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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.
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.
Accommodation is available at the moderate class and small budgeted hotels and lodges in Nagapattinam.