Perianayagi Madha Shrine, Catholic shrine in Konankuppam, Tamil Nadu, India.
Perianayagi Madha Shrine is a Catholic place of worship in Konankuppam featuring a life-size wooden statue of Virgin Mary dressed in traditional Tamil clothing and positioned on an elevated platform. The building serves as a center for daily worship and community religious gatherings.
An Italian missionary founded this site in 1720 after a lost statue was discovered in the forest nearby. This discovery became the founding moment for what is now an important community religious center.
The shrine blends Catholic worship with local Tamil customs through its distinctive portrayal of Mother Mary in regional dress. Visitors can observe how both traditions coexist in the daily religious life of this community.
The shrine welcomes visitors daily for mass services and celebrates with a ten-day festival in mid-January featuring decorated processions. Plan your visit around the local calendar and dress respectfully when attending services.
The founder composed a major Tamil poem in 1726 that documented the founding story of this place while incorporating local literary traditions. This work remains a rare example of blending European and Tamil cultural expression.
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