Joe De Cruz, brilliant Tamil writer talking on his experiences. https://youtu.be/Ciu6N80jOWo
The Parathavais were fishermen & warriors who once ruled the pearl coast from Thiruvananthapuram to Korkai (Thoothukkudi). 500 years back, the Muslims attacked their domain with an eye on enslaving the Parathavais & gaining control over the lucrative pearl trade. The Parathavais fought back with valor. However, the Muslims had guns, which the Parathavais lacked. They lost 2000 warriors.
Joam De Cruz, a horse trader with an interest in strengthening relationships with the Portuguese, proposed to get them guns from the Portuguese. On one condition. The Parathavais have to worship the Portuguese god. The Parathavais thought that they were simply adding the Portuguese god to their current worship. They simply didn't understand what they were getting into. They agreed.
Armed with guns, they successfully repelled the Muslim attack. They added the Portuguese god to their worship. Francis Xavier came to inspect. The Parathavais had given their word that they would worship the Portuguese god. But the Portuguese god demanded exclusivity. No one else could be worshipped. The Parathavais had to keep their word. In ancient India, the word once given will be honored, no matter what. Xavier demanded an oath.
The Parathavais, to keep their word, took an oath on their beloved mother Goddess, Kumari Aatha (Kanyakumari Amman) that they will not worship her anymore.
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