Rajakkamangalam Thurai
Rajakamangalam Thurai is a village in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu state, southern India. It is located on Arabian Sea and is 10 km from the district capital, Nagercoil. It is the main village in the Rajakkamangalam Gram panchayat.
Etymology
There once used to be a long pathway in the past running from the West to the East in the North of the village. This pathway was mainly used by the Kings and the Courtiers of Travancore. They used to visit their subjects as they walk along this way. Hence this pathway was blessed by the Kings by their Majesty. As it was running across our village, it was called Rajakal-Mangalm. Later it became Rajakamangalm and then it became Rajakamangalam Thurai, where Thurai refers to coastal village.
Parish Church
There were Christians in the village even before St.Francis Xavier arrived there. There were about 640 Catholics in 1616 and 584 in 1716. In the late 1704 or the beginning of 1705, the Jesuit Provincial House at Tope was destroyed. The provincial who, then, shifted the House to Colachel feeling its inadequacy, migrated to Rajakamangalam. There was already a well-built church at Rajakamangalam Thurai, believed to have been put up in 1570. A Jesuit priest was probably residing at Rajakamangalam Thurai during the suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1773.
As the conflagration of love for 'Our Lady of Good Health' was so profound that the elders carried huge stones and other materials on their shoulders from miles away to extend the small church about 150 years ago. Hence it was first extended in 1852.
The foundation stone for the present church was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop T. Roach Agnisswamy S.J on 20 March 1955. It took about 20 years to complete the whole construction work. Rt. Rev. Fr. Leon Dharmaraj and Rev. Fr. A Selvaraj were instrumental in this effort. On 8 September 1976, the new church was blessed and dedicated to 'Our Lady of Good Health' by Rt. Rev. Bishop Marianus Arockiasamy. The church tower is one of the tallest towers in South India.
The present Periyakadu parish was a substation of Rajakamangalam Thurai. Karavilai, is another substation of Rajakamangalam Thurai, was initiated by Fr. Eugene Kulandai in 1964. The church in Karavilai was blessed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Marianus Arockiasamy in 1975.
Summit of Paravas
Paravar community is one of the biggest communities in Rajakkamangalam Thurai. Sambavar community also another big community in the Rajakkamangalam Arasarkonam area.The people of this community are extremely religious and practice their faith in a peaceful manner. They have been living in this area from generation to generation. Lately, many people are starting to migrate towards the cities for education and employment.
About 60 years ago, the whole Paravar community, from the East, Vippar to the West, Kannoor called for the 7th Summit of all Paravars. Thousands of people belonging to the Paravar Community participated in this summit. The entire expenses of this summit were borne by the people of Rajakamangalam Thurai.