Neelakandan Pillai was born in India in 1712, and his family was high-caste Hindu. He was taught three languages, martial arts, and archery. He was married, and because of his high-caste order, he had a job working for the government in the royal treasury. He became interested in Christianity at 29, and when he and his wife and children were baptized four years later he took the name Devasahayam, which is the equivalent of Lazarus. He was arrested for his faith, then he was tortured daily for three years and taken to villages to be an example of what would happen to converts. Despite this, he spent his time in prayer and taught the faith to anyone who would listen. He was martyred at the age of 39.
CHALLENGE
After his conversion, St. Devasahayam Pillai began mixing with people of lower castes, which is something unacceptable in India’s caste system. Are you living in a self-imposed caste system? Today, prayerfully consider who you avoid talking to in social gatherings because of their perceived status, and make it a point to talk to them.
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