Appendix 1
The Ramban Song
The text of the Ramban Song already mentioned earlier in this book
is being reproduced; here; partly. The Malabar folk tradition is
contained in this song which describes the Saga of the Apostle
Thomas in a way that had been orally handed over for generations.
It could have augmented itself with many additions over the years
before it was committed to writing after the Portuguese came to
know of it. We find a reference to this song in a report made by
Amador Correa, who states that in 1564, the Portuguese Bishop of
Cochin accompanied a pilgrimage of the native Christians from
Muziris to Parur, and that he was full of praise for the reverent way
in which the women and the children performed this song. The
rhyme and the rhythm of the original Malayalam is certainly absent
in the English rendering as given here.
I will sing of the way in which our holy religion was
introduced to Kerala.
The apostle Thomas landed at Maliankara with the merchant
Habban.
He performed miracles and in eight months he established the
Church of Jesus Christ in that city.
Then he went to Mailepuram (Madras) where he preached
the Gospel of the Lord for four and a half months and then
took ship for China.
He stayed four and a half months in China and returned to
Mailepuram.
After he had been there for about a month, the son-in-law of
the Rajah the king of Thiruvanchikulam came to him and
begged him to return to Malabar.
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They took ship and came to Maliankara where the apostle
converted the Rajah and his family, forty Jews and four
hundred others in less than six months.
He preached to the people, built a church with a cross, and
ordained priests. One of the first whom he consecrated was
the Rajah’s son-in-law and was called Kepha. Accompanied
by Kepha he went to Quilon where he set up a cross and
baptized 2400 people.
From Quilon, he went on to Chayal, in the mountains, Stayed
there a whole year as he had done in Quilon, Baptized 2800
people and set up a cross.
At the request of the rulers of Tripaleswaram, he returned to
that village.
But when he saw that the people had desecrated the cross
which he had set up, he cursed that place.
Nonetheless, he remained there for two months.
He once more set up a cross and instructed the people so that
they should no longer return to heathendom and ordained as
a priest Thomas, one of the leaders who had remained true
to his faith.
During these two months that he stayed in Tripaleswaram he
strengthened all the Christians in their faith and converted two
hundred heathens.
Not far from there, further south, he built the church of
Niranam and ordained as priest his first pupil Thomas
Maliyekal who had been born there.
Then he went to Kokkamangalam, where he stayed for a
year and converted fifteen hundred people, set up a cross and
taught the people how they were to worship God.
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He again visited Kottakavu Parur, stayed almost a year there
and converted 2200 people.
From there he went to Maliankara along the southern road,
and was pleasantly surprised to see the flourishing state of the
Christian community there.
He stayed there only two weeks and went away to the north,
to Palayur,
Where in one month he baptized 1280 people and according
to his custom set up a great cross.
Towards the end of the year 59 he returned to Mailepuram.
He went back once more to Malabar and the angels protected
him on his journey.
He stayed two months at Maleattur and converted 220
people,
Stayed a whole year at Niranam and was satisfied with the
faith of the people and the exemplary life that they led;
He gave communion to those who had not yet received the
sacrament.
Then he took his leave of the Christians and told them
That they would never see him again, and set off for the land
of the Tamils.
Thomas Rabban and Kepha the son-in-law of the Rajah
accompanied him for seven and a half miles and then took
their leave of him.
It would be impossible to relate all the wonders which our
patron saint
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And protector, St. Thomas, performed by making the sign of
the cross with the hands that had touched the wounds of the
Lord.
He raised 29 dead men to life,
Freed 250 who were possessed by devils,
Healed 330 lepers,
Restored their sight to 250 blind people
And the use of their Limbs to 120 cripples,
And their speech to 20 deaf mutes.
He healed 280 sick people who had been given up by their
physicians.
He converted to the Christian faith 17,490 Brahmins;
350 Vaisyas (merchants) and farmers, and 4289 Sudras.
He ordained two bishops and seven priests,
Of whom four were called Rabban
And appointed 21 deacons.
