Dharmasthala - Dakshina Kannada !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jai Shiv Shankar !!

Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala is  a renowned hindu religious shrine having 700 years of  history.  In this temple the presiding diety  Lord Shiva - Lord Manjunatheshwara  worshipped in the form of Linga and His Holiness Parama poojya, Padmashri Shree shree Dr. Veerendra Heggade is a present Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala.

Dharmasthala is  a sacred place, as the name suggests is a place of Truth, Faith, Communal harmony, Cultural Tolerance and spiritual experience in the Holy Land. Here, everyone enjoys the generous hospitality without any distinction of caste, creed or class whatsoever. Dharmasthala is situated on the banks of Rriver Nethravathi in Beltangady Taluk of Dakshina Kannada (South Canara) District.

This place was originally called "Kuduma". The lineages of the Dharmadhikaris are existing from the date back to 700 years. According to the legend, a Jain Heggade couple Birmanna heggade and his wife Ammu Ballathi (resided at Nelyaadi beedu) known for their devotion.   Four Dharmadevatas - Kalarahu, Kalarkai, Kumarswamy and Kanyakumari pleased at the devotion of Heggade couple, the Dharmadevatas appeared in their dream and promised to stay at Kuduma. As per the wish of the Dharmadevatas, Birmanna Heggade built temples for Kalarahu, Kalarkai, Kumarswamy and Kanyakumari and performed the rituals and ceremonies from time to time.

Sometime later, when Lord Annappa Swamy, the messenger of the Dharmadevatas brought Shiva-lingam from Kadri near Mangalore, Heggade built a temple of Manjunatha Swamy and sanctified the Kadri's Shiva Linga in this temple.  In 16th Century, Devaraja Heggade was invited Shri Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit this temple. Swamiji gladly received the honors but refused to accept biksha (food offering) because the idol of Lord Manjunatha had not been consecrated according to vedic rites. Shri Heggade requested Swamiji to re- sanctify the Shivalinga.  Swamiji was pleased at the devotion and dedication of  Heggade and his  performance of Vedic rites and kind heartedness, He named the place Dharmasthala as the Abode of religion and charity.

Daanas at Dharmasthala:

Sri Kshetra is known for Annadaana, Vidyadaana, Aushadadaana and Abhayadaana.

Annadaana:

The average flow of pilgrims is about 10,000 people every day. Every one of the thousands of pilgrims who daily visit shri Kshetra Dharmasthala is an honored guest irrespective of caste, creed, culture or status. Advanced mechanized and clean kitchen provides free food for all pilgrims at the Annapoorna Choultry, the beautiful dining hall is equipped to feed people.

Free boarding and lodging with modern amenities are also to all the visiting devotees provided with sincerity. There are six modern guest houses Netravathi, Vaishali, Sharavathi, Gayatri, Gangotri and Saket along with Ganga, Kaveri and Narmada (old guest houses).

Vidyadaana:

Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala by the SDMCET Society manages a 25 institutions ranging from primary schools, Gurukula to teach yoga, Sanskrit, and professional courses in Engineering, Medicine, and Dental Sciences in Dharmasthala, Ujjre, Mangalore, Udupi, Dharwad and other places of Karnataka state.

The Siddavana gurukula started by the Late Manjayya Heggade has become a model educational institution. Over 250 students are provided free lodging and boarding and learn yoga, Sanskrit in addition to basic school curriculum. The specialty of this institution is its endeavor to teach values based on Indian Culture.

Aushadadaana:

In the field of health care, the medical trust also provides services to eradicate and prevent many diseases in local village, The Mobile Hospital established by poojya shri Heggade is fully equipped to deal with emergencies and provide medical treatment to the rural folk at the inaccessible interiors of Malnad area.

Abhayadaana:

Free mass weddings which were started in 1972 have gained popularity. Every year hundreds of couples are getting married (Saamooha Vivaha mahotsava) here. Following the tradition of the Kshetra where all religions and castes are welcome, hundreds of couples are married in accordance with their personal religious rite. The expenses of the wedding dress, Mangalsutra and Wedding feast for a limited number of the couple's guests are borne by the Kshetra.

Shrines to Visit at Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala are Shri Manjunatheshwara, Shri Ammanavaru,

Four Dharma Daivas: Kalarahu, Kalarkaayi, Kanyakumari and Kumaraswamy, Lord Ganapathi,

Lord Annappa. Other shrines are Maha Ganpathy Temple at Annapoorna Choultry, Shrine of Annappa Swami and the abode of Dharma Daivas, Badinade Hill, Neliyadi Beedu: The original abode of the Heggades and the Dharma Daivas, Shrine of Shri Chandranatha Swami at Sri Chandranatha Basadi, statue of Shri Bahubali at Ratnagiri Hill.

Festivals at Dharmasthala are Lakshadeepotsava - Festival of lights and grand illumination celebrated for five days in the month of Kartika, Nadavali, Mahamasthakaabhishek, Rathostav and Shivaratri, Navaratri, Ganesh Poojas, Deepavali and Pattanaje.

Other Temples situated around Dharmasthala are Kukke Subrahmanya, Ram Mandir, near Dharmasthala on the banks of river Nethravathi Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateel, near Mangalore and Horanaadu Annapoorneshwari Temple, Chikamagalur District.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jai Shiv Shankar !!