History - Adaikala Madha Shrine - Elakurichy

To the North of the village of Elakurichy at the distance of about half a km stands the beautiful Shrine Church of Our Lady of Refuge among some scattered trees the remnant of once thick grove. The new Shrine Church was built in 1984, which has at the interior the altar of Our Lady which probably belongs to 19th century.

Towards the end of 17th century, Shaji (1784-1812), the king of the Thanjavur kingdom had started a religious persecution against the Christians of his kingdom. Churches were burnt down. Christians were driven out, missionaries were arrested some of whom were put to death and the Catholic religion was banned from his kingdom. The Jesuit Missionaries have described him, in their letters, as the Nero of Thanjavur.

Christians took shelter in neighbouring forest only to practise their Religion and the Missionaries followed them in their diaspora. Some of the persecuted Christians crossed over the river coleroon and found a safe place in the forest of Elakurichy. The Missionaries built a Church for them. The new mission center was established already in 1698. Elakurichy in those days belonged to the petit king of Ariyalur who was a tributory to the kingdom of Madurai. The new mission-center catered to the original needs of the Christians of the Thanjavur Kingdom.

FR.ConstantineBeschi (Veeramamunivar)

The mission-center of Elakurichy attained its name and fame with the arrival of Fr.Constantine Beschi, an Italian Jesuit who became a renowed Tamil Scholar of his time. He administered the Mission for the span of 13 years from 1726-1739. In the years of 1728-29 a severe famine was ravaging the Thanjavur Kingdom. Many of the Catholics were crossing over to the Lutheran fold who offered them a good sum of money for abandoning their Catholic faith.

It was during this distressing period that Fr.Beschi had a special recourse to Our Lady and begged her to protect the Catholics from falling into the Lutheran-fold. And Our Lady granted him the favour. Many of the Catholics who had gone to the other fold came back. Fr.Beschi instituted a feast in honour of Our Lady with the permission of the Bishop of Mylapore. The first thanksgiving feast was celebrated in 1729 with great pomp. And he began to call Our Lady Adaikala Matha (Our Lady of Refuge) and that too with the permission of the Bishop of Mylapore. He even got a special written approval from the Pope to celebrate the feast every year on 3rd week of Easter.

Elakurichy As "THIRUKKAVALUR"

Then onwards Elakurichy was called Thirukkavalur, a place of Holy protection and was known far and wide among the people of Ariyalur and Thanjavur Kingdoms and they gathered in great numbers for the annual feast. Even now people throng every year during the festival days shedding their difference of creed or caste to obtain favours from Adaikala Matha.

Fr.Beschi, a Literary giant as he was of his time, produced over fifty books of which twenty one were written by him during his tenure of office at Elakurichy, of which fact has enhanced the popularity of this place. Fr.Beschi was popularly known as Veeramamunivar.

In 1735 the petit king of Ariyalur, Rengappa Mahavarayar donated to the Church 175 acres of land of which only about 40 acres remain now as in the possession of the Church.

St.Quttery

The annual Feast day for Papanasam : First Tuesday after Easter.

Later on during the period of the Missionaries of MEP there was a spectacular increase of the devotees visiting the Shrine. Some habitations were put up, called 'chatrams', near the Church in order to shelter the pilgrims. The Shrine attracts thousands of people every year.

In 1965 it was made a separate Parish. A Primary School was started in 1984. Rev. Sisters of FIHM of Pondicherry run a Hospital and a Home for the Aged.

Mass & Devotional Timings

Second Sunday after Easter (flag hoisting) Third Sunday after

Contact us

Rev. Fr. S. Augustine
Parish Priest
Shrine of Our Lady of Refugee
Elakurichy P.O.
Tirumanur Via
Ariyalur Dt - 621 715
South India
Phone: 04329 246222