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 !!
