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Sri Manjunatha Swamy(Shiva) Temple at Dharmasthala (ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳ) is situated in the middle of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Netravati River, located at the Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, South Karnataka, India, 574216.

This place is very auspicious for Hindus in Karnataka and people from other states of southern India also visit this place. Piligrims visit this place to seek lord's blessing and leaves out their worries and go back with free of mind. This dharma is governed by Sri Annappa Swamy here, they don't dare to do any mistake as Dharma is very strictly abide here, as Lord might punish them who goes against Dharma here. It has been tradition followed by the devotees to take bath in the Netravati River and than visit the temple. Most of the devotees visit this shri(holy) kshetra(place) at least once in year to seek lords blessing.It is been followd as custom by some of the piligrims after visiting Dharmasthala temple, devotees do go to Mangalore to visit Kadri Manjunath Temple. Then it would be considered as complete yatra.

Origin
This place was originally called as Kuduma. The lineage of the Dharma Adhikari can be traced back over 800 years. According to the legend, the Jain Heggade couple, Birmanna heggade and his wife Ammu Ballathi (resided at Nelyaadi beedu) known for piety and hospitality, Four Dharmadevatas - Kalarahu, Kalarkai, Kumarswamy and Kanyakumari got impressed with the hospitality and the treatment given by the 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.

Once when the Heggade was performing the daily rituals, got a desire to worship Lord Shiva, Annappa messenger of Dharma devatha(god) had assured him to get one linga and vanished from the sight. Surprisingly next day morning, by the time all woke up, he had already established the linga, a few metres away from Heggade's house. Later it was known that the Linga was from Kadri near Mangalore, from the Kadri temple.

Around the 16th Century, Devapparaja Heggade invited Sri Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit the place. The Swamiji gladly came but refused to accept biksha (food offering) because the idol of Lord Manjunatha had not been consecrated according to 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 this place as Dharmasthala, the abode of religion and charity.

Later the priests were appointed to perform daily rituals to Sri Manjunatha Swamy. These priest are Shivalli Brahmins who belong to the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism. And Heggade family continued to be the care taker or gauardian of the temple.

Pergade Family
The Pergade family is a Jain Bunt family who descend from the creator of the temple. Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi and are the hereditary trustees of the temple.The eldest male member attains the position of Dharma Adhikari (Officer / Administrator who strictly abides dharma) and gets the title Heggade. The Heggade("hegg" (head) and "gade" (fort); thus, it means "head of the fort") was the feudal lord of the temple town and solved civil or criminal disputes. This was a judicial function and continues even to this day: The Heggade sits in judgement on hundreds of civil complaints, known as hoyulu, each day. About nearly twenty generations of the Pergade family have assumed the position of Dharma Adhikari.

Param(Supreme) pujya(Reverend), Padmashri Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade who is a present Dharma Adhikari of Shree(holy) Kshetra(place) Dharmasthala from 24 October 1968 contributed very much for all round development of the temple, villages, education etc.Some of past Dharma adhikari's of Dharmasthala were Birmanna Heggade,Padmayya Heggade, Devapparaja Heggade, Kumarayya Heggade, Manjayya Heggade, Chandayya Heggade, Rathna Varma Heggade.

Being the Dharma Adhikari of this temple is an unchallenged dispenser of justice, his word as good as the Lord's himself. Heggade is duty-bound on his 16-hours-a-day regimen to perform the three functions of anna daana, aushadha daana and vidya daana. As temple head, however, he is not only the source of food, medicine and knowledge, he also has the lesser-known responsibility of abhaya daana or ridding people of their fears. People from near by village visit Heggade to seek justice.

Visiting Hours
Temple is open for devotees from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. And while entering the inner quadrangle of the temple, male devotees should remove their shirt and Banyan (clothing), female devotees are requested to wear a sari or Shalwar kameez/churidar.

Main Temple consists of 5 deities:
 * Shri Manjunatha Swamy
 * Shri Ammanavaru
 * Four Dharma Devatha's(god): Kalarahu, Kalarkaayi, Kanyakumari and Kumaraswamy
 * Lord Ganesha
 * Lord Annappa

Other shrines nearby; Shrine of Annappa Swamy and the abode of Dharma Devatha, Badinade Hill. Note: Only men are allowed to visit this shrine and doors of this shrine is opened only once in a year. The Neliyadi Beedu: The original abode of the Heggades and the Dharma Devatha's(god). Shrine of Shri Chandranatha Swami at Sri Chandranatha Basadi. The statue of Shri Bahubali at Ratnagiri Hill.

Other places to visit at Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala
 * Vintage Car museum
 * Manjusha vastu sangrahalaya (museum of object collection)
 * Pushpa vatika( flower pond)
 * Vasantha Mahal (cultural Hall)

Anna(Rice) dana
The average flow of pilgrims is about 10,000 people everyday.Every one of these thousands of pilgrims who daily visit shri Dharmasthala is an honored guest irrespective of caste, creed, culture or status.The "Anna Daana"(free food) is perhaps one of the most impressive events that takes place at the holy temple.

Vidya(Knowledge) dana
Shri Dharmasthala by the SDMCET Society manages a 25 institutions ranging from primary schools, Gurukul to teach yoga, Sanskrit, and professional courses in Engineering, Medicine, and Dental Sciences in Dharmasthala, Ujire, Mangalore, Udupi, Dharwad, Hassan, Mysore and other places of Karnataka state.

Aushada(Medical) dana
In the field of health care, the medical trust also provides services to eradicate and prevent many diseases in local villages. The mobile hospital established by poojya sri Heggade is fully equipped to deal with emergencies and to provide medical treatment to the rural folk in remote parts of the Malenadu area.

Abhaya(removal of fear) dana
Free mass wedding ceremony which were started in 1972 have gained popularity. Every year hundreds of couples are getting married (Saamoohika Vivaha Mahotsava) here.

Festivals Activities

 * Laksha(Lakh) deepotsava(light festival): Festival of lights and grand illumination celebrated for perios of five days in the month of Kartika (November - December), were they light 1 lakh diya in side temple, diya are small earthen lamp. A cotton wick is used in diyas and oil or ghee serves as the burning fuel.
 * Once in twelve years there is a festival called Nadavali, which lasts for 13 days.
 * Maha(great) Masthaka(head) abhisheka(pouring libations on the idol of the deity being worshipped) to 39 ft monolith of Bhagavan Bahubali.
 * Special puja, late night bhajan and Rathothsava on Maha Shivaratri day.
 * Navaratri: There are special puja is done at Ammanavaru(Mother) shrine on all days of Navaratri. And later distribution of sari to married women.
 * Ganesha Festival: Special puja are performed to Lord Ganesha Temple at Annapoorna Choultry
 * Deepavali(Diwali): Ranga puja and Rathothsava(car festival), eremonial idol of the Lord taken out in procession.
 * Pattanaje: This is the last festival of the year.

Prasada
Lunch and Dinner are served in the temple premises by the temple authorities for the devotees as a Prasad.

Lodging
Note: ** Please note that the rooms are subject to availability and Check out time is 24 hrs.
 * Saketha Guest House - (No of rooms available - 478)
 * Gangothri Guest House - (No of rooms available - 168)
 * Sharavathi Guest House - (No of rooms available - 293)
 * Vaishali Guest House - (No of rooms available - 224)
 * Netravati Guest House - (No of rooms available - 50)
 * Gayathri Guest House - (No of rooms available - 104)
 * Sri Sannidhi Guest House - (No of rooms available - 21)
 * Rajathadri Guest House - (No of rooms available - 290)

Places to Visit

 * Ram Mandir: This is around 6 km from here on the banks of river Nethravathi. Here we can see beautiful incarnation on Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Bharata (emperor) and Shatrughna along with Hanuman in white marble.
 * Southadka:This is around 25 km from here, this is dedicated to lord Ganesh The uniqueness of the place is Lord Maha(great) Ganapathi(Ganesh) is out in the open field without a Garbhagriha(sanctum) and temple structure. It is surrounded by fascinating greeneries and open round the clock for offering prayers.One who offers prayers here, their wishes get fulfilled.One of my wish also got fulfilled after praying to lord Ganesha.
 * Kukke Subramanya Temple: This is around 60 km from here, one of the pristine pilgrimage locations in India. Here Lord Subrahmanya is worshipped as the lord of all serpents. Devotees come here to over come their Sarpa(serpent) Dosha(curse).
 * Mangalore: This is around 80 km from here on NH 73, known for it beaches and temples the mian deity among them is Goddess Mangaladevi Temple and Kadri Manjunath Temple.
 * Kateel: This is around 72 km from here on SH 70 nearby Mangalore, the holy temple is situated on an islet in the middle of the sacred river Nandini amidst panoramic scenes andascinating greenery and dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari Temple.
 * Horanadu: This is around 96.5 km from here on NH 73 & SH 106, dedicated to goddess Annapoorneshwari, she removed the curse of Lord Shiva and blessed him.
 * Udupi: This is around 104 km from here on SH 70 & SH 37, it is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to lord SriKrishna.

Road
Dharmasthala is well connected by roads, below are some of route list:


 * Bangalore-Kunigal-Hassan-Sakaleshpura-Ujire-Dharmasthala.
 * Bangalore-Tumkur-Tiptur-Kadur-Chikamagalur-Mudigere-Ujire-Dharmasthala.
 * Bellary-Hospet-Harapanahalli-Harihar-Shimoga-Bhadravati-Tarikere-Chikamagalur-Mudigere-Ujire-Dharmasthala.
 * Mangalore-Kadri-Bantwal-Belthangady-Dharmasthala.

Note: There are direct K.S.R.T.C. (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) buses to Dharmasthala from Bengaluru as well as other places in Karnataka.

Railway Station
Yesvantpur - Karwar Express/16515
 * Bengaluru-Tumkur-Arsikere-Hassan-Sakleshpur-Subhramanya Rd ...Karwar.

Note: Alight at Subhramanya Rd, then board private Jeep to reach Dharmasthala.

Airports
The nearest airport is at Mangalore and an international airport is at Bengaluru.