Dharmasthala Temple

Dharmasthala Temple (Kṣētra Dharmasthala) is an 800-year-old^[1] Hindu religious institution in the temple town of Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. The deities of the temple are Hindu god^[2] Shiva, who is referred to as Mañjunatha, Hindu goddess Ammanavaru(meaning mother), the Tirthankara Chandraprabha and the protective gods of Jainism, Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumarasvami and Kanyakumari. The temple was reconsecrated in 16th century by Hindu Dvaita saint Vadiraja Tirtha by the request of the then administrator of the temple, Devaraja Heggade.^[3][4] The temple is considered unique,^[5] since the priests in the temple are Madhwa Brahmins, who are Vaishnava, and the administration is run by a Jain Bunt family called the Pergades.^[6]

Dharmasthala Temple, Dharmasthala
The entrance of Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Jain
District	Dakshina Kannada
Deity	Manjunatha (Shiva) and Chandraprabhu
Festivals	Maha Shivaratri, Mahamastakabhisheka, Laksha Deepa Utsava
Governing body	Jain-Veerendra Heggade
Location
Location	Dharmasthala
State	Karnataka
Country	India
Location in Karnataka
Administration	Jain Currently - Veerendra Heggade
Geographic coordinates	12.96012°N 75.37836°E / 12.96012; 75.37836
Architecture
Creator	Birmanna Pergade
Completed	1200 C.E.
Website
www.shridharmasthala.org

Legend and origin

800 years ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma in Mallarmadi, then a village in Belthangady. Here lived the Jain chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi in a house called Nelliadi Beedu. According to the legend, the guardian angels of Dharma assumed human forms and arrived at Pergade's abode in search of a place where Dharma was being practised and could be continued and propagated. As was their habit, the couple hosted these illustrious visitors with all their wherewithal and great respect. Pleased by their sincerity and generosity, that night the Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of Pergade. They explained the purpose of their visit to him and instructed him to vacate his house for the worship of the Daivas and dedicate his life to the propagation of Dharma. Asking no questions, the Pergade built himself another house and began worshiping the Daivas at Nelliadi Beedu.

This worship of daivas continues. The Dharma Daivas again appeared before Pergade to build separate shrines to consecrate the four Daivas – Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. Also, Pergade was instructed to choose two persons of noble birth to act as the Daivas' oracles and four worthy persons to assist Pergade in his duties as the executive head of the shrines. In return, the Daivas promised Pergade protection for his family, abundance of charity and renowned for the 'Kshetra'. Pergade, as desired, built the 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 Shiva from Kadri Manjunath Temple, near Mangalore. Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.^[5]

Pergade family

Chandranatha basadi in Dharmasthala

Bhagavan Baahubali statute,Dharmasthala

Gateway of Dharmasthala

The Pergade family is a Jain Bunt family who descend from the creator of the temple. Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi are the hereditary trustees of the temple. The eldest male member assumes the position of Dharma Adhikari (chief administrator) and uses the title Heggade. The Heggade 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.^[1] About nearly twenty generations of the Pergade family have assumed the position of Dharma Adhikari. The present Dharma Adhikari is Veerendra Heggade. The list of previous Dharma Adhikari is as follows:^[5][7]

Dharma Adhikari number	Name		From	To
1		Varmanna Heggade (Bermanna Pergade)
2		Padmayya Heggade
3		Chandayya Heggade I
4		Devaraja Heggade
5		Manjayya Heggade I
6		Jinappa Heggade
7		Chandayya Heggade II
8		Devapparaja Heggade
9		Anantayya Heggade
10		Vrsabhayya Heggade
11		Gummanna Heggade
12		Varadayya Heggade
13		Chandayya Heggade III
14		Kumarayya Heggade
15		Chandayya Heggade IV
16		Manjayya Heggade II
17		Dharmapala Heggade
18		Chandayya Heggade V		1918 C.E.
19		Manjayya Heggade III	1918 C.E.	1955 C.E.
20		Ratnavarma Heggade	1955 C.E.	1968 C.E.
21		Veerendra Heggade	October 26, 1968	Present

Institutions run by Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala

In addition to the Hindu and temples in Dharmasthala, the organization runs several educational institutions and hospitals, including

• S.D.M EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY, Ujire
• SDM Dental College Campus Sattur
• Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana Trust, Bangalore
• SDM Yoga and Nature Cure Hospital, Dharmasthala
• Shree Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara De-addiction and Research Centre, Ujire

Mass murder and burial allegations

Main article: Dharmasthala mass burials

Dharmasthala Temple has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding alleged mass graves, disappearances, and crimes against women and students over the past two decades.^[8] In July 2025, a woman filed a fresh complaint seeking the remains of her daughter who went missing in 2003. This development comes amid an ongoing investigation into the allegations, with a former sanitation worker claiming to have secretly buried bodies of sexual assault victims in the forests.^[9]

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated that the government will act strictly according to legal procedures and that no pressure will influence their decisions. The investigation is ongoing, with the authorities working to uncover the truth behind the allegations.^[10][11]