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Shrine of the miraculous saint

Here is the spot where miracles happen for those who need one badly. This saint at Attur, Karkala, will not turn those away who come armed with a lit candle and loads of faith, says Amrita Nayak.

In the serene setting of Attur in Karkala taluk, the church stands as a beacon of hope for thousands of worshippers. St Lawrence is known for his miraculous powers and the shrine has been attracting pilgrims who - they say - light a candle and find their wishes fulfiled.

The eastern range of the Western Ghats, dotted with dense jungle is the spot where St Lawrence’s shrine is located. The town of Karkala may have got its name from the commonly found black granites (Kari Kal), but the discerning eye can only see reflections of a rich history and heritage in the stones strewn around the town.

About 38 kms from its district headquarters Udupi and 54 kms north-east of Mangalore, Karkala boasts of housing the shrine of St Lawrence, located at the foothills of mount Parpale in Attur village, 5 kms west of Karkala bus terminus. This little village refreshes the senses and infuses reverence.

Born in Spain

The miraculous powers of this shrine is attributed to St Lawrence, who stood for the poor and focused the Church's resources for their cause. Said to be born in Spain during the 3rd century, the fame of Lawrence's virtues reached the then Arch Deacon of Rome, St Xystus, who taught him the scriptures.

When St Xystus became Pope, he ordained Lawrence as the Arch Deacon, in charge of the Church's riches and left him with the task of handing them out to the poor.

In 257 AD, the church faced its worst crises, when Emperor Valerian ordered to destroy it and kill the Bishops and Deacons. Pope Xystus was arrested in the following year and he asked Lawrence to distribute the church’s wealth to the poor. Thinking that the church had great wealth hidden inside its coffers, the local precept gave Lawrence three days to present them to the government.

Burnt to death

Lawrence went to the town, assembled all the poor and told the precept that they are the church’s real wealth. Insulted by this action, the precept ordered Lawrence to be tortured in a frying pan. Lawrence surrendered himself to the god and his face exuded peace, while his body burnt in fire.

The Attur Parish existed even before 1759. During Tipu's reign, Christians of this locality were among his captives between 1784 and 1799. The Parish, then located 7 kms from its present site, was destroyed. After Tipu's downfall, members of the community returned to the region and, lead by a Goan priest, put up a church with thatched roof on the way to Nakre in 1801.

As this church building was unstable, the community decided to build a new one. A group carried a one-foot statue of St Lawrence and went in search of the land. They prayed on the way to St Lawrence, beseeching him to show them the right spot. They crossed Lake Ramasamudra, ascended Mount Parpale and went down the other side.

On spotting a spring at the base of the hill, the party kept the statue to a side and quenched their thirst and rested for a while. When they decided to resume their search and lifted the statue, they found to their surprise that the statue was firmly stuck to the ground. The men realised St Lawrence wanted them to build the church in that spot.

They prayed to the saint promising to build the church in that very spot, and they were once again able to lift the statue. In 1839, the year of its construction, St Lawrence Church became a famous shrine and the saint's statue has ever since been venerated by the faithfulls.

It is believed the saint has blessed even those who have not visited Attur and the ever-increasing numbers of pilgrims to the shrine's annual festival (held on the last week of January during Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) indicates his soaring popularity. It is said that the saint grants any wish asked while lighting candles during the festival.

Candles, available from one foot to seven feet, are also lit in normal days by pilgrims with specific wishes. The small pond inside the church called Pushkarini is also considered to possess healing powers. The cross found atop Mount Parpale marks the church's presence.