Part-4
Ok, this might be the only part of my womansplaining mini-series of Lokah characters and myths that I'm actually a bit more informed about. Also, I've been itching to write this ever since I stepped into the theatre. Here I am about Kadamattathu Kathanar:
Okay, for the record, India, specifically Kerala, is one of the first places where Christianity reached. We've had historical records of trade with Europe, West Asia, and Africa for over 5000 years in the Cochin port alone.
Kathanar is very specifically NOT a Latin-Catholic priest, instead aligned to the Syriac Catholics who followed the Eastern-Orthodox Church. They arise from a sect of Native Christians who were converted by St. Thomas, Jesus' disciple. So, you technically shouldn't see him read or write in Latin, rather in Syriac. Also, he wouldn't have a rosary, but a prayer chain, as it is common with their denomination.
I said these two points specifically because the movie got them wrong, but I have to commend that they used Jesus Pantocrator image.
Kathanar, who apparently lived around 9th-10th century CE, is famously known to be an exorcist of sorts, having allegedly captured and defeated Chathans and Yakshis, specifically Neeli. These Hindu aspects aren't traditionally mixed with Christian religious imagery, but given that the OG Syriac converts wanted to make Christianity more palatable to the local Hindu majority in Kerala, we got a Robin Hood priest.
There are a bunch of stories about Kathanar that were documented in Aithihyamala and still told in Syrian-Catholic families that my Portuguese Latin-Catholic ass doesn't know, but I do love that he is a normal guy who just casually does these Supernatural-adjacent stuff for a bowl of gruel for the common-folk.
In case anyone's wondering, how does a priest have direct descendants; the Syro-Malabar church allows priests to get married before they finish their rites.
A movie based on Kathanar is releasing later this year, but I don't have much hope for it, especially from the historical accuracy corner. But, hey, I like surprises.
Again, customary thanks to @introvert-corner and @talesinmyhead040122.
