Legend sthala purana · as told by tradition
The temple’s own history says that about 800 years ago the place was Kuduma, in the village of Mallarmadi, where the Jain chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi lived at Nelyadi Beedu. The guardian spirits of dharma came as guests and in a dream asked him to give up his house for their worship; he did, and later built shrines for the four Dharma Daivas: Kalarahu, Kalarkai, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari.1
When the Brahmin priests asked for a Shiva linga beside the Daivas, the Daivas sent Annappa Swamy to bring the image of Manjunatheshwara from Kadri near Mangaluru, and the Manjunatha temple was built around it.1
Documented history
Around the sixteenth century Devaraja Heggade invited Vadiraja Swami of Udupi, who declined food offerings because the linga had not been consecrated by Vedic rites; at Heggade’s request he reconsecrated it and named the place Dharmasthala, the abode of dharma and charity.1
Twenty-one generations of the family, Pergade becoming Heggade, have headed the shrine. Manjayya Heggade, head for 37 years from 1918 to 1955, began the Sarva Dharma Sammelana and built a causeway across the Netravati; Veerendra Heggade has held the office since 1968.34
The priests are Madhva Vaishnava and the administration Jain, an arrangement the tourism department describes as an 800-year-old institution. Its festivals include the Laksha Deepotsava, the Pattanaje Jatre and Maha Shivaratri.24
Where sources differ
The official site gives the founding both as “800 years ago” and, for Barmanna Heggade’s calling, “over 6 centuries ago”.13
Where to go next
AI-created illustration
AI-created illustrationSources
- Official temple website History — Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala (official website) · accessed 2026-11-08
- Government Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala — Karnataka Tourism, Government of Karnataka · accessed 2026-11-08
- Official temple website The Past Heggades — Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala (official website) · accessed 2026-11-08
- Encyclopedia Dharmasthala Temple — Wikipedia · accessed 2026-11-08
Researched 2026-11-08 from the cited sources. Community corrections are welcome; traditions differ, and differences are shown rather than resolved.