History of Dharmasthala Temple

The story of the Manjunatha Temple goes all the way back to 800 years. The village of Dharmasthala was then known as Kuduma and was home to a Jain couple Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi, who lived in a house called Neliyadi Beedu. The couple was really simple, devoted and selfless, and was known all across the village for their generous and loving nature.

The guardian angels of Dharma assumed human forms and descended on Earth to look for a place where Dharma was being practised, and where they were sure that it would be continued and propagated. The angels reached Pergade’s residence and were received with great honour and respect. The Daivas were quite pleased with the couple’s dedication and appeared in Pergade’s dream that night. They explained the real reason behind their visit, expressed their contentment with the couple, and instructed Pergade to use his house to worship the Daivas. Pergade then built himself another house and used Neliyadi Beedu to worship the Daivas: a practice that continues to this day.

After some time, the Daivas reappeared in Pergade’s dreams, and this time they instructed him to build four different shrines to consecrate the four Daivas- Kalarkai, Kalarahu, Kumaraswami and Kanyakumari. They also asked him to choose two people who belonged to noble families to acts as the oracles of the Daivas, and four other people who could sincerely and honestly assist Pergade in this duties and responsibilities. The Daivas promised that in return, they would offer protection to the family of Pergade, and fame for the entire district. Pergade gladly agreed to this and built the shrines as asked by the Daivas. Brahmin priests were invited to perform the rituals at the shrine, and Pergade was asked to install a shivalinga beside the Daiva. The Daivas then sent Annapa Swami to bring the Manjunatheswara’s linga from Kadri in Mangalore. Afterwards, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.

Possessing a rich history that is more than 800 years old, the Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple in Dharmasthala, also known as the Dharmasthala Temple is one of the most famous and most respected temples not only in southern India but all across the country. The presiding deity of this religious institution, Manjunatheshwara, is worshipped at this temple in the form of a shivalinga, and people from near and far flock in large numbers to seek his blessings. The river Nethravathi that flows in this region is also a famous attraction in this area, and pilgrims halt especially to take a bath in this river on their way to the temple.

What adds to the uniqueness of the Manjunatha Temple is the fact that this Shiva temple belongs to the Shaiva sect of Hinduism, is beseeched by Vaishnava priests, and is administered by a Jain Bunt family known as the Pergades. Thus, this historical structure also represents a place overflowing with religious tolerance, where caste, creed and faith of pilgrims do not really matter.

The Dharmasthala Temple is situated in the southern part of Karnataka, and other than the presiding deity Shiva, who is referred to as Manjunatha; other deities like Ammanavaru, the Tirthankara Chandraprabha, and the protective gods of Jainism, Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumarasvami and Kanyakumari are also worshipped here. One of the most sacred places in south India, it is a must visit by all, irrespective of the religion that they belong to!

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