Shree Kshetra at Dharmasthala is a Religious and Charitable Institution which supervises the administrative functions necessary to the conduct of the various traditional rituals and charities (Chaturdanas) at Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala in Karnataka State.
About Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala :
Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala, Holy Land, is renowned hindu religious shrine having 700 years of of history. Here diety is Lord Shiva (Supreme) worshipped as Lord Manjunatheshwara and His Holiness Parama poojya, Padmashri Shree shree Dr. Veerendra Heggade is a present Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala.
Dharmasthala, 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 pilgrim center situated on the banks of river Nethravathi in Beltangady Taluk of Dakshina Kannada (South Canara) District.
Attractions Of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala In Karnataka :
This place was originally called “Kuduma”. The lineage of the Dharmadhikari can be traced back over 700 years. According to the legend, a 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.
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 installed the Kadri’s Shiva Linga there. So that Dharma could be established in the name of the Lord.
History :
Around the 16th Century, Devaraja Heggade invited Shri 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 Shivalinga himself.
Pleased by the observance of the vedic rites and Heggade’s charity to all, the Swamiji named the place Dharmasthala, the abode of religion and charity.