The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.46

v1.c24.46

But before taking any step in carrying out his new plan, he consulted his superiors about the matter. The Provincial Laerzio thoroughly approved of de Nobili's plan, and mentioned his approval in a letter to Fr. General, written in 1609 ³. His ecclesiastical superior, Mgr. Francisco Ros, Archbishop of Cranganor, and a Jesuit, says: "Before adopting this manner of life, Fr. Roberto first consulted me, who am the pastor of that church. When we had decided between ourselves on a plan to be adopted, the Father gradually carried it out, whilst I decided to continue to be, in a certain fashion, his fellow-worker, and to assist him in so holy an enterprise. I first read books on Hindu idolatry, the subtlest that exist; next I sought the advice of the best theologians of the Malabar Province, of the Goan Inquisitor and of the Most Illustrious Primate, Dr. Frey Alexis Menezes, now Primate of Braga and Governor of Portugal; and on finding that their views agreed with what I had gathered from long experience of those parts of India, I gave my full sanction to the method followed by Fr. Roberto in the formation of his Christians. We declare in particular that the thread worn by the Brahmans, and the *kudumi* or tuft of hair which caste Indians grow on their heads, the sandal paste and other social customs, were not marks of a religious sect, but only distinctions of nobility, caste or family, and that the converts might keep them without any scruple" ⁴.