KOCHI: The Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore is planning to produce a 300 million rupee movie on St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, revered as the apostle of India.

Archbishop A. M. Chinnappa, who heads the archdiocese, presented 30 crore project before a meeting of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council seeking their support this week.

The project, scheduled to be inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is expected match Hollywood big-budget movies such as Ben-Hur and the Ten Commandments in budget and in quality.

Church officials plan to launch the project on July 3, the feast day of St. Thomas, in the San Thome Basilica campus in Chennai. The 70-mm, two-and-half-hour feature film would have the bigwigs of Indian film industry on the credit line.

Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of Faith, supports the project along with the bishops in Tamil Nadu, media said quoting Archbishop Chinnappa.

St. Thomas is believed to have arrived in Kerala in 52 AD and established seven churches on the western coast. Tradition also holds that he was martyred in 72 AD in Mylapore. Hence the Churches in Kerala and Tamilnadu have special importance for the movie, said the archbishop.

The Archbishop also hoped that a film on the life of St. Thomas would have spiritual consolation for people of all walks of life as it evolved around the theme of human equality and dignity for all.

The film will be made in Tamil first, then in Malayalam and Hindi and later dubbed into various other languages, including English and French, according to church officials.

Courtesy: The Indian Catholic of 12 June 2008

ISHWAR SHARAN ADDS:

Eminent former Tamil Nadu government archaeologist Dr. R. Nagaswamy writes, "A careful study of the monuments and lithic records in Madras reveal a great destruction caused by the Portuguese to the Hindu temples in the 16th century. The most important Temple of Kapaleeswara lost all its ancient building during the Portuguese devastation and was originally located near the San Thome Cathedral. A few Chola records found in the San Thome Cathedral and Bishop's House refer to Kapaleeswara Temple and Poompavai. A Chola record in fragment found on the east wall of the San Thome Cathedral refer to the image of Lord Nataraja of the Kapaleeswara Temple. The temple was moved to the present location in the 16th century and was probably built by Mayil Nattu Muthiappa Mudaliar."

Later, at a meeting of Hindu scholars reviewing a book on St. Thomas, Dr. Nagaswamy categorically stated that St. Thomas had not visited India. According to all ancient records and the evidence available, he had visited only Parthia. The fable of St. Thomas was only a Portuguese ruse to spread Christianity in India. Dr. Nagaswamy deplored the practice of Indian scholars to take the the alleged visit of St. Thomas to India as established historical fact. Read the full story

The Roman Catholic bishops in India owe Hindus an abject apology and crores in reparations for the Church's crimes in India over the centuries, not a mega movie of a fictitious Apostle of India. But if they insist on the Rs 30 crore movie, are they going to tell the public the following facts about Judas Didymus Thomas as recorded in the Acts of Thomas that:

• Thomas was the look-alike twin brother of Jesus;
• Jesus sold Thomas as a slave for thirty pieces of silver;
• Thomas deceived the kings of Parthia-"India" who gave him respect and hospitality;
• Thomas was a thief;
• Thomas abducted and locked-up women;
• Thomas engaged in various forms of black magic; and
• Thomas was executed by a Zoroastrian king who had initially shown him mercy and asked him to repent of his crimes and leave the country.

Are the bishops going to tell the public this ancient story? Or are they going to twist the tale as their Portuguese predecessors did and make Brahmins the villains of the piece and a Hindu king the assassin of a Christian saint?

The St. Thomas in India legend was invented only to vilify Hindu priests and the Hindu community. It adds insult to injury as Hindus were and are today its real victims, not Christians and their apostle Thomas. It is a vicious communal tale created by a ruthless colonizing foreign church, and it has no place on the modern Indian cinema screen. That Catholic bishops should even consider such a production tells us a lot about the Catholic Church in India today.

CHENNAI June 24: Call it the Dasavataram impact. A Rs 50-crore-plus mega production in silver screen on Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who had spread Christian faith in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, is underway.

A period film St. Thomas spanning continents is to be made in Tamil first with the help of technicians from Hollywood, Bollywood and Kollywood. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is launching the ambitious project of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mylapore on July 3.

Though the film is a tragedy, ending with the killing of St. Thomas in Chennai, it will have enough entertainment with nine songs.

The story begins with the journey of the apostle to Edessa, a town in Syria around 29 A.D. Thomas's travel through Persia to Taxila in modern Afghanistan and return to Jerusalem is also covered. He reaches Kerala by around 52 A.D and the next 20 years of preaching Christian faith in the continent is the major part of the film. St. Thomas's meeting with Tiruvalluvar is an interesting part of the story.

His encounter with the "reported animal and human sacrifice in the Chennai of first century" may create some controversy once the film is ready for release in 2010.

CHENNAI. This is with reference to the report Rs 50 Cr film on St. Thomas (DC, June 25). It has been proved beyond doubt by historians that the St. Thomas history propagated by Christians of South India is a myth. Even the Christian records talk about different Thomases at different periods and the Vatican has not upheld even one! The so-called encounter between Thomas and Thiruvalluvar is also a concocted one to give a Christian colour to Thirukkural and draw a parallel between Bible and Thirukkural. The South Indian Christian community has lost its foundation after the categorical statement of Pope Benedict, which demolished the myth of St. Thomas and this attempt of making a film on Thomas is just to reinvent the myth and establish it again in the minds of the gullible masses and it is unfortunate that the chief minister is helping such a dubious cause.

ISHWAR SHARAN ADDS:
Tamil scholars agree that the Tamil saint Tiruvalluvar lived before the Christian era, dating him ca. 100 BC with some scholars dating him as early as ca. 200 BC. Whatever the exact date, he could not have been a contemporary of St. Thomas. He lived his whole life in Mylapore and the Tamil year is dated from his birth day in January. His samadhi shrine is believed to have been close by or in the courtyard of the original Kapaleeswara temple on the Mylapore sea front. The shrine and the Shiva temple were destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. See Indian scholar and Tirukkural reference.

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle 3 July 2008

CHENNAI July 3: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has asserted that the DMK-led alliance would sweep the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"Mr Peter Alphonse wished me success in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. His wishes will come true," he said while speaking at the launch of the film St.Thomas here on Thursday.

"I am proud of being referred to as the head of a 'minority' government as my government has always toiled for the welfare and well-being of the minorities," said Mr Karunanidhi.

Donning the believer's mantle, the normally atheist chief minister said, "Whether I am accepted by God is more important than whether I accept God. I have to help humanity for being accepted by God. The audience applauded when he said this statement, which he had also made in the presence of Sai Baba last year.

The chief minister said the martyrdom of St. Thomas had inspired him in many ways. Drawing a parallel to King Pari of the Sangam age, who was also killed by the conspiracy of several kings, he said, "History remembers those who were killed by conspirators. St. Thomas was also a victim of conspiracy." Mr Karunanidhi launched the film by operating the movie camera.

State electricity minister Arcot N. Veerasamy, Archbishop A.M. Chinnappa of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chennai-Mylapore, Dr. Paulraj Lourdusamy and chief researcher and scriptwriter of the film were present at the function.

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle 4 July 2008

Chennai July 2: Superstar Rajinikanth may play the role of ancient Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in the Rs 50-crore plus movie St. Thomas being produced by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chennai-Mylapore. The film will also have actors like Ajith, Vijay and Vikram in guest roles, according to the film crew.

"The film is to be launched by chief minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday. We are in discussion with Hollywood actor James Caviezel who played Jesus in Passion of the Christ. He may act in our film as Jesus. Some other Hollywood actor will play St. Thomas," said Dr Paulraj Lourdusamy, chief researcher and scriptwriter of the film.

"An important part of the film is St. Thomas's meeting with sage poet Tiruvalluvar. We thought Rajinikanth would fit that role perfectly. We are trying to discuss the subject with him," Paulraj added.

Dr Paulraj who has three doctorates earned from various foreign universities spent one year in libraries across the world to find the existing literature on St. Thomas. Well-versed in French, he did the script in French first and then in English.

"The script is currently being translated simultaneously into Tamil and Malayalam. The film will be made in Tamil and Malayalam first. The shoot will be conducted in Idukki and Munnar region in Kerala which still preserves the 2,000-year old biodiversity intact," said Mr. Sekar, production manager of the film.

The film is to be produced in the name of St. Thomas Apostle of India Trust which has Archbishop A. M. Chinnappa, Deputy Archbishop Lawrence Pius, Treasurer of the diocese Mr. Ernest Paul and Dr. Paulraj as office-bearers.

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle 4 July 2008

Sir, This is with reference to Rajini may don the role of Tiruvalluvar (DC, 3 July). Hats off to the St. Thomas Apostle of India Trust for this bold and timely venture. It is heartening to know that Dr Paulraj Lourdusainy, an expert on the subject, after extensive research has involved himself in it. About three decades ago Dr M. Deivanayagam, a doctorate from Madras University and an authority on Tamil and early Christianity in India raised the pertinent question whether Tiruvalluvar was a Christian or not. Based on his thorough analysis of the biblical truths and profound wisdom found in the Thirukkural he concluded that he was. However, questions on certain gray areas like celibacy and vegetarianism still need convincing answers. I hope and trust the film would be dubbed into French and English to spread Tamil culture and tradition globally.

Rev. Dr. R. Daniel Jayakumar
Kondu, Cuddalore

• Deivanayakam reference
• Arulappa reference

Courtesy: The New Indian Express Saturday, July, 5, 2008 Chennai

KOLLYWOOD: The life of St Thomas, one of Jesus' 12 apostles, who lived in India, preached the Gospel and died a martyr at Mylapore, is soon to be made into a feature film. The project will be funded by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chennai, Mylapore and the script has been written by Dr Paulraj Lourdusamy.

Launching the movie on Thursday at Santhome Church, where St Thomas' grave is located, chief minister M Karunanidhi said history chose who to highlight, and St Thomas was one such a noble soul. "We remember the man who was murdered, St Thomas, but not the one who killed him. History shows us who is to be remembered," he announced.

On a lighter vein, he added that it seemed fit that an atheist like him should be attending the launch of a movie by a 'minority community', because his government has been hailed a minority government in the recent past. "By asking me if I've accepted god, would only degrade your god who is so great. On the contrary, let's strive to be good people for god to accept us," the chief minister added. The movie, said Archbishop Dr AN Chinnappa, of Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore would be made in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu am English, and later, in all languages of the world "It is not an attempt to convert people to our faith but to convey the message of this great saint," he added. Profits from the movie will be used to establish the Archbishop Chinnapa's Educational Fund, that will provide higher education to a least 5,000 poor students.

The industry, meanwhile, is rife with rumour that leading stars like Ajith and Vikram have been approached for special appearances in the movie

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Saturday called for rejection of works that went against rationality. Conveying his views through a poem, he asked: "Parties, based on religious denominations, have a right to exist. But, do they have the right to keep people in darkness?" Those who had razed the Babri Masjid [in December 1992] on the basis that Rama was born in Ayodhya were now blocking the progress of Tamil Nadu by twisting history and hampering the execution of the Sethusamudram project.

Courtesy: The Hindu 6 July 2008

Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Monday said that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had lost the moral responsibility to rule the State since he was spending more time attending functions associated with the film industry, leaving little time for governance and peoples issues. In a statement here, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, "People of Tamil Nadu feel it will be good if the Chief Minister resigns his post and opts for the film industry."

Courtesy: The Hindu 8 July 2008

Thomas the Apostle of Brazil, Japan, Syria, Socotra, Ethiopia, Germany, Ceylon & Persia

It is also called Chinna Malai, and is a little before St. Thomas Mount. There are two churches here, which are associated with the legends of the Apostle of India -- Our Lady of Health church and Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The annual festival at Our Lady of Health is a noteworthy event in the Madras calender.

(This article is one of the "Name Stake" features the Deccan Chronicle has published about Chennai's localities. Earlier articles with photos have featured San Thome and Luz Church in Mylapore, and St. Thomas Mount (Big Mount).

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle

ISHWAR SHARAN ADDS:

The appellation "Apostle of India" for St. Thomas is a recent Roman Catholic invention. Prof. Leonardo Olschki, a world authority on Christianity, writes, "The Nestorians of India [Syrian Christians] ... venerated St. Thomas as the patron of Asiatic Christianity -- mark, not of Indian Christianity".

There are four places in Madras and its environs, other than San Thome, that the Portuguese associated with St. Thomas. The first is a rocky hillock called Little Mount, four miles southwest of Mylapore, on the south bank of the Adyar at Saidapet. Fr. Herman D'Souza, in In the Steps of St. Thomas, writes, "Hoary tradition among Catholics and non-Catholics ... proudly holds that this part of [Madras] extended shelter to the Apostle, when the ministers of the local king, Mahadevan, were out to murder him.... The favorite of the king, Thomas was ever in danger of losing his precious life -- thanks to the scheming ministers whipped up by Hindu priests.... There is a version that the Apostle was actually handled brutally more than once in his apartment, in the absence of the king. In order to save his life for yet a little while for the greater glory of God, Thomas is reported to have sought refuge in the jungle of Little Mount."

This sly communal tale, invented by Jesuits and improved on by Fr. D'Souza, is peculiar to Madras [and still published by the Diocesan Press in San Thome]. He tries to establish Hindu support for the story, by quoting Hindu publications that repeat it. But Hindu traditions about Little Mount and other "St. Thomas" sites are quite different and much older than those of the Portuguese. They believe that the hillock, with its cave and spring and imprint of peacock's feet in the rock, was sacred to Murugan, and Hindu women used to visit the site even after the Portuguese had cleared it of shrines. In 1551, a church was built by the cave, called Our Lady of Health, and the Jesuits built a second church by the spring. Nothing remains of these buildings today, and the archaeological evidence on the site was destroyed years ago when it was blasted to make way for the modern church that now stands there.

St. Thomas had to leave Little Mount when the king's men found him in the cave. He fled to Big Mount [St. Thomas Mount], two miles further south, by a secret underground passage. But Big Mount did not offer refuge either. Fr. D'Souza writes, "His murderers sought him there and were on the point of seizing him. How long St. Thomas made his abode on top of the hill, one cannot say. Unbroken tradition maintains that while the Apostle was praying before a cross carved by him on a stone, an assassin suborned by King Mahadevan's priest and ministers, crept up stealthily and pierced him with a lance from behind. Thereupon the Apostle is reported to have fallen on the stone cross and embraced it; his blood crimsoned the stone cross and the space around. Thus did he seal his Apostolate with his blood, even as the other Apostles, save St. John.... His disciples took his body to [Mylapore] ... and interred it at his dear old place, about the year A.D. 68.

This rendition of the fable has no equivalent in Malabar and no relationship to the account in the Acts of Thomas, though it does have in it the priest and the lance found in the Portuguese De Miraculous Thomae. There is no record that Mylapore had a temporal king of any name in 68 C.E. -- the date first appeared on a memorial plaque in San Thome Cathedral in the eighteenth century and was afterwards incorporated into the story. But as is the case with many historical fabrications, it contains an element of truth and this gives the fictional parts credibility. Mahadevan is a reference to Lord Shiva, who was of course the King of Mylapore in the first century C.E., even as He is today.

[Excerpted from The Myth of Saint Thomas and the Mylapore Shiva Temple, Chapter 18]

At the south end of Marina is San Thome, today a part of Mylapore. With its inspiring Basilica on a site where for 19 continuous centuries has stood some church or other. Just before the Basilica on this road is the former palace of the Maharaja of Mysore, now hidden behind formidable gates. Here live the representatives of Russia

(This article continues the "Name Stake" features the Deccan Chronicle publishes about Chennai's localities.)

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle

ISHWAR SHARAN ADDS:

This article is a continuation of the Deccan Chronicle's policy of prostituting Indian history to further its pro-Catholic agenda. Telling lies for Jesus -- or in this case for his brother Thomas -- has never been a problem of ethics for newspaper chairmen or editors who are born with Hindu names but who willingly sell their Hindu mothers down the river for a few dinars. The Deccan Chronicle and Asian Age are said to be owned by a Saudi Arabian company. There is no contradiction here between an Arab-owned Indian newspaper and its pro-Catholic agenda, as both Muslims and Christians and their secular Indian front men are willing to work together for the total annihilation of Hindu religion and culture.

Historically, the first Christian church to appear on the Mylapore beach was built in 1523 by Augustinian friars beside the new tomb of "St. Thomas" that had been dug and seeded with bones and other material brought from Goa by Albuquerque's attendant Diogo Fernandez.

Earlier, in 1521--22, the Portuguese had opened two tombs in the Shiva temple's northern precincts. One tomb contained a "black" skeleton, which, according to its inscription, belonged to a Chola king. The Portuguese nevertheless "identified" him as being a disciple of St. Thomas (as today Catholic historians "identify" Tiruvalluvar as a disciple of St. Thomas). The second tomb revealed a "white" skeleton, which, naturally, "belonged" to the white Jew Thomas. This second skeleton was sent to Goa for verification—where it languishes till today, unsung and unrecognised.

As these diggings did not produce the required result, Diogo Fernandez was asked, in 1523, to excavate a third tomb which lay partly under the foundation of a dilapidated temple building that had been occupied by the Portuguese. He refused at first but was persuaded by the attending priest, Fr. Antonio Gil, who heard his confession and that of the two men, Braz Fernandez and Diogo Lourenco, who would assist him in the pious enterprise. They then began the excavation of a deep and elaborate, and very much empty, tomb. It was Saturday afternoon, and they continued the work into the late evening, when, on the suggestion of Diogo Fernandez, they abandoned their unproductive labours and retired for the night. The excavation was left open and unattended until the next morning, a Sunday, when the men began digging again. It was not long now before the grave disgorged bones that were "much worn out", portions of skull and spine, and a clay pot of earth "bedewed with blood", with a thigh bone in it, and hidden in the red earth an iron Malabar spearhead shaped like an olive leaf, which, after fifteen Christian centuries, still had a piece of wooden shaft miraculously preserved in its socket.

This church, originally built in 1523 and called San Thome or San Thome de Meliapore, was subsequently enlarged and extended, and the encroachment on the Kapaleeswara Temple began in earnest. The Christians had done this before, building a church against a temple and then taking over the temple, and that the Shiva temple survived as long as it did, up to 1566 according to some authorities, is grand testimony to the patient and courageous resistance the Hindus of Mylapore had put up against this ruthless Catholic power.

Shrine of St. Thomas at Meliapore in the 18th Century

In 1606 the Pope, at the request of the King of Portugal, made San Thome de Meliapore into a diocese independent of Goa. The church was extended again and became the seat of a bishop, but, in 1893, this building was demolished by the bishop and the present Gothic cathedral put up in its place. It was completed and consecrated in 1896. In 1952 the archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore was constituted, and in 1956, after much lobbying by the Indian hierarchy, Pope Pius XII raised the status of San Thome to that of a minor basilica. This church dignity is of no consequence but it affords the archbishop some minor liturgical privileges.

Diogo Fernandez's "St. Thomas" relics still remain in the church today. The iron spearhead and piece of skull are kept in a monstrance, along with the relics of St. Francis Xavier, St. Isabella, St. Vincentio and the Martyrs of Morocco. The first "St. Thomas" tomb, which contained the "white" skeleton that was sent to Goa, is empty and ignored, but the second "St. Thomas" tomb is pointed out to pilgrims and tourists. It contains the remainder of Diogo Fernandezs "findings", the pieces of spine and thigh bone, and, presumably, the pot of "blood-bedewed" earth.

Yet this is not the end of the bones at San Thome. The cathedral also has in its possession a piece of Church-certified Ortona bone, which it obtained from Cardinal Tisserant in 1953, after he had deposited the apostle's right arm at Kodungallur. The pastor of San Thome can now say with some pride that he is the keeper of a real St. Thomas bone—keeping in mind that the acceptance of the Ortona gift is also an admission that the Portuguese relics in his care are not those of St. Thomas.

Mumbai Mirror report and rejoinders

Kapaleeswara and Chittirai Kulam, the tanks of two ancient temples in Mylapore were dry for years. Today, they are success stories...

• Kapaleeswarar temple shifted from Santhome to its current location in the [1]7th century after the Portuguese built a fort at Santhome.
• Shaivite poet Sambandar is believed to have brought back to life the girl Poompavai at this place.
• The land on which the tank is built belonged to the Nawab of Carnatic. When he was asked to sell it, he donated it, with the proviso that three days be given to the [Muslim] community for celebrating Muharram. This is being followed till today in letter and in spirit.
• "Mudhal mariyadhai", the highest honour, is given to the Nawab of Arcot on one of the three days of the Brahmotsavam.
• Legend has it that Parvati was cursed for lack of attention, and she did penance at this spot to appease Siva.

Courtesy: Times of India 16 May 2008

Pray tell me where I can find the fort that the Portuguese built in Mylapore, to facilitate which the Kapaleeswarar temple was "shifted"? ("A tale of two Temples", May 16). Or could you tell me where one can find the remnants of the fort? I am afraid neither you nor the Portuguese nor the torchbearers of the Portuguese civilization here will be able to show me the ruins. The reason: no such fort was built. The fort that you are talking about is the Mylapore [San Thome] Cathedral, which was built over the demolished temple. To make matters worse, they foisted on us the hapless tale of poor Thomas' martyrdom, a crime that never occurred (for he never set foot on this soil). The [present] Kapaleeswarar was built during the Vijayanagar period. No, I do not expect you to reproduce this communal letter in you esteemed daily, and thus sully your secular image.

Courtesy: Times of India 20 May 2008

Concerned readers may express their views at the following contact addresses:

• Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore Dr. A.M. Chinnappa at archmsml@vsnl.com
• Catholic Bishops Conference of India at cbcipro@vsnl.net
• Editor of The Indian Catholic at editor@indiancatholic.in
• Editor of The New Indian Express at letterschennai@epmltd.com
• Editor of The Deccan Chronicle at info@deccanmail.com
• Editor of The Hindu at letters@thehindu.co.in
• Editor of The Examiner (Mumbai Catholic Weekly)at editor@examinorindia.com
• Editor of L'Observator Romano (Vatican Newspaper) ornet@ossrom.va
• Letters to editors worldwide (thru Times of India)

See also:

1. "ASI deeply involved in the cover up at San Thome church"
2. "Attempts to impose a concocted history of St. Thomas on the people"
3. "Legitimizing Kapaleeshwara Temple destruction to build Santhome Church"
4. "The fabricated and fraudulent story of the visit of St. Thomas to Mylapore"
5. "Indian bishops are allowed to pervert Indian history?"
6. "Indian historian Ved Prakash condemns St. Thomas movie" Part I
7. "Indian historian Ved Prakash condemns St. Thomas movie" Part II
8. "Can you name the only saint who left behind his two skeletons?"
9. "Pope denies St. Thomas landed in India but Church plans mega-budget movie on St. Thomas!"