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9. COMING OF THOMAS
based potions prepared by the tharavad was used to cure the sea-worn voyagers. In an act of gratitude, Thomachan is said to have blessed them and gave them four silver coins saying, "May these coins bestow my guru's blessings upon you and your household, for take heed when I tell you that the money I pay you today is anointed with the blood of my guru." This holy man, Thomachan, is believed to have related a curious story to the members of the tharavad, which has been passed down the ages. The story states that before Thomachan set sail from a seaport in the region called 'Sanai' somewhere in the western seas, he had witnessed the persecution of his guru, who was tortured and nailed to a wooden cross and left to die. He spoke of how his guru returned from his ordeal three days later, fully cured. His guru handed him the silver coins saying, "My body was sold with these, and now they have been returned to me, all thirty pieces. Put them to good use, as I have. Though you shall choose to travel by sea, I shall meet you again in the mountains of the land where you will finally arrive."
The Nair Tharavad later migrated further north to the Cherukunnu area of present day Kannur. They referred to the four silver pieces as 'Rakta Velli' (Blood Silver) or 'Parindhu Velli' (parindhu for eagle, as one face of all these four ancient coins bear the figure of an eagle). They also decided never to utilize the silver as it was the custom then not to part with the gift of a guest.
Over time, and with the advent of Christianity, the significance of the four silver coins received by the Nair Tharavad was understood, but family history is still obscure as to whether Thomachan possessed, or what he did with the remaining twenty-six pieces of silver his guru gave him. This Nair family never converted to the Christian faith as many others did in that region. Subsequent migrations of Nair clans continued throughout history, but the story of the four rakta velli pieces was passed down the generations, as did their veneration for the holy sanyasi Thomachan (later called Thondachan, a nickname perhaps coined from the story of his sore throat - thonda for throat).
Another story goes that the name Thondachan was adopted in the early 16th century to avoid persecution by the Portuguese. Thus by a curious turn of events, the apostle St. Thomas was transformed into a Hindu deity for an ancient Nair clan of Kerala. A present day member of this family is still in possession of the four pieces of silver. The four pieces of silver have identified as the Shekels of Tyre, a common coinage of Judea of the time of Christ.
A present day member of this family is still in possession of the four pieces of silver and they have been identified as the Shekels of Tyre, a common coinage of Judea of the time of Christ.
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