Vedha Muthu Mukandar

Who was Vedha Muthu Mukandar?

Vedha Muthu Mukandar, was the first Protestant Christian in the Megnanapuram Circle. He was a Hindu who converted to Christianity through the influence of missionary, the Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius. Vedha Muthu is buried at St Stephen’s Church, Jebagnanapuram, Solaikudiyiruppu.

Vedha Muthu Mukandar was born into the Nadar caste in Solaikudiriruppu, an oasis village in the Kudhremozhi Theri, part of the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu state, and close to Korkai, the site of the capital of the ancient Pandyan Kingdom. He became a Mukandar of Megnanapuram village, through his apparent prophetic intuition, and wisdom in solving disputes, an ancient title originally bestowed by Arab rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire.