city of Edessa, Mesopotamia, on which occasion his Syriac Acts were written.
After a short stay in the Greek island of Chios, on September 6, 1258, the relics were transported to the West, and now rest in Ortona, Italy
One interesting legend told about Thomas is called "The Girdle of St. Thomas". According to the story, there was a huge tree that no man could move that had fallen across a road that the Apostle was travelling. When he was told that the obstacle was immovable by the local king, he simply took off the rope around his waist (i.e. "girdle"), told the king about the Power of Christ, tied the rope around one end of the tree, and then hauled it across the road and out of the way of the traffic. The king was so amazed that he instantly granted Thomas permission to preach his Good News to the people of his district.
Saint Thomas was declared the "Apostle of India" by Pope Paul VI in 1972. The Church commemorates the memory of St. Thomas on July 3rd. The date marks the transfer of the remains of the Apostle to Edessa. The Church in India also commemorates the Apostle on the New Sunday after Easter, on December 18th when the Apostle is believed to have been speared, and on December 21st when he attained martyrdom.
At the St. Thomas Day celebration in New Delhi on December 18, 1955, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India, said: "St. Thomas came to India when many of the countries of Europe had not yet become Christian, and so those Indians who trace their Christianity to him have a longer history and a higher ancestry than that of Christians of many of the European countries."
It would be appropriate to cite here an extract from the radio message of Pope Pius XII on 31 December, 1952 on the occasion of the 19th century celebrations of the arrival of the Apostle in India: "Nineteen hundred years have passed since the Apostle came to India [...] During the centuries that India was cut off from the West and despite many trying vicissitudes, the Christian communities formed by the Apostle conserved intact the legacy he left them [...] This apostolic lineage, beloved sons and daughters, is the proud privilege of the many among you who glory in the name of Thomas Christians and we are happy on this occasion to acknowledge and bear witness to it."
Extensive trade relations existed between Malabar and the Mediterranean countries even before the Christian era. The numerous golden coins of the Roman Empire which have been found all over the south, as well as many recent discoveries, offer abundant proof that Roman trade centers existed along the southern coasts of India. While King Solomon was ruling over the Israelites (B.C. 970-930), his warships brought back to his country valuable merchandise supposed to be from Muziris (Cranganore), a defunct international port of Malabar. While discussing the dealings of the Phoenicians with Muziris, the Roman historian Pliny (A.D. 23-79) complained that every year they were sending large sum of money to India for silk, pearls, gems and spices. He also remarked that the Malabar ships were visiting the Persian Gulf, Aden, the Red Sea and Egypt. Pliny, Ptolemy (A.D. 100-160) and the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea give much detailed information about the trading centers of Malabar. Diplomatic relations between India and Roman Empire existed even before the Christian era. There were Jewish colonies in Malabar in the first century.
Tradition has it that the Apostle ordained two bishops, Kepha and Paul, respectively for Malabar and Coromandal (Mylapore). This supposedly marks the beginnings of the first hierarchy of India.
According to tradition, St. Thomas made his first conversions by a miracle. At the village of Palaur, he found some Brahman priests throwing handfuls of water into the air as they performed their purification prayers. Thomas threw some water into the air himself, and it hung suspended in the form of sparkling flowers. Tradition continues that most of the Brahmans embraced Christianity on the spot, and that the rest fled. To this day, no orthodox Brahman will take a bath in Palaur.
One story suggests that Thomas offered to build a palace for the Indian king Gondaphores that would last forever. The king gave him money, which Thomas gave to the poor. Asked to show his progress, St. Thomas explained that the palace he was building was in heaven, not on earth.
Catholics
The most significant point, however, is that the Catholic Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic and is known as the "Roman Catholic Church".
Terms & Meanings
I think I need to explain that terminology a bit…
catholic = universal
apostolic = conforming to the teachings of the apostles, related to the succession of spiritual authority from the apostles.
communion = unity, fellowship, rapport
sui juris = autonomous, self-governing, capable of managing one's own affairs
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church
The Catholic Church is apostolic in the succession of the Pope and Bishops, and owns the authority that Jesus gave the apostles.
The Catholic Church is One because all the churches are in communion with the Pope who is the Bishop of Rome.
Of the nearly 1.1 billion (110 crore or 1100 million) Roman Catholics, the Latin Church's strength is more than 90 percent or above 1 billion.
The next two largest churches are the Ukrainian Church with a population of about 4.5 million and the Syro-Malabar Church with a strength of nearly 4 million. Both these churches are Oriental (Eastern Rite) in worship and traditions.
The Catholic Church is the communion of 22 individual or sui juris Churches. There is one Latin Church, and there are 21 Oriental (Eastern Rite) Churches. All these Churches are in full communion with the Church of Rome, forming the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Each of these 21 Oriental churches (rites) has its own hierarchy, traditions, and practices. There are six major rites in the Catholic Church. These are: Roman (Latin), Alexandrian, Armenian, Antiochene (Antiochian), Byzantine, and Chaldean. Excepting the Roman (Latin) Church, all other churches are called Oriental Churches or Eastern Churches. Each of these five major Eastern rite (Oriental) churches has sister churches, taking the total number of Oriental or Eastern Churches to 21.
The Syro-Malabar Church, an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Church and the second largest of the 21 Oriental Churches, is a sister church of the Chaldean church, and follows the Chaldean (East Syrian) tradition, the liturgy of the Chaldean Church having been derived from the Antiochean tradition.
The Syro-Malankara Church is also an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Church. It is a sister church of the Antiochene (Antiochian) Church, and follows the Antiochean (West Syrian) tradition.
KERALA
Kerala ,God’s Own Country, known as the land of spices, letters, culture and hospitality. Its tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches, made Kerala one of the most beautiful states in India. Kerala has legendary origins, as it is believed that Parashuram the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu(Dasavathara:_Matsya - fish , Koorma - tortoise , Varaha - boar , Narasimha - half man-half lion, Vaman - dwarf man, Parashuram - man with an axe, Rama - moral man , Krishna - philosophical man , Buddha - teacher , And Kalki, the tenth incarnation, yet to manifest itself, would be the ultimate terminator who would finish the evolutionary process in one mighty holocaust.)threw his axe into the sea from Gokarna and the sea retreated from where his axe fell to give birth to Kerala. November first keralians celebrate the Birth of Kerala. Ancient mariners from Arabia ,China, Holland, Britain and Portugal have all left their mark in this state. The main festival of Kerala is Onam. It is in the month of August– September, it commemorates the homecoming of legendary king Mahabali. Kathakali is the most Popular dance of the state. Mohiniyattam, is another typical dance of Kerala. Ottam Tullal is a solo dance in which the dancer wears colourful costumes as in Kathakali.
In Kerala at any place we see the real blessing of nature, sure it is “God’s own Country”
Kerala Catholics
Origin of Kerala Catholics- The origin of Kerala's Christians dates back to 52 AD, when St. Thomas came to the region landing in the port of Cranganore near Cochin. He visited different parts of Kerala and converted local inhabitants including many from the upper sect known as Namboodiri Brahmins. It is also believedthat St. Thomas established Churches in seven places in Kerala ( Kodungallore, Palayur, Paravur, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Korakkeni, Kollam) and a chappal (half church-"Arappalli") at Thiruvankottu.
The Kerala Catholics are popularly referred to as Syrian Christians because of the Syrian Liturgy which they continued to use in church services. They have also sometimes been called Nazaranis (followers of Jesus of Nazarene) or St. Thomas Christians. In some official documents Syrian Christians are even now referred to as Nazaranis.
An added fillip to the growth of the Church took place when a group of about 400 people under the leadership of a Persian trader namely Thomas of Cana migrated from Syria in 345 AD and joined the then existing Kerala Church. The leader of this group was Thomas of Kana. They stayed on in the region. The descendants of this group even today maintain their separate identity, and are known as Kananites.
Catholics together constitute about 61.4%, the Syrian Orthodox and Syrian Jacobites together about 21.4%, the Marthoma Syrians about 5.7%, the Church of South India 5.2% and others about 6.3% of Christian in the state. The Syrian orthodox and Syrian Jacobites are sometimes referred to as Syrian Christians today. All these together constitute Kerala's Christian population
A group of Jacobites embraced the Catholic faith in 1930, and the hierarchy was established in 1932. They are known as Syro-Malankara Catholics and the church is called the Syro-Malankara Church. In 1930, a group of Jacobites under the leadership of Mar Ivanios reunited with the Catholic Church and the Vatican accommodated them as a separate rite. They are known as Syro-Malankara Catholics and they form the Syro-Malankara Rite or the Syro-Malankara Church.
The Syro-Malankara Church follows the Antiochean or West Syrian tradition of worship, and they are an Oriental or Eastern Rite Catholic Church.
The two groups of the Syrian Church, namely the Jacobite Syrians and the Orthodox Syrians continued court battles and finally in 1960 the Supreme Court of India ruled putting an end to the litigation. But even after this temporary reunion the division emerged again. Today there are again two divisions, the Orthodox Syrian Christians owing allegiance to the Catholics of the East and the Jacobites Syrian Christians owing allegiance to the Patriarch of Antioch in Syria. Very recently the supreme court of India has once again ruled putting an end to legal struggles between those two groups and recognizing the legitimacy of the Catholics.
Roman Catholics
Now let us turn to the Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church accepted allegiance to Pope and came to be known as Syrian Roman Catholic. There are Roman Catholics converted by European missionaries known as Latin Roman Catholics. There is also Roman Catholic group mentioned earlier called "Reethu" or the Malankara Syrian Rite.
Many Hindu traditions and customs are followed by Kerala Churches. Among Hindus and Kerala Christians consanguineous marriages are permitted only if the partners are separated at least four generations. Both the Hindu women and the Nazarani women at the time of marriage have an amulet tied around their neck by the bridegroom. It is called "Thali" by Hindu and "Minnu" by Kerala Christians. There are many other Hindu traditions followed by Christians such as dowry system, decorations with rice flower, and forty one day observances after a death in the family.
Their names are unique, Thomas is Mammen, Peter is Ommen, Paul is Peeli, Elizabeth is Eliamma and so on. Arranged marriages are common. As mentioned previously during the marriage ceremony exchange of rings is less important than the tali which the bridegroom ties around the bride's neck.
Syro-Malabar Church: Origin & History
The Syro-Malabar Church is an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Catholic Church, in full communion with the Church of Rome.
The Syro-Malabar Church, with its deep-rooted spirituality and high rate of vocations to priesthood, is considered the most vibrant Catholic Church in the world, and has strength of over 3.8 million believers. It is the second largest of the 21 Oriental Catholic Churches, the largest being the Ukrainian Church with a strength of about 4.5 million believers.
Firm devotion, indomitable faith, deep-rooted spirituality, and rich traditions make the Syro-Malabar Church markedly special and vividly alive, making it an integral part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
The term Syro-Malabar is a reference to the East Syrian (Chaldean) tradition the Church has followed and to the Malabar Coast where St Thomas the Apostle landed.
The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the three Major Archiepiscopal Churches, the other two being the Syro-Malankara Church and the Ukrainian Church.
Formation of the Syro-Malabar Church
Indian Christians were not very happy with the Latin jurisdiction and they revolted against the Latin rule. On January 3, 1653, Christians, under the leadership of Thomas Parambil, assembled at Our Lady of Life church, Mattanchery, and pledged that "we will no longer be under the Jesuits." This event is known as the Coonan Cross Oath.
On 22 May, 1653, Thomas Parambil was declared the bishop (Mar Thoma I) at Alangad. It caused a division in the church and with this we have the introduction of the Jacobite church in India.
Those who continued to be under the Latin jurisdiction remained in the Catholic Church.
Catholics in Kerala continued to be ruled by Carmelites and Jesuits, and had European bishops. In 1896, the church administration was entrusted in the hands of the native bishops.
Thus, St Thomas Christians in India who were under the rule of the Latin bishops from 1600, began to have their own bishops in 1896.
In 1911, Pope Pius X erected a separate Vicariate Apostolic (diocese) of Kottayam (by renaming already existing Kottayam to Changanasserry) for the Knanaya community within the Syro-Malabar Church, and transferred Mar Mathew Makil, the then Vicar Apostolic (bishop) of Changanacherry (until then Kottayam, just renamed to Changanasserry, present Changanasserry) to this newly established Kottayam diocese.
Thus began the diocese of Kottayam, a separate diocese within the Syro-Malabar Church exclusively for the Knanaya Catholic community.
In 1992, the Syro-Malabar church was given the Major Archiepiscopal status. Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil is the head of the Syro-Malabar Church.
In 1993, the Vatican granted the Syro-Malabar Church sui juris status or self-governing status, except in making episcopal appointments (that is, except in appointing bishops without the approval of the Vatican).
In the year 2004, the Vatican granted the Syro-Malabar Church autonomy in naming bishops. The synod of the Syro-Malabar Church was accorded full powers in deciding on liturgy and appointing bishops, with the Episcopal appointments (bishops) only needing the Vatican's ratification.
Today, the Syro-Malabar Church is the second largest of the 21 Oriental Churches worldwide, second only to the Ukrainian Church. The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the three Major Archiepiscopal Churches, the other two being the Ukrainian Church and the Syro-Malankara Church.
The term Syro-Malabar was first used by the Vatican. The term refers to the East Syrian or Chaldean tradition the Syro-Malabar Church follows and to the Malabar Coast where Apostle Thomas landed in AD 52.
An epitome of staunch faith and deep-rooted spirituality, the Syro-Malabar Church is regarded as the world's most vibrant Catholic Church. The Church has 26 dioceses, of which five are Archdioceses.
The state of Kerala is somewhat of an anomaly in India. With relative peace among the different faiths, Kerala also has the highest literacy rates in the country, over 90% compared to roughly 65% to the rest of India. Another exception is that Kerala is also the only government with Marxists in control. This coming from a state where the majority of the schools, from elementary to university levels, are predominantly Christian.
Kerala does suffer violence amongst the faiths, though the majority are between Hindus and Muslims, and overall, no one has died from any religious violence. The violence that does exist towards Christians come from the many conversions of the untouchable caste of Hindus which has provoked some resentment. This resentment is primarily from militant Hindus such as the notorious BJP party of India and their military branch, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
St.Thomas Cross
The St.Thomas Cross is an icon of the Holy Trinity. God the Father is the foundation. The cross stands for Christ. The four ends of the cross are growing to the four ends of the world and flowering. The dove represents the Holy Spirit. And He makes the cross(Christ) lively. The lotus is the representation of ancient Indian civilization. The cross in the lotus flower indicates the serene reception of the faith by the ancient civilization.
Kathakali
Kathakali (Malayalam: കഥകളി, pronounced [kət̪ʰəkəɭi]) is a highly stylised classical Indian dance-drama noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion. It originated in the country's present day state of Kerala during the 16th century AD, approximately between 1555 and 1605, and has been updated over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming.
Parichamuttukali
Parichamuttukali is a martial art form performed by the Christians of northern and central Kerala. The origin of the art can be traced back to ancient days when Kalarippayattu, the martial art of Kerala, was in vogue.
Margamkali
Margamkali is a folk art of the Syrian Christians of Kottayam and Thrissur districts in central Kerala. It is a counterpart of Thiruvathira Kali played by women belonging to the Christian community. A group of dancers sing and dance around a lighted wick lamp Nilavilakku.
Margamkali is a very ancient and the most popular art dance performance prevalent among the Syrian Christians of Kerala. The word ‘margam’ means ‘path’ and it was meant for the propagation of Christian religious ideas. Margamkali is an entertainment form found among Knanaya Christians belonging to both Syro Malabar Catholic Church as well as Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Kerala state, India.
Saints of India
Gonsalo Garcia
Saint Gonsalo Garcia (1556–1597) is a Roman Catholic saint from India. Born in the western coastal town of Vasai, an exurb of the city of Bombay. He preached from the Bassein fort during the time the town was under Portuguese colonial rule.
Gonsalo's long cherished dream to be a Jesuit did not materialize and moved on to Manila in the Philippines as a lay missionary. In the Philippines, he was influenced by a Franciscan priest, Fr. Peter Baptista and soon joined the Seraphic Order as a lay brother. After working with the leprosy patients there he was formally ordained as a Franciscan as the Friars Minor at Manila.
On May 26, 1592, the Spanish governor in the Philippines sent Gonsalo on a diplomatic mission back to Japan along with Baptista. After working for four years, the Japanese shogun suspected the missionaries of sedition and were placed under house arrest in their monastery in Miaco (Kyoto) on 8 December 1596. A few days afterwards, when they were singing vespers, they were arrested, manacled and immured.
On February 5, Garcia was crucified on Nagasaki Hills with twenty-six of his companions. St. Garcia was the first to be extended on, and nailed to the cross which was then erected in the middle of those of his companions. Fr. Gonsalo, the first to arrive, went straight to one of the crosses and asked "Is this mine?” The reply was "It is not". Then he was taken to another cross, where he knelt down and embraced it. The others, one after another, started doing the same. "That was quite a sight, the way Br. Philip was embracing his cross. . . " comments one of the witnesses. Two lances impaled his body through his heart. While being nailed, Garcia sang praises of God, earning him the martyr's title.
In 1627, Garcia and his fellow martyrs were declared as Venerable by Pope Urban VIII. The martyr's feast day occurs on Feb 5th and in 1629, their veneration was permitted throughout the Catholic Church. On June 8, 1862 Garcia was declared a saint by Pope Pius IX.
Sister Alphonsa FCC
On October 12, 2008, Sister Alphonsa become the second Indian to be officially declared a saint by the Vatican.
Alphonsa joined the Franciscan convent in 1927 and spent 20 years serving the people before she died of illness at the age of 36.Alphonsa Muttathupadathu (August 19, 1910 – July 28, 1946) is the first Indian woman to be elevated to sainthood. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and declared as a saint by the pope Benedict XVI on October 12, 2008.
She is the first female saint from India and the second saint from India. In the 19th century, Saint Gonsalo Garcia, born in Vasai near Mumbai to an Indian mother and Portuguese father in 1556, was declared a saint.
Sr Alphonsa worked as an elementary school teacher. She taught, but was often sick and unable to teach.
In December 1936 she was reportedly cured from her ailments through the intervention of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, but on June 14, 1939 she was struck by a severe attack of double-pneumonia, which left her weakened. On October 18, 1940, a thief stumbled into her room in the middle of the night. This traumatic event caused her to suffer amnesia, and weakened her again. Her health continued to deteriorate over a period of months. She received extreme unction on September 29, 1941. The next day she regained her memory, though not complete health. Her health improved over the next few years, until in July 1945 she developed a stomach problem that caused vomiting.
She died on July 28, 1946, aged 35. She is buried at Bharananganam, South India in the Diocese of Palai.She was beatified along with Kuriakose Elias Chavara at Kottayam.
The persecutions in India
I cannot end this talk telling you without the persecution that are going on in India even at this present moment.
Sr Rani Maria FCC
While I was studying theology in Bhopal North in India I witnessed a funeral of a Franciscan nun who was brutally killed for being a missionary. Sr. Rani Maria of Franciscan Clarist Convent also known as 'Indore Rani' as brutally murdered on Feb. 25, 1995 in broad daylight when attackers dragged her out of the bus in which she was traveling from Udainagar to Bhopal on her way to Kerala to visit her parents She was stabbed her to death 52 times.
Her only offence was that she had initiated developmental activities for the poor tribal of Udainagar, Madhya Pradesh. She had started several Seva Samities in various villages, a savings scheme which ensured the purchasing of seeds and fertilizers by farmers at nominal interest rates thus saving the tribals from the clutches of the moneylenders. However the empowerment of the poor was not liked by all and was opposed by some groups' especially the money lenders who wanted to harbour their own vested interest by preventing progress of the poor. On various occasions they protested about her activities, but she continued her work unfazed by threats and opposition and had to pay the price for it with her life. But for the locals she was a hero, who said, "Sr. Rani Maria is not dead; no one can kill her. She will always remain an inspiration for us in the years to come."
The man who did the heinous crime was identified as Samandar Singh and was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, destiny had something else in store for him.
He could have never even imagined in his faintest of dreams that the victims' family would forgive him and seek his release. But much to the surprise of everyone including the jail authorities, the family submitted an application seeking his release to the Governor and to the jail officials in MP which was accepted and he was released on Aug. 22, 2006.
On being released he went straight to Sr. Rani Maria's grave in Udainagar and her memorial thereafter. He was the Chief Guest for the Christmas celebration in the FCC convent in Udainagar, MP, on Dec 25, 2006.However there was another wish that he wanted to realize and that was to visit the native place of Sr. Rani in Kerala and meet her mother and ailing father to whom he owed a lot. And so twelve years after the horrific incident took place; Samandar Singh arrived in Kerala accompanied by a priest from MP, Fr. Michael on Jan. 13, 2007. On reaching there he witnessed amazing love and warmth of the family who treated him like a son, blessed him and prepared a delicious North Indian lunch.
To the neighboring people it was a sight to be remembered forever, as no one could believe that he was the same man who had taken their daughter's life. The sight perhaps reminded one of the return of the prodigal son from the Bile.Sr. Selmy (sister of Sr. Rani Marai) said she had forgiven Samandar the day the crime took place and had regularly prayed for him since then.
Graham Stewart Steins
An Australian missionary and his two sons were burned to death in Orissa's Keonjhar district. Graham Stuart Staines, a 58-year-old physician and secretary of the New Delhi-based Evangelical Missionary Society, was an Australian missionary who ran a leprosy house in India. On the night of January 22, 1999, he and his two sons, Philips, 9, and Timothy, 7 were asleep in a station wagon when a crowd of people surrounded them and set the car on fire, burning them alive.
It was around 12.20 a.m. on 23rd January 1999, mob armed with sticks and tridents surrounded the station wagon,as they approached it, they began screaming.
Dara Singh struck first, wielding an axe at the tyres, deflating them. The others broke windows and prevented the Staines from escaping and then torched the jeep………….in seconds, the vehicle was on fire.
Mr Staines ministered among Indian lepers for 34 years. He met his wife Gladys in India and they were married in 1983. Both were originally from Australia, but they dedicated their lives to serving ostracised leprosy sufferers in a foreign land.
During the funeral service, Gladys and Esther sang this song along with the believers: “There is no friend like Jesus who is humble. He knows our struggles. He will lead us”.
At the funeral, Esther said, “I thank God for choosing my father as a martyr for Him”.
Dara Sing says he hates missionaries because, according to him, they induce people to convert; he also hates Muslims because, as he says, they target his religion and they target cows; and he has no regrets over the deaths of the Staines children.
The state of Orissa is currently led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu party defined as “the political wing" of extremist and fundamentalist groups. In the last ten years, Christian-owned churches and homes have been burned down in Orissa and several Christians have been killed; in the last five months alone, two Christian pastors have been murdered.
Fr. Thomas Pandippally CMI
August 16, 2008 Fr. Thomas Pandippally, a member of the CMI Congregation was brutally murdered while he was returning home on his motorbike after celebrating the Eucharist in Andhra Pradesh. Even though he was killed on Saturday night, his body was found only the following day on the road. On his body there were 18 stab wounds. He sustained many more wounds on his face and hands during the struggle with his murderers, which probably went on for about an hour. According to the postmortem report, his head was hit with sticks and boulders. One eye was pierced with a knife. Fr. Thomas literally shed his blood because of his commitment and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus.
In Orissa in August, At least 41 churches (Catholic and Protestant) were destroyed; hundreds of homes were damaged; four convents, five hostels and youth residences, six Catholic volunteer institutes were devastated; plus hundreds of cars and other personal objects were set on fire during raids carried out by Hindu fundamentalists.
Let me end this quoting Sr. Nirmala Joshi , The second superior of the Missionaries of Charity , who made an appeal: "Pray for our people and always hope in God, who cares for the people. God sees everything, He knows everything and He can do everything and He can bring out good even out of all this evil for all those who trust him. Mother Teresa from her heavenly home is telling each of us and especially to our people here: 'Do not be afraid, I am with you. Forgive, overcome evil with good.” God bless you! God bless India!"