Eraviputhenthurai

Eraviputhenthurai, is a village on the coast of the Arabian Sea, in Thoothoor Village Panchayat , Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu India.

It is 48 Kilometers, west of Nagercoil, the headquarter of Kanyakumari District and 45 Kilometers south-east of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala State. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram, and nearest railway stations are Parassala and Kuzhithurai .

This village is bounded in the north by the A.V.M [Anantha Victoria Marthandam] Canal, south by the Arabian Sea, east by Chinnathurai village and west by Thadeupuram village.

__TOC__For the educational uplift of this village there is St. Joseph Middle School, managed by Eraviputhenthurai Parish, and it is affiliated to State Board. Tamilnadu, The St. Catherine Pre. Kinter Garten School was managed by our Parish, Also there are Nursery Schools run by Central and State Governments The educational institutions mentioned above render excellent services for the educational well-being of not only Eraviputhenthurai but also a number of nearby villages. The literacy rate of this village is higher compared to that of the neighbouring villages. Computer Engineering, Medicine, Information Technology, Teaching, Arts, Science, Marine Engineering, Sports, etc. the natives of this Village are doing wonders. A good number of people from this village are also working in the Gulf countries in the fields of Production, Management, Computer, Engineering and Fishing, Some of our Villagers are working in U.S and UK. Apart from this Our village have given birth to number of Priests., Nuns etc. St. Catherine Library and Sports Club, St. Francis Animation and Social Center, Eraviputhenthurai Football Association., Thiruvananthapuram Social Service Society [T.S.S.S.] Unit, Kottar Social Service Society [K.S.S.S.] Unit, Southern Catholic Youth Movement [S.C.Y.M.] Unit, Society of St. Vincent De Paul Conferences etc. are doing tremendous and meritorious service for the well - being of Eravipouthenthurai village.

Fishing is the primary occupation of this Villagers. The fishermen of Eraviputhenthura village are specialised in shark catch, using traditional methods. Mechanised boats and long lining are used for shark hunting. Our people stay in sea up to 30 days consecutively. For shark hunt, they go up to Porbandar, Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Gareware, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Neendakara, Vizhinjam, Kanyakumari, Chennai, Vishakapattanam, Paradeep and so on. Eraviputhenthurai fishermen in lieu of their shark catching techniques are known all over the world. The bye-products of shark are shark fin, shark flesh, shark liver oil and shark teeth. From this village, about 100 boats are engaged in shark fishing. From a very backward village like this, the fishermen by their hardwork, skill, adventurous nature and dedication have come up to this stage.

History of Eraviputhenthurai

It is from the Legend The History of Eraviputhenthurai can be traced. In the 16th century this region was ruled by King Kalinga. People says that this village took a new look after the legendary story happened in the Kingdom of Kalinga .King Kalinga had arranged wedding for his daughter .He invited the well wishers from everywhere and also invited the Mother Sea. Mother Sea instructed him in his dream that if she come there, the kingdom will be no more. But the king compelled the sea to attend the Wedding. Hence it is said that the Mother Sea moved towards his dynasty and it is said that there was a Tsunami in the 16th century which destroyed the dynasty of King Kalinga.

The author does not have any knowledge of travancore history.we can understand this form the following paragraphs.After some years King Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was well pleasured to this atmosphere of the Sea Shore and decided to have his headquarters here. He made this village the capital calling Aadhithyanthurai (Aadhithya-name of King Aadhithya Varma, King’s father and Thurai – Coastal Village ). Hence this Village became the capital it attracted more people to get settle down here.

Later in the middle of 19th century Maharaja Marthanda Varma succeeded Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. The reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma being an important stage in the history of Travancore, great care has been taken to explain the magnitude of his work with its bearing on the course of events in other parts of South India. So many and so romantic are the prevalent stories of the hair breadth escapes of that king, and so exaggerated the accounts of the opposition said to have been made by influential people in all parts of the country, that the quest for truth was particularly difficult and laborious. Marthanda Varma’s policy towards the Dutch and English. , having had no support from his own people, was obliged to depend on foreign mercenaries, that the armies which led him to victory owed their efficiency and fighting skill to D’Lannoy’s discipline, and that the Travancore forts were built by that Flemish soldier after he was taken captive at the battle of Colachel.

When Marthanda Varma ascended the throne of his ancestors the Dutch were powerful in the east. They had settlements in the Pacific and the Indian oceans and a number of fortified places in Ceylon and the Coromandel and Malabar coasts. Most of the Malabar rulers were under their leading strings while some were their acknowledged vassals. It was under Marthanda Varma that inflicted upon them defeat after defeat, put them in complete humiliation, and reduced them to the position of merchants shown of all political ambition. This perspective has not been sufficiently explored by historians. It was therefore deemed necessary to narrate all the relevant facts and explain their import. The several stages in the conquests made by that king have also been explained in chronological sequence. The march of events for which Marthanda Varma was responsible has been shown to be the outcome of a steady policy of national political expansion. The part played by Travancore under Maharaja Rama Varma Karthika Thirunal in settling the political map of South India and helping to promote Pax Britanica. The suppression of the “irrepressible” Poligars of Tinnevelly and the buttressing of the authority of the Nawab of the Carnatic were achieved by the East India Company with the active help of the Maharaja who sent large armies to fight the enemy at Vasudevanallur, Nellithankavila and many another places. However, the Maharaja was obliged to recognise the formal precedence of the Nawab through the persuasion of the Company'’ officers.

The King Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma had the lack of transportation in his Kingdom, so he planned to dig a canal from Poovar till Eraiyumenthurai connecting river Neyyar in Poovar and river Tamirabarani in Eraiyumenthurai. In 1860 he made the canal and named it as AVM canal (Ananhta Victoria Marthanda Varma) canal. Here Anantha stands for King Anantha Varman –Father of UTM Varman, Victoria refers Queen Victoria who ruled over India during this time and Marthanda Varman, the Kings name. Soon after this the King constructed the first Bridge above this canal for free traveling and named it as Aadhithyanthurai Bridge which still remains ruined at E.P.Thurai Edappadu justifying the History.

Later few years a tragedy happened in the Village taking many lives due to the fast spreading disease. Out of fear many people moved towards east and settledown there and called that village as Puthenthurai (Puthen-New., Thurai- Coastal Village)

Later on it is said that Puthenthurai was attacked by great tidal waves and many people lost their lives and livelihood. During this flood there was a soldier named Eravikuttipilla who courageously and generously helped the people to be rescued, so the people are very much grateful to this soldier. In order to remember him they named the village as Eraviputhenthurai (E.P.Thurai)

It is also said that later on Portuguese missionaries invaded this village and built a Church under the Patroness of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Since the Church was built in this village people were very much happy to call this village honouring the Patroness as Santacatherinaputhenthurai (Stcatherineputhenthurai.).

History of St. Catherine Church

The Catholic Church plays a vital role in the day-to-day life of the villagers of Eraviputhenthurai. The conversion of the Hindu fishermen of this village may be traced back not later than to A.D. 1544. It was due to the indefatigable endeavours of St. Francis Xavier who converted on December 1544, nearly 10000 Mukkuvars (fishermen and women) living in thirteen villages along the coast from Pallam to Poovar, such as Poovar, Kollencode, Vallavilai, Aadithyanthurai (Eraviputhenthurai), Thoothoor, Poothurai, Thengapattanam, Enayam, Midalam, Vaniyakudy, Colachel, Kadiapattanam, Muttom and Pallam. Immediately after their conversion by St. Francis Xavier, they pulled down their Hindu temple and idols, built in the past days. In such places a cross was erected and then thatches were made for worship. In due course, they were converted into churches.

During the beginning of 17th century we were under Thoothoor Parish. In 1600, the Thoothoor Parish Church was brought under the Padroado. Thoothoor Parish came under the Diocese of Cochin. In 1838, St. Thomas Church, Thoothoor and other adjacent coastal Churches from Pallithura to Erayumanthurai were brought under the Diocese of Varapuzha. It led to Padroado - Propaganda dispute to a crucial stage. Ultimately again St. Thomas Church, Thoothoor was brought under the Diocese of Cochin with its revival in 1850.

As Soon as we came under the Diocese of Cochin St. Catherine Church was Built at Adthiyanthurai (Eraviputhenthurai) .The Patroness of the Church was St. Catherine of Alexandria .It was constructed by the Missionaries.who came from England .In later part of 19th century this Village was affected by flood. The Villagers lost their belongings and they moved towards the east and lived their .The new Village was named as Puthenthurai (Puthen =New.,Thurai = Coastal Village ).Since. St. Catherine was our Patroness the name of the village became Santacatherinaputhenthurai (stcatherineputhenthurai) hence.

In 1860’s new Church was Constructed .,the alter was decorated by beautiful models of angels, which was brought from Italy. This existed till 1886.In 1886 new church was built by keeping the altar of the old Church at the center. The tower of this Church was destroyed by a thunder attack. In the middle of 20th Rev. Fr. Rayyapan Parithyal Started the work for the new Church. Later in !968 Rev. Fr. Francis Neetany .wanted to reconstruct the Altar and this work was completed on 4th February 1990. It was blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Soosai Pakiyam.,Bishop Of Diocese Trivandrum

In 2003 the tower was destroyed by the huge attack of thunder and the maintenance work was started in 2003 by Rev. Fr. Stansilaus Theesmas and completed during the period of Rev. Fr. John Churchil Bas on November 2004.

History of St. Joseph's Shrine

In 1972, Mr. Dennis Kanakkapillai wanted to construct a Shrine for St. Joseph at Eravipuithenthurai as a thanks giving. Mr. Alphonse Pirisant Co-operated him for the construction work. They Successfully opened the Shrine in the same year and it was blessed by Rev. Fr. Francis Neetany.

In 1982 while Rev. Fr. Justin Alex was our Parish Priest roof of the Shrine was removed and new roof was made using tiles.

Later on the reconstruction work was started during the period of Rev. Fr. John Churchil Bas in 2004.The Face for the Shrine was planned by Mr. Robert Singh of Eraviputhenthurai. The work was started and new Shrine was opened on 1st May 2005 by Rev. Dr. Youhannon Mar Chrisostom, Bishop of Marthandam

Our Former Parish Priests

Asha Sagar Convent

Eraviputhenthurai comes under the Arch-Diocese of Thiruvananthapuram. Asha Sagar was started in the year 1997 with two Sisters, their congregation is Sisters of Charity of Bartoloma Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa. At first the convent was an offshoot of Vallavila, and from 4th April 2002 it became an independent community. There were many sisters who worked hard for the promotion of social life of the people here. The main activity of the sisters are Socio-Pastoral work. It is carried out by teaching Catechism, animating B.C.C. unit, Legion of Mary , Little way, Jesus Youth and Alter Boys. One of our sisters is teaching in the Parish nursery conducted with the help of T.S.S.S, and one sister is teaching in the parish school and also teaching evening tuition for the poor students conducted by T.S.S.S.

Sisters are very active in the pastoral work. Taking care of the church linen and also preparing the children for first communion and conformation .We have also experienced the love and acceptance from the people. They are also ready to help us in all the work and ready to help us in all the work and ready to give their helping hand.

The sisters here are completing 8 years of service, the sisters are grateful to God for all the help and grace that is received in abundance from the lord. With the help of the lord we are ready to show forth the merciful love of the lord to all.

Organisations in Eraviputhenthurai

Spiritual Services

St. Catherine's Church St. Joseph's Shrine New Life Retreat Center Asha Sager Convent

Institutions

St. Joseph's Middle School, St. Catherine's Pre Kindergarten, St. Joseph's Evening Tuition, School for Intellectually disabled ,Nursery School. Organisations

Coastal People Organisation, Eraviputhenthurai Boat Union. Associations

Kombriya Sabai ,CLC ,Basic Christian Community,
Legion of Mary, Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, Southern Catholic Youth Movement,
Jesus Youth ,Little Way Association.

Clubs

Eraviputhenthurai Foot Ball Association, St. Catherine's sports club & Library, St. Francis Arts and Sports Club & Library.

Village View

External links

* [http://eraviputhenthurai.tripod.com/ Eraviputhenthurai Site]
* [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Number/412952/ Eraviputhenthurai in Google Earth]