Elthuruth Ashram

Elthuruth lies at the western edge of Aranattukara, where the land meets the kol (low-lying paddy wetlands). Here, on what was then a lonely islet, St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara founded a house of his Carmelite congregation, today’s CMI.

Founded with the parish’s help

In 1856, at Chavara’s request, the vicar of Aranattukara called a special meeting in the church courtyard. The book describes the parishioners raising their hands and waving their shoulder cloths to show they agreed. Several families of the western side promised help. The monastery was founded in 1858, and while the work went on, Chavara would say Mass at the Aranattukara church before going out to the site.

The book records two stories about the land: that it came from the Uzhuvathra Variyam, and, by hearsay, that much of it once belonged to a Nambudiri household. It also says that farming the kol with bunds began in Chavara’s time. Mango trees planted by the prior gave Aranattukara its “Prior mango”.

A refuge and a school

When Adolph Medlycott was made the first Vicar Apostolic of Thrissur in 1887, the town’s main church was in the hands of a breakaway group, so Elthuruth gave him a home. The book says the Tharakan’s own horse carriage was sent to bring him there. Around 1889 an English school opened beside the monastery. It grew into St. Aloysius College.

From Lalur you can still walk to Elthuruth along a footpath on the bund through the paddy fields.