Vailankanni

Vailankanni
Vailankanni is fondly known as the ''Lourdes of the East'' because like Lourdes in France,
millions of pilgrims Shrinevisit the Shrine throughout the year, praying to Our Lady for
various needs and thanking her for the favors received through her intercession.
Tradition recounts that Mother Mary appeared with the Infant Jesus in this small hamlet at
the end of the 16th or in the early 17th century. Ever since, Vailankanni is the most
important destination and almost the synthesis of all Marian Sanctuaries for the pilgrims of
the world. The crowds of pilgrims come here regardless of creeds and languages.
Our Lady of Vailankanni devotions down through the centuries have proved the Shrine to
be of divine origin and has assumed international character. Mary, the focus of unity at
Vailankanni, i s a clear proof of international, multicultural, and religious harmony.
Vailankanni, a hamlet on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, is located 350 kilometers
south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 kilometers south of Nagappatinam. Nagapattinam, a
town on the coast of Bay of Bengal, was referred by early writers and the Portuguese as
"the city of Coramandel'' (Imperial Gazetteer of India, XIX, 3). Vellayar river, a minor branch
of the river Cauvery, runs on the south of the village and flows into the sea.
Readers may be startled to learn that Vailankanni was once a port and there is evidence to
prove this. Historical notes reveal that people in this area traded with Rome and Greece,
the ancient commercial centers of the western world. In the course of time, Nagapattinam
expanded and this tiny commercial center (Vailankanni) gradually lost its importance. The
canal that had been dug once for navigation between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam still
lies to the west of Vailankanni.

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General Information
• Sometime during the sixteenth century, Our Lady with her infant son
appeared to a Hindu boy carrying milk to a customer’s home. While he
rested under a Banyan tree near a tank (pond), Our Lady appeared to
him and asked for milk for her Son and the boy gave her some. On
reaching the customer’s home, the boy apologized for his lateness and
the reduced amount of milk by relating the incident that occurred on
his way.
• On inspection, the man found the milk pot to be full and realized that
something miraculous had happened. That man, also a Hindu, wanting
to see the place where the apparition occurred, accompanied the boy.
When they reached the tank, Our Lady appeared once again.
• On learning that it was Our Lady who appeared to the boy, the
residents of the local Catholic community became ecstatic. The tank
where the apparition took place is called "Matha Kulam" or Our Lady’s
tank.


Travel Guide

• Air: Nearest Airport is Tiruchirappali (4 Hrs By Bus)
Next nearest Airport is Chennai (9 Hrs By Train)
Rail: Nearest railway station is Nagapattinam (11 kms)
Others are Trichy, Chennai and Thanjavur (89kms)
Road: Buses are available from Chidambaram, Chennai,
Madurai, Pondicherry (4 Hrs), Trichy (141kms) and
Thanjavur .
Buses frequently run from Nagapattinam (every 15
minutes).


Vailankanni

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