Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 115

JUNE, 1916]
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
107
SECTION II.
The foundation of the Jesuit Mission in Madura. The reign of Muttu Krishnappa is also noteworthy for the fact that it saw the first serious attempt, on the part of the Christians, after the great Xavier, to convert, on a large scale, the people of South India. Three generations back Francis Xavier had laid the foundations of an Indian Christianity among the Paravas. His work was extended by his successors, who established a mission in Madura itself in order to convert the Vadugas and other higher castes. But this mission had not been a success, as its head, Father Consalve Fernandez, was a steady and mild preacher, who had a great regard for the fuelings of others and who, for that very reason, failed to bring new proselytes for his faith. His character and conduct gained, it is true, from the Naiks, the permission to build a church and presbytery in the city for the benefit of his flock and of the Paravans who Visited Madura; but he could do nothing more. A new and more active set of missionaries 110w came into the scene in the Jesuits. These had hitherto been endeavouring, with some success, to convert the Syrian Christians of Malabar to the Catholic faith and with this view, had, besides developing industrial settlements in various places, established a sacred college and training school near Cochin. These institutions they now resolved to make the base of extensive Jesuit activities and undertakings from Bengal to the Cape. Seeing that Madura was the most important political and religious centre in the South, that it was the s-at at once of the most powerful kingdom and the most celebrated temple, the Jesuits Insolved to carry their activities there. It was a thing which could not be done by ordinary men. An extraordinary capacity, combined with tact and policy, was the great need, and a man who could play the politician and act the priest, with equal confidence. A singular courage and daring, a profound knowledge of the Brahmanical cult and customs, extensive scholarship, and a large amount of tact were the requisite qualifications of a successful preacher; otherwise there was little hope of braving the lion in his den.
Robert de Nobilis. And the man came. In the year 1606,"7 when Muttu Kșishṇappa had been three years on the throne, there came to Madura an Italian nobleman, Robert de Nobilis by name, who, born in the province of Tuscany of high aristocratic parents, and afforded with opportunities of renown and greatness in his own country, sacrificed his ambitions at the altar of his creed, and joined the Jesuit Society, with a view to make his name felt, as a preacher, in distant parts of the world. Robert de Nobilis was just thirty years of age when he came to Madura. No Missionary, either before or after him, has ever come to India with greater talents or more requisite qualifications. Handsome and imposing in apearance, singularly gifted with the capacity to learn and to see and to adjust himself
46 This section is based on Nelson's Madura Manual, Chandlor's Jesuit Mission in Madura, Hough's Christianity in India, Taylor's O. H. MSS., etc. The following quotation from Thevenot shows that the Jesuits had been active oven in Chandragiri. "Two Portuguese Jesuits from St. Thome went to Chandragiri in the year 1599 and were received with attentions by the Gentoo king whose sovereignty they describe as extending over the countries of Tanjore and Madurs, and other Jesuits who travelled at the same time into these countries affirm the assertion." (8. Arcot Manual, P. 4 footnote).