ADIMA |
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“Adima” at the shrine is a ritual performed by the priest who lays his hands on the head of the devotee , makes the prayer and sprinkles holy water. There by the devotee becomes the official servant of Our Lady of Vallarpadam. The belief is that once the ritual is performed Our Lady protects the person from all dangers and grants favors in abundance.
The origin of this ritual dates
back to 1752. In the month of May 1752, Meenakshiamma of Pulliyilveedu and
her child were drowned off the shores of Vallarpadam. She vowed her
allegiance and servitude to Our Lady, if she and her son were saved.
Our Lady intervened and appeared
to Rev. Fr. Miguel Correa in a dream and gave instructions for rescuing her
proteges. At first he ignored the dreams. On the third day he narrated the
dreams to the parishioners assembled in the church. Several
experienced fishermen searched in vain till evening. At dusk, the last
fisherman to leave hauled Meenakshiamma and her son to his boat. Once on
shore safe and sound, they kept their promise by becoming
Our Lady's servants
and spending the rest of their
lives in and around the shrine of
Our Lady of Vallarpadam.
The convergence of the multitudes started after the miraculous rescue of
Meenakshiamma and her child from the waters adjacent to the shrine. Since
then everyone, fisher folk and sailors in particular come to this haven of
protection and perform this ritual of “Adima”.
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