Kadamattath Kathanar, The Holy Priest of Kadamattom Church

Even today Kerala, the southernmost state of India is famous for Tantrics and people who are experts in, juggling, black magic, etc. There are no religion or cast bars in this. The story of Kadamattath Kathanar, the holy priest of Kadamattom Church underlines this factor.

Kadamattath Kathanar, whose original name was Paulose has born to a poor family and lost his parents in his childhood. Although he was brilliant and had thirst for knowledge, he was not able to attend school. When he did not have enough to satisfy his hunger, how he can go to school. One day when he was very hungry, he went to a nearby church and prayed in front of Jesus to get him some food. Hearing those prayers, the priest of that church took him to his room and fed him. After that, he inquired about the details of Paulose. Hearing his heart touching story, father decided to adopt him. Father appointed him as an assistant. Paulose had to do all the odd jobs and in turn, he got enough food and permission to attend the school run by the church. Meanwhile, he started learning theology too and conferred with the degree of Brother. Now he came to know as Brother Paulose.

There was a large farm in that church where there were hundreds of cows. Cowherds used to take them in the nearby forest to feed them properly. One day Brother Paulose also accompanied them. They were enjoying the calmness and the beauty of the forest and the cows were enjoying fresh grass and leaves. Suddenly a tiger came there roaring in a loud voice. The cowherds and cattle spread in different ways. However, the tiger went back immediately. Later, the father with the help of some local people found out all the cows and cowherds, but to his utter shock, he noticed that Paulose is missing. They searched till the sunset and then went with great grief.

Meanwhile, Paulose lost his way inside the dense forest and walked in the opposite direction. When it got darken and as he reached a plain, several people with ugly features rounded him with weapons. They took him to a cave where he saw an old man whom all of the others are respecting. Although Brother Paulose could not understand their language completely, he understood from their facial expressions that they are asking the permission of the old man to eat him. Then the old man came nearer him and told that they are tribal people inhibiting in that forest. Some of them used to go out of the forest and earn money and food by showing magic to the public and then return. But, most of them are living by hunting inside the forest. If anybody from the outside world enters in that area, either they will kill them and eat or they will be kept with them as slaves.

Understanding the reality and fearing miserable death in the hands of those barbarians, Paulose agreed to serve them as a slave. Gradually, he could attract the special attention and affection of the chief of the tribe and thus he learned sorcery and Tantra. Many years have passed and Paulose developed an ambition to meet his old mentor, the father of the Church. He had learned enough to make the people sleep unconscious and then he can escape from the cave, but he thought that by doing so he is cheating his master. He was in confusion and the chief suddenly recognized the change in Paulose. He asked about the reason and Paulose told the truth. Then the Chief told him.

“I cannot allow you to go out as it is against the rule of the land, but if you go out I will not take it as a cheating. However, you should promise that you will never reveal this place to anybody in the outside world.”

Paulose promised the same and came out of the cave after making the security persons sleep with the divine power he acquired from the chief of the tribe. He went directly to the church and introduced himself to the father. Father caught hold him tightly with tears of joy in his eyes. Later Paulose continued his studies in theology and became the main priest of the church on the death of the old priest. From then onwards he came to be known as “Kadamattath Kathanar” or the Holy Priest of Kadamattom Church. This church is still there and it is located in the Ernakulam district of Kerala on the way from Ernakulam to Moovattupuzha.

He had done many miracles to save people from the effects of evil spirits and a single page will not be sufficient to describe everything. Hence only one episode is mentioning here.

On those days the way from Thiruvananthapuram to Padmanabhapuram was a thick forest and most of the people feared to go through that. According to the locals, there is a Yakshi (a celestial creature which lives on human blood) is living there. She will come in disguise of a beautiful woman and attract the travelers. When they go along with her inside the forest, she will kill them and suck their blood.

Once Kadamattath Kathanar was traveling through this road, this Yakshi appeared in front of him. She requested him for some lime to chew with the beetle leaves. Kathanar offered the same on a iron nail. As soon as she touched the iron nail, she got caught inside the magical layer created with the divine power of Kathanar and she followed him as a slave. Kathanar reached a place called Kayamkulam, where he went to a home to have some food. Only one old lady was there. She received the Kathanar and the woman with him with great respect and offered food. When she asked about the woman, Kathanar told her that the woman is his servant. Then the old lady requested him to leave her there as she did not have a servant or a companion. Kathanar did so.

Gradually the yakshi became very close to the old lady. One day when the old lady was caressing the hair of yakshi she saw an iron nail penetrated inside her head. Without knowing the actual reason the old lady removed the nail and the yakshi got back her freedom. She started from that house. Kadamattath kathanar came to know about this suddenly. By analyzing the omens and signals he understood that she is travelling northwards. He started his journey and finally he saw her at a place called Mannanam. There he caught her once and told her that if she is continue to lead her old life, he will kill her. If she is ready to live without attacking any persons, she can live there peacefully. Yakshi agreed and Kathanar let her free.

Even now, many people are claiming that they have seen that yakshi many times, mainly in the nights of Fridays. Now she is affectionately called a Parumala Yakshi.