Mañjunātha of Dharmasthala

Mañjunātha of Dharmasthala

Mañjunātha — Shiva; the "dharma-house" temple with 800-year Jain trusteeship

Location

• Place: Dharmasthala, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka (12.95°N, 75.3833°E)

Story & Significance

Dharmasthala is unique: a Shaiva temple (Mañjunātha) administered by a Jain Pariyar family (the Heggade hereditary trustees for 800+ years), drawing Hindu, Jain, and Christian pilgrims equally. The current (21st) Heggade, Dr. Veerendra Heggade, served 1968–2022. Annadāna (free meal): 30,000 daily; the temple feeds more people daily than any other in India. The temple also administers a law-court (dharma-nyāyālaya) for community disputes — judgments traditionally obeyed.

Worship & Festival

Daily aarati (dawn + dusk); abhisheka; flower and coconut offerings; evening deepa-dhyana. Annual festival features procession, special darshan, distribution of prasadam, and gathering of community.

Why This Entry Matters

Each district of India has its own gods, stories, and sacred places. Cataloguing them — with real coordinates and authentic local tradition — respects the richness of India's lived religious diversity.