Rock crosses of Kerala
Encyclopedia
Beautifully hand cut stone crosses are the treasure of ancient churches in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

.
These Crosses are found mainly in Southern Indian State of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. They are also found in state of Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...

 and Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

.

Two types of the stone crosses are broadly classified as Saint Thomas Cross and Nasrani Sthambams.

The Saint Thomas Cross are smaller in size and are found inside the Kerala churches at Kadamattom, Muttuchira
Muttuchira
Muttuchira is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Muttuchira had a population of 14303 with 7022 males and 7281 females....

, Kothanalloor
Kothanalloor
Kothanalloor is a village located in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India. It is situated on the Kottayam-Ernakulam highway, 21 kilometers from Kottayam and 53 kilometers from Ernakulam....

, Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...

 and Alengad
Alengad
Alangad is a census town and panchayat in Paravur Taluk of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.-Location:Alangadu is located just 7 km away from North Paravur and 8 km away from Aluva. The State Highway connecting North Paravur with Aluva passess through this village. It contains...

. Outside Kerala, they are at St. Thomas Mount, Chennai (Madras)
St. Thomas Mount
St. Thomas Mount, or Parangimalai is a small hillock located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Located near the neighbourhood of Guindy and very close to Chennai International Airport, St. Thomas Mount is associated with St. Thomas, the apostle of Christ, who is believed to have been martyred here...

, Tamil Nadu, Pilar Seminary Museum, Goa, Anuradhapura [ 2 nos ] in Sri Lanka and Taxila at Pakistan.

The large crosses known as Nasrani Sthambams are found at the frontage of many churches in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. There are also other flowery ancient Persian Crosses found in Kerala Churches.

These crosses represent resurrection through its various symbolism. Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 has many churches of antiquity. It is recorded that before the arrival of Portuguese there were more than 150 ancient churches in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Saint Thomas Cross

Antonio Gouvea in the Sixteenth century work, " Jornada" states that the old churches of Saint Thomas Christians were full of crosses of the type discovered from S.Thome ( Mylapore).
He also states that veneration of the cross is an old custom in Malabar. "Jornada" is the oldest known written document which calls the cross as St. Thomas Cross. The original word used is “ Cruz de Sam Thome “ meaning Cross of St. Thomas. Interestingly, Gouvea writes about the veneration of the Cross at Cranganore mentioning it as "Cross of Christians"

Location of the Saint Thomas Crosses

The crosses are at the following locations,
  • St. Thomas Mount, Tamil Nadu: The Cross is at Our Lady of Expectations Church under the Latin Catholic diocese of Chingelpet (Madras-Mylapore). This Cross is considered as the oldest cross in India.

  • Kadamattam, Kerala. This Cross is at Kadamattom Church
    Kadamattom Church
    Kadamattom Church is one of the ancient churches in India. The church is situated near to Kolenchery town near Cochin, India.The church is believed to have established in the 9th Century AD. Kadamattom church is an integral part of the syrian Orthodox Church in India...

     of the Oriental Orthodox Church.

  • Muttuchira, Kerala. This Cross is at Holy Ghost Church under the diocese of Palai of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
    Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
    The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...

    .

  • Kottayam, Kerala. This Cross is at Kottayam Valiapally (St.Mary's Knananya Church). One cross is considered of late origin ( Ca 10th century).

  • Kothanalloor
    Kothanalloor
    Kothanalloor is a village located in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India. It is situated on the Kottayam-Ernakulam highway, 21 kilometers from Kottayam and 53 kilometers from Ernakulam....

    , Kerala. This Cross is at St.Gervasis and Prothasis Church under the diocese of Palai of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

  • Alangad, Kerala. This Cross is at St. Mary's Church under the diocese of Ernakulam- Angamaly of the Syro Malabar Church.

  • Agasaim, Goa. The Cross is now kept at Pilar
    Pilar, Goa
    Pilar is a village in Goa, India, some 10 km from the state capital Panaji. It is on a hill top and has a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and the mountains all around.- Pilar Society :...

     Seminary Museum. This Cross is dated of 6th Century.

  • Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The cross is kept at Anuradhapura museum. It was found during excavations in 1912 Anuradhapura [ 2 nos ]. This Cross is considered as the oldest Cross.

  • Taxila, Pakistan. The cross is kept at Anglican cathedral at Lahore.

Interpretation of the Inscriptions

Dr. Burnell, archeologist with the government of India, in 1873, translated the inscriptions as follows:
"In punishment by the cross (was) the suffering of this one;
He who is the true God, and God above and Guide ever pure."


Prof. F.C. Burkitt and C.P.T. Winckworth, the then reader of Assyriology in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...

 studied the inscriptions and produced a translation. This has been discussed at the International Congress of Orientalists held at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

 in 1925.

The interpretation is as follows:
"My Lord Christ, have mercy upon Afras son of Chaharbukht the Syrian, who cut this (or, who caused this to be cut)."

On the large cross, there is this additional sentence in Estrangelo Syriac. (Galatians 6:14)
”May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”


The inscription at Kadamattom church when translated is,
”I, the beautiful bird of Nineveh
Nineveh
Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, and capital of the Neo Assyrian Empire. Its ruins are across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq....

 has come to this land. Written by me Shapper, who was saved by the Holy Messiah from misery.”

Symbolism of The St. Thomas Cross

Unlike crosses in other traditions, the St. Thomas Cross does not carry the effigy of the Christ
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....

. In addition to this unique quality, each of its elements carry symbolic meanings. Generally the Cross symbolizes life rather than death and suffering.
  • Lacking the effigy of Jesus, the St. Thomas Cross presages the discovery of the empty tomb
    Empty tomb
    Empty tomb most often refers to the tomb of Jesus which was found to be empty by the women who were present at Jesus’ crucifixion. They had come to his tomb to anoint his body with spices...

    , glorifying the Resurrection of Jesus
    Resurrection of Jesus
    The Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus states that Jesus returned to bodily life on the third day following his death by crucifixion. It is a key element of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: "On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures"...

  • The four edges of the cross are floral in shape, symbolizing fruition and life.
  • The lotus flower
    Nelumbo nucifera
    Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae...

     beneath the cross is a symbol of Buddhism
    Buddhism
    Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...

     and India. A cultural adaptation of local imagery, the lotus is the national flower of India
    National symbols of India
    The Republic of India has several official national symbols including a historic document, a flag, an emblem, an anthem, a memorial tower as well as several national heroes. All the symbols were picked up at various times. The design of the national flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly just...

     and the cross fixed on the lotus would symbolize Christianity in India in the first century. The lotus is also a Puranic holy flower, an offering to God in the Hindu tradition; anything offered on the leaves of lotus is considered to be auspicious.
  • The three steps below the Cross represent Golgotha, symbolically referring to the death of Jesus
    Crucifixion of Jesus
    The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...

  • Finally, the dove
    Dove
    Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...

     above the cross represents the Holy Spirit
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...

    , the third aspect of the Holy Trinity according to the Christian tradition. It is this spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and bestows gifts upon the Church's faithful
    Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
    The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are a medieval enumeration of seven spiritual gifts probably encodified by Thomas Aquinas along with five intellectual virtues and four other groups of ethical characteristics. They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the...

    .

Nasrani Sthambams

The other type is a giant open air stone cross. These are called Nasrani Sthambams.

The plinth of these crosses represents lotus petals and lotus flowers and has a square base. It also has a variety of iconographic motifs, including elephants, peacocks and various other animals, depictions of the Holy Family and of the Crucifixion, to name a few. The stone cross in front of St.Mary's Forane Church, Puthenchira
Puthenchira
Puthenchira is a village in Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Puthenchira had a population of 20964 with 9789 males and 11175 females.- History:...

 is more than 12 meters high.

These crosses are found in Puthenchira
Puthenchira
Puthenchira is a village in Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Puthenchira had a population of 20964 with 9789 males and 11175 females.- History:...

, Parappukkara
Parappukkara
Parappukkara is a village in Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Parappukkara had a population of 11932 with 5858 males and 6074 females....

, Veliyanad
Veliyanad
Veliyanad is a small village in the Ernakulam District of the state of Kerala in southern India. It belongs to the Edakkattuvayal panjayat and Kanayannoor Taluk. This beautiful village is around 30 km from the city of Kochi. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport...

, Kalpparambu, Angamaly
Angamaly
Angamaly is a satellite town of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is one of the entry points or gateways to Ernakulam district from northern Kerala...

, Kanjoor
Kanjoor
Kanjoor is a small town near to Aluva. It is in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala, India.[Kanjoor] is a panchayat in the Ernakulam District. It has as many as 14 wards. The estimated population is 25,000...

, Malayattoor
Malayattoor
Malayattoor Saint Thomas Church is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India.The Malayatoor Church of Cochin attracts a large number of devotees from not just Kerala, but also all over India....

, Udayamperur, Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...

, Uzhavoor
Uzhavoor
Uzhavoor is a small village in Kottayam district, Kerala in India. Most of its residents are either farmers or engaged in small-scale business. The tenth President of India, K. R...

, Chungam
Chungam
'Chungam' is a small junction in Kottayam town in Kerala state, Southern India. Chungam is the Malayalam equivalent of tax. So all the locations where tax was collected came to be known as Chungam; indeed Kerala has a number of places with the same name. This is the border of Kottayam town. It...

, Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy is a small town in Kottayam District, Kerala, South India.- Geography :Kaduturuthy is located at . It has an average elevation of...

, Muthalakodam
Muthalakodam
Muthalakodam is a suburb located 3 km. east of the well-known Thodupuzha Town, in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala.- St George Higher Secondary School :...

, Muttuchira
Muttuchira
Muttuchira is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Muttuchira had a population of 14303 with 7022 males and 7281 females....

, Kudamaloor, Niranam
Niranam
Niranam is a village in central Travancore region in Kerala, India. It was a port in ancient Kerala, on the confluence of the Manimala and Achankovil River. It is almost from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala...

, Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...

, Kothamangalam
Kothamangalam
Kothamangalam is a town located in eastern part of Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala situated 45 km north east of Kochi City. It is located around 14 km north east to the town of Muvattupuzha. The town is situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. It...

, Chengannur
Chengannur
Chengannur , is a municipal town in Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala in South India. Chengannur is located in the extreme eastern part of Alappuzha district. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the MC Road. Chengannur is connected to Kollam and Kottayam by NH 220...

, Thumpamon
Thumpamon
Thumpamon is a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. One of the greatest attractions of this village is the Achenkovil River, which is renowned for its natural sceneries along the riverbank. The income in this locality mainly depends on Non-Resident Indians and crops like rubber,...

, Chathannur and many other places.

Other Persian Crosses

The Saint Thomas Kottakkavu Church at North Paravur under the diocese of Ernakulam-Ankamaly of the Syro Malabar Church and the St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Niranam under the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has ancient flowery Persian Cross.

External links

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