The story
The Jain chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife welcomed visitors who were the guardian spirits of dharma in human form. In a dream they asked him to give up his house for their worship, and he did. When priests asked for a Shiva linga, the spirits sent Annappa Swamy to bring one from the Kadri Manjunatha temple near Mangaluru, and the Manjunatha temple was built around it.1
Where to go next
Sources
- 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.