Johann Ernst Hanxleden

Johann Ernst Hanxleden was born at Ostercappeln, near Osnabrück, in Lower Saxony, Germany in 1681. While studying philosophy at his home town of Osnabrück, he met Wilhelm Weber, a Jesuit priest to whom he volunteered for service in India as a part of the then Jesuit mission in Malabar. On 30 October 1699 he set out on a long journey to India, along with Wilhelm Weber and another Jesuit priest, Wilhelm Meyr, travelling through present day Italy, the Ottoman Empire, Syria, Armenia, and Persia to reach Surat (of present-day Gujarat), India on 13 December 1700. During the journey, he entered into a novitiate and proceeded to Goa where there was a large community of Jesuits. ==In India==

After completing his spiritual formation (Novitiate) in Goa, Hanxleden was sent to a Jesuit Seminary at Sampaloor in Thrissur District of the south Indian state of Kerala. It is at St. Paul's Seminary in Sampaloor, he did his theological studies for preparing himself to receive priesthood. He took time also to initiate himself to the local language, Malayalam and more importantly studied the Syriac, the liturgical language of the Thomas Christians of Kerala. He was ordained priest in 1706. In addition to his mother tongue German, and his mastery of Malayalam, he also had a good command over Latin, Syriac, Portuguese, Sanskrit, and Tamil. From 1729 onward, he spent his time between Velur, Sampaloor, Palayoor and Pazhuvil and it was at Pazhuvil he suffered a snake bite which resulted in his death on 20 March 1732, at the age of 51. He was buried there but, later, when a memorial was built outside the church, his mortal remains were transferred to it; the memorial also houses a historical museum. Among various exhibits at the museum are the bed used by Hanxleden and the chathurangam (which Hanxleden used to play) columns marked on the floor of his home. Mar Francis Vazhapilly, Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur from 1921 to 1942, used to stay at the Velur Forane Church for a few days during Lent so that he could sleep on the bed used by Arnos Paathiri and drink from the well dug during his times. Arnos Pathiri - Jeevacharithram of N. K. Jos and Arnos Padri, written by C. K. Mattam count among them. ==How Did Johann Ernst Hanxleden became Arnose Pathiri?==

1.Ernst → Arnose German: Johann Ernst Hanxleden In German, “Ernst” is pronounced something like “AIRNST” (with a slightly rolled R). When rendered in Malayalam, with Dravidian phonology and the limitations of local script and tongue, it would often become: Ernst → Arnos / Arnose / Arnas The final “t” sound often gets softened or omitted. "r" and "n" can blur due to Malayalam phonetics. "s" endings are more natural than abrupt consonants like “t” in Malayalam speech. Conclusion: The transformation from Ernst to Arnose is both phonetically plausible and culturally natural. 2. Father → Pathiri In Malayalam: പാതിരി (Pathiri) is the commonly used word for “Father” in the Catholic Christian context. Derived from the Portuguese “Padre” (as were many early ecclesiastical terms in Kerala). The pronunciation naturally evolved to Pathiri in Malayalam due to local phonetics. Combined Name: Arnose Pathiri Arnose = local rendering of his given name (Ernst) Pathiri = his title, or how people addressed him as a priest Thus, “Arnose Pathiri” simply means “Fr. Ernst” in the affectionate, localized voice of 18th-century Kerala. It wasn't a formal name he chose—it was a name the people gave him, much like a form of inculturation or linguistic baptism. ==Legacy==

Arnos Paathiri's oeuvre comprises poems, dictionaries and grammar books and two of his prominent literary works are Puthen Pana and Chathuranthyam. ===Puthen Pana=== The Puthen Pana, a Malayalam epic on the life of Jesus Christ, is Arnos Pathiri's most popular poem and it is one of the earliest poems written in simple Malayalam. It has been an inalienable part of Christian (not restricted to Catholic) life in Kerala since the time of its composition; its paadhams are sung in a characteristic manner in Christian households on various solemn occasions, the most notable ones being Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and other days of Holy Week and Lent and evenings preceding funerals. It is reported that he wrote Puthen Pana sitting by the well of Pazhuvil Forane church. The poem which follows a similar style to the noted work, Jnanappana of Poonthanam Nambudiri, Malayalam–Portuguese Dictionary Arnos Pathiri was the first to compile a Malayalam Dictionary and his lexicon described Malayalam words in both Sanskrit and Portuguese. Others Pathiri was the first European to write a Sanskrit grammar Grammatica grandonica and also the first European to compose Sanskrit verse. Arnos Padre Academy is an eponymous organization based in Velur, established in memory of Hanxleden and the academy has taken steps to get his writings translated into English with the help of European scholars. ==Selected works==

• • Chathuranthyam • Genevieva Punyacharithram • Ummaadaey Dhukhkham • • Malayalavyaakaranam • Samskrutham – Portuguese Dictionary • Samskruthavyaakaranam • Ave Maris Stella • • • • ==See also==