Monday, May 23, 2011

Malayatoor-Pilgrimage in Malayatoor

Today   me  and  my   friends  are  going   to  Malayatoor   as   a Pilgrimage...


Malayatoor   is   a   famous   place   of   pilgrimage   in  Malabar. The   tradition  is  that  the  Mother  Mary  appeared  to  St. Thomas  on  the  summit  of  this  mountain. A  sanctuary  now stands  on  the  spot.  Pilgrims  flock  to  it,  especially  on  the  first  Sunday  after  Easter. 


Kurisumudi (where  they  found  the  cross) as  it  is  popularly known,  is  1269  feet  above  the  sea  level. Set  in  serene conditions,  one  cannot  miss  the  divine. Mountain  peaks  gently caressing  the  clouds,  the  shimmering  sheen  of  the  Periyar below,  the  steep  cliffs  and  the  winding  roads,  all  provide  an ambience  that  is  truly  heavenly.


The  church  at  the  hill  top  stands  above  the  cross  that  St. Thomas  had  erected  during  his  days  of  intense  prayer.  It  is the  source  of  comfort  for  the  millions  who  climb  the  hill with  earnest  devotion.  Even  though  the  principal  feast commences  eight  days  after  Easter,  people  start  flocking  the mountain  from  the  beginning  of  the  season  of   Lent. The Holy  Week  witnesses  pilgrims  thronging  the  mountain  in  very large  numbers,  in  reparation  for  their  sins, reciting   the  Way of   the  Cross  all  along  the  Way. A  sixteen  foot  long  cross was  built  over  the  golden  cross  to  protect  it  from  the  wild animals  and  a  chapel  was  constructed   over  it. 






At the  hill top we  can see  the  following......


- Marhoma Mandapam
- Sannidhi
- Golden cross
- Foot prints of St. Thomas
- The ancient chapel struck by the elephants
- The miraculous water spring
- MarSt. Thomas Bhavan




No comments:

Post a Comment