It was not a worn irregular edge of silk saree, but
a sleeping horizontal hill, stitching the embroidery to the clear sky as twelve-year-old
boy Jo watched it daily from his apartment balcony. After three months of heavy
rain, the hill was visible from apartment. The hill with historical
significance for Roman Catholic church, a sacred place associated with St.
Thomas, the pilgrim centre, known as Malayatoor hill. The moment Jo thought
about travelling there, Jo felt the astonishment too. It took three long years
after living in the same apartment to take a decision to visit a place that was
at a stone’s throw away from us. Finally, it happened on that Sunday afternoon
at 3:30 PM. He felt parents were looking for excuses for not visiting a place
which they have seen umpteen times during their childhood.
Every time they speak about it, his dad says “I am
not quite sure if St. Thomas landed really in Kerala. Even Pope is not sure;
historical evidences have certain mismatches.” In the same way, apostle Thomas refused
to believe that resurrected Jesus appeared Infront of other apostles, Jo call his
dad at least for fun, as doubting Thomas. He doesn’t disagree with that name. He
responds by stating “I doubt most news on media, if its really true. My mentor
taught me to believe only if I am convinced. A part of the History says, St.
Thomas reached Muziris (Modern day North Paravoor and Kodungallor) in AD 52. It
seems he established seven and half churches. The half church is at Malayatoor.
There are debates over such a claim. Every year, people from different parts of
the world, climb this hill with a cross on shoulders.”
As the car crossed Kalady on the way, the birthplace
of Adi Shankara, the popular pilgrim centre of Hindus, he reminded me “Adi
Shankara, who advocated ‘Tat tvam asi’ means ‘Thou art that’ means ‘that
essence are you.’ ” Jo challenged dad in
between “So you believe Adi Shankara lived in Kalady.” Dad laughed “My son, history
says many things. It seems Adi Shankara’s mother fainted while walking to
Periyar river for daily bath and lord Krishna blessed Adi Shankara by stating
‘The river will flow where your little feet (hence the name Kalady) marks’ ”
Nevertheless, he cannot forget the lush green
forest area covered on both sides of the road. Living long time in the city, his
tendency to call any green area with occasional monkeys and elephants, as
forest, not to be underestimated. Jo felt two sides of the road like a forest
area, that’s normal for city boys. After all, there were government forest
guard check posts on the way with red barricades. He spoke to himself ‘No need
to toss a coin to decide, if it is forest area.’
Like most foothills in the country, a lake, a
boating facility and fishing nets corner would be the first three spots most travellers
might stop on the way. His car stopped near a monastery, another usual suspect
around such hilly areas. Parents enquired about the fish price with a roadside
merchant. Jo knew, they were not going to buy it. They were always curious about
fish prices, travel any part of the world. Jo could also see an old man alone;
using fishing hooks. From the clear water, he could see fishes were cleverer to
avoid old man’s hooks. Dad did not wait till his successful fishing attempt as
he could not feel empathy on such a quick trip. He always needed more relaxed time,
and here for a change St. Thomas church is the target. Jo recollected spending
thirty minutes in the church and surrounding areas. The locals call the church
as ‘Thaazhathe Palli’. The olden style frills of the church buildings,
reminiscence of Greek-Roman architecture was a different experience. Dad
pointed to the style of windows to a have minimum 1000 years history. Kurishumudi
hill or St. Thomas footprints stamped on the rocky hill were main attractions,
but a missed opportunity to kiss both spots due to COVID in the short trip.
Still, Jo felt it as a refreshing trip after a long time with family.
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