Dharmasthala

Dharmasthala is an Indian temple town[1] on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangady taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India.[2] It is a panchayat village,[3] and it is the only village in its gram panchayat.[4]

Dharmasthala
Temple Town
Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala
Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 12.951°N 75.371°E / 12.951; 75.371
Country India
StateKarnataka
DistrictDakshina Kannada
TalukBelthangady
Government
 • TypeLocal Government
 • BodyGram Panchayat
Population
 • Temple Town9,818
 • Metro
246,494
Languages
 • OfficialKannada
 • SpokenTulu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationKA-21
Nearest cityBelthangady
Temple gate built by Sri Ratnavarma Heggade
Sri Manjunatha swamy temple

The town is known for its Dharmasthala Temple which houses the shrine of Shiva, Manjunatha, Ammanavaru, Chandranath and the Dharma Daivas (guardian spirits of Dharma) — Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. The temple is unusual in that it is run by a Jain administration and poojas are conducted by Hindu priests of the Madhva order. Lakshadeepa, the festival of lights, is the annual festival of Dharmasthala in November–December.[5] On an average the flow of pilgrims is about 10,000 people a day. A mechanised kitchen provides free food for all pilgrims, and there are guest houses with modern amenities.

Dharmastala represents religious tolerance. A Jain Tirthankara is worshiped beside Daivas and Lord Manjunatha (Shiva). The priests are Vaishnavite Brahmins and the guardian of the temple a Heggade (Jain). To those who come here for justice, the Heggade dispenses judgments that are said to represent the will of the deities.

Legend

Local legend says that the Shiva Linga in Dharmasthala was brought to Dharmasthala by a local person with great powers, named Annappa. Legend is that he used to work for the Heggade family. Once when the Heggade he was serving wanted to worship Lord Shiva, Annappa had assured him to get one linga and vanished from the sight. The next morning, he had already established the linga in Dharmasthala, a few metres away from Heggade's house. Later it was learned that the linga was from Kadri near Mangalore, from the Kadri temple. By then, Annappa had vanished and he was never again sighted in the vicinity. Now people in Dharmasthala worship Annappa as Annappa Panjurli, a local god deva and a hero.

800 years ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma (ಕುಡುಮ) in Mallarmadi,[6] then a village in Belthangady (ಬೆಳ್ತಂಗಡಿ). Here lived the Jain chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballathi in a house called Nelliadi Beedu. Pergade and the local chieftains built several shrines and invited Brahmin priests to perform the rituals. These priests requested Pergade to install a Shivalinga beside the native Daivas. The Daivas then sent their vassal Annappa Swamy to procure the linga of Lord Manjunatheshwara (ಶ್ರೀ ಮಂಜುನಾಥೇಶ್ವರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ) from Kadri, near Mangalore. Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.

Around the 16th century, Shri Devaraja Heggade invited Shri Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit the place. The swamiji gladly came but refused to accept Bhiksha (food offering) because the idol of Lord Manjunatha had not been consecrated according to the vedic rites. Shri Heggade then requested the Swamiji to reconsecrate the Shiva Linga himself. Pleased by the observance of the vedic rites and Heggade's charity to all, the Swamiji named the place Dharmasthala the abode of religion and charity. Thus, the roots of charity and religious tolerance established by the Pergades 800 years ago have been nurtured and strengthened by 21 generations of the Heggade family of Tulu lineage (Heggade being a derivative from Tulu word Pergade). Today's Dharmasthala blossoms with the fruit of this selfless dedication.

  • Great historian Dr. Padoor Gururaj Bhat in his book Thulunadu 'ತುಳುನಾಡು' (ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಸಂಶೋಧನಾತ್ಮಕ ವಿವೇಚನೆ)in a chapter page no. 88 to 96, ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕರ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ has recorded the true history of Dharmasthala temple and its management. "Britishers handed over the management of this temple from Sthanika Brahmins to Kumara Heggade who supported British against Tipu Sultan. Name of this place was Kuduma"(page 94). Heggades managed this temple only after around 1795; Not 800 years as claimed by Heggade family.

Museums
Manjusha Car Museum

Sri Manjunatheshwara Cultural and Research foundation, started by the Temple committee, is engaged in preserving ancient manuscripts and paintings.[7] A museum of antique objects has been established called "Manjusha Museum" and a car museum houses a rare collection of vintage cars.[7]

Traditional folk arts like Yakshagana and ethnic crafts like Navalgund carpets and Kasturi embroidery are revived by Dr. Heggade.[7] Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana Trust is engaged in renovation of temples across Karnataka and every year, a Sarva Dharma Sammelana (multi-religious meet) is held at Dharmasthala, where spiritual leaders from various faiths and schools participate.[7]

Chandranatha basadi
Chandranatha basadi in Dharmasthala

Bahubali statue
The Gomateshwara statue at Dharmasthala

In 1973, a statue of Lord Bahubali, carved out of a single rock, was installed at Dharmasthala on a low hill near the Manjunatha Temple. It is about 39 feet (12 m) high, has a 13 feet high pedestal and weighs about 175 tonnes. This is one of the five stone statues of Bahubali in Karnataka.[8][9]

Social Service

Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project

One project is called Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, which organizes activities for rural development. Its employees go to villages to make small groups called Shree Shakti Sangha and provide bank loans to group members for business. They ensure supply of drinking water to villages in summer.

Mass Marriages

To fight the dowry system and to cut unnecessary expenses involved in the celebration of marriages, Dr. Veerendra Heggade (ಡಾ|| ವೀರೇಂದ್ರ ಹೆಗ್ಗಡೆ) started free mass marriages in 1972. Annual mass marriages are held usually during April every year.[10] As of 2013, 10,698 couples have been married in mass marriages arranged by the Dharmasthala Temple Committee.[10] The expenses of the wedding dress, the mangalasutra and a wedding feast for a limited number of the couple's guests are borne by the Shri Kshetra.[7]

Anna dana (ಅನ್ನದಾನ)

The average number of pilgrims per day to the temple is about 10,000. Every one of the pilgrims who visits Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala is treated like an honored guest, irrespective of caste, creed, culture or status. The "Anna Dana" (Food Donation) is one of the impressive aspects of this place. Free food is provided to the devotees. The temple has modern machinery. It makes quality food continuously, throughout the day. The dining hall is known as "Annapurna".

Vidya dana (ವಿದ್ಯಾ ದಾನ)

Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala, by the SDMCET Society, manages 25 educational institutions, ranging from primary schools, Gurukulas to teach yoga, Sanskrit, etc., to colleges having professional courses in engineering, medicine and dental science in Dharmasthala, Ujire, Mangalore, Udupi, Dharwad, Hassan, Mysore and a few other places in the state of Karnataka.

The Siddavana Gurukula started by Late Shri Manjayya Heggade has become a model educational institution. Over 250 students are provided free lodging and board and learn Yoga & Sanskrit, in addition to the basic school curriculum. The speciality of this institution is its endeavor to teach values based on Indian culture.

Educational institutions

Several educational institutes are managed by the temple trust committee:

Aushadhi daana (ಔಷಧ ದಾನ)

In the field of health care, the medical trust provides services to eradicate and prevent many diseases. The mobile hospital is equipped to deal with emergencies and to provide medical treatment to the people in remote parts of the Malenadu area. A modern tuberculosis sanitorium was built by Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Medical Trust to give relief to patients of tuberculosis. It has since been converted into a general hospital. The Ayurvedic Hospitals at Udupi and Hassan provide Ayurvedic medicines as per the ancient texts. The Nature Cure Hospital, built on the banks of the Netravati River, uses a system based on the five elements of Air, Earth, Ether, Water and Light.

SDM Eye Hospital at Mangalore is a modern, scientific eye treatment center. The SDM Dental Hospital both serves regular dental needs and also provides specialized treatments such as oral implants, surgery for cleft lip and other orthodontic surgeries.

Shri Heggede has been actively involved in propagating the practice of Yoga, the ancient system of fitness. Surya Namaskar Camps are regularly organized, where Yoga is taught. Further, 250 high school teachers are trained in Yoga every year.

Heggade family

The present head of Dharmasthala, Padma Vibhushan Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, the 21st in succession to the Dharmadhikari Peetha, has launched several socio-economic programmes such as free mass weddings which were started in 1973.

Dharmasthala is among the few pilgrim centers in India that provides boarding and lodging to all the visiting devotees at a minimum cost.

Transportation

Dharmasthala is well connected by road. State-owned KSRTC & also private companies provide bus service from several centers of Karnataka.[1]

Mangalore Railway Station is the nearest railway junction to Dharmasthala, situated at a distance of about 74 km. The railway station is well connected to all the major cities and towns in India. Travellers can hire taxis/cabs or take buses to reach Dharmasthala from Mangalore.

Places of interest nearby
A temple near Dharmasthala

Bahubali Statue is near the temple on a small hill. It is revered by Jains as a symbol of sacrifice. Kukke Subramanya Temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya is just 62 km from here.Kalasa, Sringeri and Horanadu are less than 100 km from here. Health Facility neaby = Shree Dhanvantari Chikitsalaya ,vaishnavi complx, opposite ram mandir, kanyadi. Service available 24 hours on any emergencies. It is general clinic for primary treatment for any illness

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References
  1. "Volvo bus service to Dharmasthala". The Hindu Business Line. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  2. "Dharmasthala - Divine Getaway". Bangalore Mirror. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  3. 2011 Village Panchayat Code = 220310, "Reports of National Panchayat Directory: Village Panchayat Names of Beltangadi, Dakshin Kannad, Karnataka". Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013.
  4. 2011 Census Village code for Dharmasthala = 617673, "Reports of National Panchayat Directory: List of Census Villages mapped for: Dharmasthala Gram Panchayat, Beltangadi, Dakshin Kannad, Karnataka". Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  5. Lakshadeepa http://www.ourkarnataka.com/temples/dharmasthala2.htm
  6. Managalore Information |http://www.mangalore.com/documents/dharmasthala.html Archived 24 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Dharmasthala". karnatakavision.com. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  8. http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=86311
  9. "Venur's Bhagawan Bahubali all set up for Century's 2nd Mahamastakabhisheka". The Hindu. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  10. "Mass marriage at Dharmastala today". Deccan Herald. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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