Rock crosses of Kerala

Kerala has many churches of antiquity. It is recorded that before the arrival of Portuguese there were more than 150 ancient churches in Kerala.Malabar Manual by William Logan - 1996 published by Asian Educational Services ]

There are two types of rock crosses in Kerala Churches broadly classified as St. Thomas cross and Nazraney sthambams.NSC Network (2007), [http://nasrani.net/2007/01/16/smaller-carved-crosses-in-the-churches-giant-crosses-sitting-atop-plinths-in-kerala-syrian-churches/ Stone Crosses of Kerala"] ]

St. Thomas Cross

The small cross is called St Thomas cross or Nasrani Menorah or Syrian Cross. These crosses are found at St. Thomas Mount, Kottayam [ 2 nos ] , Kadamattam, Muttuchira, Kothanalloor, Alangad etc. This has been venerated by all St Thomas Christians from ancient times and treated as particularly sacred and kept inside the church.NSC Network (2007), [http://nasrani.net/2008/02/29/analogical-review-on-st-thomas-cross-the-symbol-of-nasranis/ Analogical review on St Thomas Cross- The symbol of Nasranis"] ]

The crosses found at St.Thomas Mount and Kottayam has inscriptions in Pahlavi and Syriac.Dr. Burnell, the previous Archeological Director of India translated the inscriptions as follows,

“In punishment by the cross (was) the suffering of this oneHe who is the true Christ, and God above and Guide ever pure.”Christianity in Travancore by GT Mackenzie Chapter 1]

Dr. Burnell translation’s of inscription in small cross in Kottayam is as follows,

” Let me not glory except in the cross of our Lourd Jesus Christ” ( Syriac translation )

“Who is the true Messiah, and God above, and Holy Ghost.” ( Pahlavi translation )Christianity in Travancore by GT Mackenzie Chapter 1]

Prof FC Burkitt and C.P.T. Winckworth, the then reader of Assyriology in the University of Cambridge studied the inscriptions and produced a translation. This has been discussed at the International Congress of Orientalists held at Oxford in 1925.

The interpretation is as follows,

“My Lord Christ, have mercy up on Afras son of Chaharbukht the Syrian, who cut this ( or, who caused this to be cut )”The Journal of Theological studies ( 1929), P-241, NSC Network (2007) ]

This cross has also been found during excavations in 1912 at Anuradhapura, one time capital of Sri Lanka [ 2 nos ] National Archives of Sri Lanka- Deepa N. Rajaratne and Sarah J Niles , [http://www.tclsl.org/Chdc.html/ Archive link] and in Sirkap, Pakistan during a filed search in 1935.Shadows in the Dark ( Pakistan Christian History Monograph No. 1) , [ http://www.pcbcsite.org/taxilacr.html/ Monograph 1]

Paleographers are in agreement that the style used in lettering in the crosses found in St. Thomas Mount and Kottayam are of 7th or 8th century. Brown L (1956)- The Indian Christians of St. Thomas ] Carbon dating also proves that the oldest of these crosses are from a period of 7th or 8th century.

The St. Thomas crosses at Kadamattam, Muttuchira, Kothanalloor and Alangad are said to be of same or postdate period.NSC Network (2007), [http://nasrani.net/2008/02/29/analogical-review-on-st-thomas-cross-the-symbol-of-nasranis/ Analogical review on St Thomas Cross- The symbol of Nasranis"] ]

Symbolism of The St Thomas Cross

Unlike crosses in other traditions, the st Thomas Cross does not carry the effigy of the Christ. This is one of its very speciality. More over each of its elements carry symbolic meanings. The Cross generally symbolises life rather than death and suffering..TheNazrani, http://thenazrani.org/cross.htm St Thoms Cross"] ]

*The cross is the symbol of resurrection rather than death. It exalts the resurrection of Jesus. One of the Biblical proof for Jesus resurrection was the 'empty tomb'. The St Thomas Cross that does not have the efigy of Jesus is equal to the empty tomb and therefor glorifies the resurrection of Christ.
*The four edges of the cross is in flower shape. This again symbolises the fruition and thereby life.
*The lotus flower beneath the cross is symbol of Budhism and India. It was a cultural adaptation of an Indian Imagery. The Lotus is the national flower of India and the cross fixed on lotus would symbolise India that harboured Christianity in the first century itself. Lotus is a Puranic flower as well. Lotus is considered to be a holy flower and this is the flower that is offered to God in the Hindu Tradition. Any thing offered on the leaves of lotus is considered to be auspecious.
*The three steps below symbolises the little mount Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. Thus death of Jesus also is clevery brought out symbolically.
* Finally, the shape of the Dove above the cross indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. The dove is the symbol of Holy Spirit - the third person in the Holy Trinity according to the Christian tradition. It is this spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. It is this same spirit that gives life to all the faithful in the Church.

Nazraney Sthambams

The other type is a giant open air rock cross. These are called Nazraney Sthambams.Rock Crosses of Kerala, Article by Prof.George Menachery, 2000]

The plinth of these crosses represents lotus petals and lotus flowers and has a square base. It also has a variety of iconographic motifs, including elephants, peacocks and various other animals, depictions of the Holy Family and of the Crucifixion, to name a few.

These crosses are found in Kottekkad, Enammavu Mapranam, Puthenchira, Parappukkara, Veliyanad, Kalpparambu, Angamaly, Kanjoor, Malayattoor, Udayanperur, Kuravilangad, Uzhavoor, Chungam, Kaduthuruthy [2 Nos.] , Muthalakodam, Muttuchira, Kudamaloor, Niranam, Kothamangalam, Chengannur, Thumpamon, Chathannur and many other places.Menachery, George. "Rock Crosses of Kerala". 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://thenazrani.org/cross.htm -St.Thomas Cross ]
* [http://nasrani.net/2008/02/29/analogical-review-on-st-thomas-cross-the-symbol-of-nasranis/ Analogical review on St Thomas Cross- The symbol of Nasranis]
* [http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/NewsDigest.htm/ Menanchery article on Rock crosses of Kerala]
* [http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/12/25/fea08.html// Daily News report on Crosses in Sri Lanka]

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