Devasahayam Pillai, an 18th-century Hindu convert to Christianity from India, is set to become the first Indian layperson (a non-ordained member of the Church) to be canonized as a saint. This historic event will occur when Pope Francis officiates the Canonization Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on 15th May 2022. This exceptional honor brings Devasahayam Pillai into the spotlight and draws attention to his extraordinary life.
Early Life and Conversion to Christianity
Born as Nilakanda Pillai on 23rd April 1712 in Nattalam, a village in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, he hailed from an upper-caste family of temple priests. He later entered into the service of the court of Travancore’s Maharaja Marthanda Varma. His encounter with a Dutch naval commander at the royal court became the turning point of his life. He converted to Christianity under the influence and teachings of this commander in 1745 and adopted the Christian name Lazarus. However, he eventually became popular as Devasahayam, which means “God’s help”.
Persecution and Martyrdom
Upon his conversion, Pillai faced severe backlash from the Travancore state, which vehemently opposed his new faith. Just seven years later, on 14th January 1752, Pillai was killed in the Aralvaimozhy forest. Following his untimely death, he was immediately revered as a martyr within the local Catholic community. His remains are preserved at Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral in the Diocese of Kottar, Tamil Nadu.
The Journey towards Sainthood
The journey towards sainthood for Devasahayam Pillai began with the recognition of his enduring hardships due to his embrace of Christianity, and his preaching of equality for all, regardless of caste. The Church firmly believes that these factors contributed to his martyrdom. His canonization process started in February 2020 after approval from the Church authorities.
Understanding Christianity Within Global Religions
Religions worldwide primarily fall into two categories: Abrahamic religions, which include Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and Indian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, among others. Christianity, with over two billion followers globally, is the largest religion and is roughly 2,000 years old. It is founded on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Important denominations within Christianity include the Roman Catholic Church, the Protestant churches, and the Eastern Orthodox churches. The Bible is its sacred text. Throughout centuries, Christianity has expanded and grown in numbers thanks to missionaries and colonizers spreading its teachings.