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Constantine Joseph Beschi (1680 – 1742), when he came to India he received the Name "Dhairiyanath Swami", also known under his Tamil name of Vīramāmunivar ( வீரமாமுனிவர்). He was an Italian Jesuit priest, missionary in South India, and renowned poet in the Tamil language.
It is noted that Fr. Joseph Constantine Beschi came to Vadugarpet in the year 1717 and served as the parish priest till 1720.
A. Ponnusami Naidu (1929) mentions about Father Beschi (Dhairiyanath Swami) in the Tamil Book :
"in the 17 th century Savariyar Swami built a small church with 6 pillars is correct. later in the French Book, it is mentiod that Dhairiyanath Swami managed the church. That Dhairiyanath Swami came to Vidukar Pettai is mentioned in his life history (see the English Book)."
The French Missionary (1898) also mention Father Beshi (Dhairiyanath Swami) in Kottapalayam :
"Later a Jesuit may be Saveriar Samy constructed the Church in Kottapalayam. But Darianadasuamy completed the construction of the actual Church like we see today."
Constantine Joseph Beschi -Dhairiyanath Swami - Vīramāmunivar
We can clearly see here that Dhairiyanath Swami is Father Beschi known also as Vīramāmunivar in Tamil.
The Jesuit presence in this land of Tamils began since the times of St Francis Xavier (1506–1552). Henri Henriques (1520 –1600), Goncalo Fernandez (1541–1621), Robert de Nobili (1577 –1656) and others were sent from Goa to the Tamil region to continue the work of evangelisation. After Robert de Nobili, 122 Jesuits worked in the Madurai Mission till 1759. Among them are courageous, holy men like St John de Britto (1647–1693), martyred in Oriyur and the renowned Tamil scholar, Constantine Joseph Beschi, who is known by the Tamil name he adopted - Veeramamunivar (1680–1747). Source : maduraijesuits. org
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