{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 39,
  "chapterName": "1601. The Ramban Song (The Thoma Parvam)",
  "pageFrom": 43,
  "pageTo": 43,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 43,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n43\nconsidering how difficult it is for the people inhabiting the Serra,\nto have recourse to the tribunal at Goa; neither can it be otherwise,\nconsidering that they live in the midst of infidels, but that such\nnecessary cases will sometimes happen, and especially to rude and\nignorant people.\n39. THE RAMBAN SONG (THE THOMA PARVAM) (1601 A.D.)\nThe Ramban Song, said to be originally written by a disciple of\nSt. Thomas, is said to be a redaction of the original in modern languages\nby Thomas Ramban, the forty-eighth priest of the Maliekal family.\nThe text of the redaction is kept at the Mannanam Monastery,\nKottayam. It describes the coming of St. Thomas to Malabar and\nhis activities there. A portion of the document, in translation, is cited\nin P. Thomas, Christians and Christianity in India and Pakistan, pp.\n17-18.\nMar Thoma, who had established the Way in several countries\nand regions of the earth, and whose laws were faithfully followed\nby the leaders and followers of the communities he had founded,\nwas, in the early hours of the 3rd day of July 72, going on a journey\nand happened to pass by the Mount in Mylapore. Here stood a\ntemple of Kali, and the priests of the temple, the bitter enemies of\nthe Apostle, furiously issued forth from the temple and stopped the\nsaint.\n'No man' said they, shall pass this way without worshipping\nat the shrine; hence you come with us and worship the goddess.\nIf you do this, not only shall he let you pass this way unmolested\nbut shall feed you sumptuously on delicacies.'\nWhat?' replied Mar Thoma, Am I to sell my soul for a\nmorsel of rice, and worship the devil? But if you insist I shall do\nyour bidding and you shall see how your goddess will run away\nfrom her shrine and the temple itself be destroyed by fire.'\nDo not utter blasphemy', cried the priests, and they forced him\nto go to the temple.\nAs the saint approached the temple, a splendrous light shone\nforth and Kali ran out of the temple and the temple itself was\nconsumed by fire. Thereupon, the infuriated priests fell upon Mar\nThoma like mad animals. And one of them taking a long spear\nthrust it cruelly into the heart of the Apostle. After doing this evil\ndeed, they ran away from the place for fear of the people.\nMar Thoma then knelt on a stone and prayed. Angels on wings\ncarried news of the tragedy to the king and worthy Bishop Poulose.",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}