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Chindhaaththirai Matha Shrine, also known as the Our Lady of Chindhaaththirai Matha Shrine or Our Lady of Happy Voyage Shrine, is a Catholic church located in the village of Erukkur in the Sirkazhi block of Mayiladuthurai district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, India. The shrine is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is venerated in Catholic tradition as the Heavenly Mother of God, and serves as a place of devotion for the local Christian community as well as visiting pilgrims. [1] [2] [3]
The shrine is located in Erukkur, a residential neighbourhood near Sirkazhi town on the Mayiladuthurai–Chidambaram state highway, south of the Kollidam River. It is situated southeast of Chennai, the state capital. The nearest railway station is Sirkazhi railway station, about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the shrine. [1]
In the Sangam Tamil dictionary, the term Chindhaaththirai is derived from chindhaa (meaning “unfailing”) and yathirai (meaning “voyage” or “journey”). The combined term conveys the ideas of a successful or safe voyage, as well as safety, welfare, and prosperity. In historical Tamil literature, poets and ministers used the expression “Chindhaaththirai” to offer good wishes to kings departing for battle. Early Portuguese missionaries subsequently adopted the term in reference to the Virgin Mary as Chindhaaththirai Matha (“mother”), identifying her with “Our Lady of Happy Voyage.” This title is regarded as one of the earliest Tamil names attributed to the Mother of Jesus. [2]