The first apparition of Our Lady Velankanni Matha is believed to have occurred in the mid-16th century, marking the beginning of a long history of miracles and devotion.
The story begins with a young Hindu shepherd boy who was tasked with carrying milk from Velankanni to Nagapattinam. As he journeyed along the path, exhaustion overtook him, and he stopped by a water pond on Anna Pillai Street to rest. He placed his milk pot under a Banyan tree near the pond and fell into a deep sleep.
While resting, the boy was suddenly awakened by the vision of a beautiful lady holding a divine child in her arms. The Lady, who radiated grace and kindness, asked the boy to give some milk for her child. Filled with reverence and devotion, the boy offered the milk without hesitation.
After the encounter, the boy continued his journey to his master’s home. When he explained the miraculous vision he had experienced, the master, though skeptical, dismissed the story. But as the boy set down the milk pot, something extraordinary happened—the milk began to overflow. This miracle immediately caught the master’s attention.
Intrigued, the master accompanied the boy back to the spot where the apparition had taken place. When they arrived, Our Lady appeared again to the boy, but the master could only see a brilliant, glowing light where the Lady stood.
This remarkable experience transformed the skeptical master into a firm believer in the divine presence of Our Lady. The place where the apparition occurred was later named Matha Kulam (Our Lady’s Tank), and it became a sacred site for devotion.
For the faithful, this first apparition serves as a powerful reminder of Mary’s role as a loving mediator between God and humanity. The miracle of the overflowing milk symbolizes Mary’s generosity, compassion, and her maternal love for all her children.
It also stands as a testament to the transformative power of faith, as it changed a doubting master into a devoted believer, forever marking the place as a holy ground where the divine touched the earth.