by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore

Christianity has spread all over the world because of the people of this faith living here during different periods. That is the reason why Christmas festival is celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety. People exchange gifts with the phrase “Merry Christmas” and it is celebrated in a variety of ways. Of course different types of cakes make the children happy. When I was thinking of Christmas I wanted to know when it entered into Karnataka. Soon I realised that it has a long history and a tradition of its own.

The clues to the origin of Christmas in Karnataka can be traced to the migration of the Portuguese into India. It is believed that one of the disciples of Jesus Christ by name Saint Thomas came to India in 52AD at the invitation of King Gudnafar. The question is who is this Gudnafar. Some scholars believe that Gudnafar is none other than Kutnappar or Kundappa who was in Mysore then. It is also believed that he spread the message of Christianity in the kingdom of Majdai in about third Century AD. This has been mentioned in Acts of Saint Thomas written in Syrian language. There has been no certainty regarding the identification of Majdai. It is believed that this king Majdai might have been a King of Kerala, Koramandal or Mysuru. It is likely that Christian merchants from Persia, Syria and Armenia did trade as well as spread Christian religion. This is further strengthened by the discovery of an inscription dated 1376AD which mentions a grant to the tomb of Saint Thomas. This has been found in Mylapore (Chennai). It has the name of Vijayanagara King Bukkaraya.

Almost during the same period (1374 AD) Frayer Jordanus was preaching Christianity and as per his request five Christian padris (Priests) came to Canara and Mysore for the propagation of Christianity. According to an estimate there were about ten thousand Christians in Karnataka in about 1374 AD. But today it is not known how many times this has increased in these years. Anyway they have become a part of the society of our times.

Further it is believed that during the Vijayanagara period a Cross ornamented with precious stones was found in 1483 in the sands of Mangalore. Another information is that in Anja islands near Karwara, the Portuguese were building a fort and to their surprise they saw stones with markings of a Cross. The town Anekal near Bangalore had an inscription on a tomb with Christian connections. Kalyanapura near Udupi was a famous Christian centre till about 1600AD and had many vestiges of that faith.

Goa by about 1510AD had become a flourishing centre of Christianity. The Nayakas (Chiefs) of Ikkeri welcomed the Christians who had come from other places and provided them with free land and money. About thirty thousand Christians were living happily in Keladi Kingdom. In 1521AD Fransiscans entered South and North Kanara area and established themselves in Ullalapet, Farangipet etc. Jesuit Saints built churches in Basarur, Khanapura, Sunkeri etc. The Sonda kings of Bidnaur also patronised them.

During the period of Mysore king, Ramadhira Kanthirava Narasaraja Wadiyar, Christians were looked after well. Seminaries were established to train Christian preachers. Dharwada, Bijapura and some other places were recognised by Pope for the establishment of churches. Some of these devotees wrote Christian messages on palm leaf manuscripts and donated to various libraries. In the meantime, Pope gave freedom to appoint Bishops for the propagation of Christianity.

Tipu Sultan was angry because these Christian Missionaries were giving support to his arch rivals, the British. However, he was kind enough to thousands of Christians who were against the British. Abbe Dubai and Francis Xavier took active role in rehabilitating the displaced Christians. In Kodagu, Father Rebello had come to Madikeri and the king of Kodagu had promised all help to him. K.B. Ganapathy’s excellent book on this subject — The Cross & the Coorgs: A Christian Saga in Coorg — is worth reading.

In the Mysore State ruled by the Maharajas of Mysore, Christianity spread at a fast speed. In about 1700AD there were about eighteen missionaries and about thirty thousand Christians. Basavapura, Kanakanahalli, Harubare, Kelamangala became Christian centres. Subsequently missionary activities became rampant in Raichur, Kittur, Settihalli, Thumarikoppa etc.

Suddenly the Christian missionaries, who were working in Mysore, lost royal patronage in 1672 and after an enquiry and being satisfied that no wrong path was adopted by the missionaries, the royal patronage was restored in 1684. De Kunho was a great missionary and after his death a tomb was established at Anekal. All these activities were connected with the Roman Catholics.

The Protestants also took lot of interest in the spread of Christianity and Frederic Schwartz was the first protestant priest. Hyder Ali held him in high esteem. Many missionary organisations came into being. London mission in Bellary (1810), Weslyean Methodist Mission in Gubbi, Bassel Mission in Mangalore were established and they played an active part in the missionary activity. These missionaries realised that to establish mere missions and churches would not be useful and hence they thought of establishing educational institutions, hospitals and other service organisations.

Father Muller started in 1891AD Homeopathy hospital in Kankanadi; Saint Martha Hospital is run by Good Shepherd nuns; Weslyean Mission Holdsworth Hospital (Mission hospital) in Mysore is important. Bassel Mission became important for printing, roof-tiles, handlooms. Some of them are running even now. Rev. Kittel’s dictionary is famous even today and has seen many reprints. They also prepared and printed many text books for schools in Mysore. To bring in uniformity in missionary activity many eminent men worked among whom Rev P. Gurushanta (a person from Mysore) and Hickling are worthy of special mention.

They divided Karnataka into many branches in which the central one is in Bangalore, northern one is in Hubballi, and the third is in Mangalore which included Dharwad, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mysore etc. They have been translating Biblical works into Kannada language so that common men and could read the message of Jesus Christ. Many Bible Societies came into existence to take up the work.

There are many churches in Mysore, Bangalore and other places. Saint Phelomena church in Mysore is an architectural marvel and admired by hundreds of visitors who throng Mysore city. Other churches worth mentioning are Rosary church in Mangalore, Holy Trinity church in Bangalore, the church in Anekal, Saint Joseph Church in Bangalore, Hardwicke church in Mysore, etc.

I have a large number of Christian students who are now occupying important positions in the society. I cannot forget Rev. Father Vincient of Saint Phelomena’s college who pays a visit to my home with a fabulous plum cake, transcending religious considerations. That is the need of the hour. Hope you will say amen.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / December 25th, 2016