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Dharmasthala Temples

Dharmasthala temple

About:

Dharmastala kshetra is located amongst the scenic beauty of the Western Karnataka on the banks of the Nethravathi River. The temple of Lord Manjunatha at Dharmastala is the star attraction in the Karnataka.

It has 150 ft tall entrance to the township flanked by numerous choultries on either side. Dharmastala literally means a place of Dharma, a path to religion, ritual, duty, righteousness, and alms. It is the embodiment of justice, truthfulness, faith, solace, fulfillment and peace.

Let us all live together, Eat together, and grow together Without any feelings of Animosity.

This is the essence of all our religious traditions. And this philosophy in action is the glory of Dharmasthala.

Location info:

Address:Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatha temple Dharmasthala - 574 216
Belthangady Taluk
South Kanara District
Karnataka State - INDIA
Phone : 08256-317121, 08256-317123, 08256-317124, 08256-317141
District:South Kanara
Nearest City:Belthangady
Best time to visit: October to February, June to September
Endowed with sultry climate with temperatures hovering around 35 Degree Celcius most times of the year.

Climate/Weather:

Endowed with sultry climate with temperatures hovering around 35 Degree Celcius most times of the year.

History Dharmasthala Temples:

Dharmastala was formerly called Kuduma or Koduma. . Long ago about 800 years before Jain Chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballathi lived a pious life in a village called Nelliadi Beedu. They belong to the Pergade family, who were very simple, generous and affectionate people. According to the legend, the angels of God visited them in their dream and informed them to continue their worship and their practice of hospitality, the Dharma Daivas - Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari requested him to build separate shires for each of them.

The Chieftain built the shrines and priests requested him to install a Shivalinga beside the native Daivas. Annappa Swamy procured the linga of Lord Manjunatheshwara (Lord who is as beautiful as snow- Lord Shiva) from Kadri, near Mangalore. Nrusimha Saligrama is placed by his side.

Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the Linga. On the invite from Devaraja Heggade, Sri Vadiraja visited the temple. It took the name of “Dharmastala “ during the visit of Sri Vadiraja, a Vaishnava Saint of Sode Mutt from Udupi and he himself recons crate the Shivalinga himself. The Pergade and Heggade families’ dedication and contribution to the temple has brought the Dharmastala to the growing fame of Dharmasthala's Sri Manjunathaswamy Temple. Many attribute the Manjunatha temple to the revered Jain Basadi The centuries old Chandranatha Swamy Temple at Dharmasthala has been maintained in the pristine condition and is amongst the most revered Digambara shrines in South India. It has been renovated in 2001, under the guidance of Veerendra Heggade.

Interesting things to do:

Participating events :Annadana (offering food) is considered as the greatest vitue among Danas(offering Alms). Here at Dharmasthala the temple committee organizes free food to all its devotees defying all barriers of caste and creed. Annadana at the famous Annapurna dining hall is a unique feature of Dharmasthala, where a simple meal of rice, dal, vegetables and buttermilk is served in the scrupulously clean, airy hall and a friendly environment.

The temple also provides protection to the needy – Abhayadana; free medicine – Aushadhadana; promotion of educational facilities – Vidyadana.

Interesting things to Visit:

Festivals Ganesha festival, Navaratri and Deepavali festivals are celebrated with grandeur at Dharmasthala. The annual festival or carnival called Pattanajae Jatre is held in April every year before the onset of monsoons. People flock from far and near during these times.

Laksha Deepothsava Festival of lights and grand illumination celebrated for five days in the month of Kartika (November - December) during this festival, there is cultural activities, Sarva-Dharma & Sahithya Sammelana. There are special seminars are as follows: Fine arts on the third day. Religions of the world, on the fourth day. Literature on the fifth day Special Poojas to Chandranatha Swamy

Shri Bahubali in Dharmasthala Dharmasthala is famous for Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple and Bahubali monolithic statue of 39 feet height and weighing more than 210 tons. This statue, located on Ratnagiri Betta, was brought to this location from Karkala in 1982. Confluence of various religions is the evidence of the tolerance and spirit of oneness that is the quintessence of Dharmasthala.

Mobile range info:

 

How to reach Dharmasthala Temples?

Nearest Railway Station:Mangalore
Nearest Airport:Mangalore & Bangalore
Road Transport:Dharmasthala is located approximately 300 kms from Bangalore, and is connected by National Highway. It is about 65 Kms from the port town of Mangalore

Nearest Visiting places in Dharmasthala Temples:

Annappa Betta : This hill is also called as Badinede Betta. His Shrine and dwelling place of four Dharma Daivas - Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari situated on this hill.

Manjusha Museum: This Museum near the Temple has a antique collection of swords, armory even old cameras etc. Collection of Temple chariots of various temples of Karnataka are exhibited outside the museum in a shed. There is one more vintage car collection from Sri Veerendra Heggade which is worth a visit for those with similar passion.

Veerendra Heggade: D Veerendra Heggade is the 21st Dharmadhikari of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala. Born to Rathnamma and Ratnavarma Heggade in November 25, 1948. Being the eldest son, he had t take up the mantle of Heggadeship at the age of 20 on October 24, 1968. He promoted the carving and installation of the Bahubali statue at Dharmastala.

Under his guidance and able initiatives, “grameenaaabhivruddhi yojane” means “Village Welfare Programs have helped numerous farmers with agricultural credit, technical training, health and hygiene programs, and women empowerment.

Mr. Veerendra Heggade was awarded honorary doctorates from Mangalore University, Gulbarga University and Karnataka University. He was also conferred the “Padma Bhushan” award instituted by the Government of India from President K R Narayanan in 2000 for social service.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Dharamsthala

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation nearby Dharmasthala Temples:

Accommodation is available only in the temple guest houses and dharmashalas. Rooms are allocated through a computer for a stay of 24 hrs only. Extension is possible on request. There is no system of advance booking

Things to carry:

 

Tips & Suggestions for Dharmasthala Temples:

While in Dharamsthala you can also see the antique Car Museum, Aquarium, Historical Museum, a garden named Lalithodyana and the Yakshagana dance Training center.

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:Dharmastala
Nearest Hospital:Dharmastala
Society/Community Phone Number

Dharmasthala Temples Nearest Attraction

Netrani Island
Nethrani is a small uninhabited island, 18 km southwest off a small fishing village Murdeshwar and is shaped like a upturned boat with some vegetation along the rocky outcrop. The Island is famous for its Shiva temple and for having some of the best dive sites in world....more
Kumaradhara River
The Kumaradhara River is an Indian river, in the southwestern India state of Karnataka. One of the two major rivers of Sullia, it merges with the Netravati River at Uppinangadi before flowing to the Arabian Sea.....more
Shambavi River
Shambavi is name of the river which flows in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state, India. Mulki town is south of river Shambavi. The river flows westwards to join the Arabian sea. Bappanadu Durga temple is situated near the river.....more
Mukka Beach
Mukka is suburb of Mangalore city on the shore of Arabian sea. It is located to north of NITK,Surathkal campus on National Highway 17. There is a beach in Mukka which has escaped public attention....more
Panambur Beach

Panambur is the site of New Mangalore Port. It is located in Dakshina Kannada (formerly South Canara ) district of Karnataka state, India, north of the Gurupura river.There is a Nandaneshwara temple in Panambur.....more

Someshwar Beach
Someshwar Beach, blessed with an endless stretch of golden sand and graciously swaying palm trees, is located 9 km south of Mangalore. The beach is well known for a large rock called 'rudra shila'.....more
Surathkal Beach
Located 15 km north of Mangalore, Suratkal Beach is known for its clean surroundings and a lighthouse. An uninterrupted and extremely attractive stretch of curving shoreline is a major feature of this beach. Sadashiva Temple is a nearby attraction.....more
Tannirubhavi Beach
Tannirubhavi beach is a beach in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Currently, it can only be reach by land via Panambur or by ferry via Gurupura river from Sultan Battery.....more
Ullal Beach
Ullal Beach is situated about 12 km away from Mangalore on the south bank of the Nethravati River, facing Arabian Sea. Mangalore is a city of vivid contrasts. Apart from this beach, there are other beaches also in Mangalore.....more
Kadiri Temples
The 17th century Manjunath Temple is situated at the foot of the Kadiri Hill, 3 km north of Mangalore city. The temple has some superb bronze images of Buddha, dating to the 10th – 11th centuries. The idol of Lord Manjunathaswamy of the temple is believed to be the oldest of the South Indian Temples.....more
Katil Temples
The Name KATEEL: The word 'Kati' which means 'center' (between the 'Kanakagiri', birthplace of river Nandini and the end) and 'lla' which means 'area'. Thus the place is called 'Kati + lla' = Kateel.
Kateel or Kateelu is a temple town in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India. It is about 29 kilometers away from Mangalore and is considered one of the holiest temple towns in Hinduism.....more
Subramanya Temples
Kukke Subrahmanya Kshetra lies in the luxurious abundance of the beauty of the nature nature with rivers, forests and mountains in Sullia Taluk of Dakshina Kannada (South Canara) District. Kukke Subrahmanya Temple is regarded as one of the seven Mukti stala pilgrimage sites of Karnataka. (Kollur, Udupi, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna are other Mukti places)....more
Mangalore Archeology
This temple is at the foot of the Katri hills, north of Mangalore. It is full of pilgrims. The temple belongs to the 10th century, but the pyramid like tower belongs to another time....more
Mangalore Historicals
Situated in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Mangalore is one of the important centers of exporting coffee and cashew nut. It is a hilly city with winding disoriented streets located some 357 km away from the city Bangalore....more
Mudabidri
Mudabidri is another Jain town on par with Shrvanabelagola. It is 35 km from Mangalore. In this small farming town, there are 18 jain temples.....more
Alekan Waterfalls
Alekan is one of the attractive waterfalls in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. It is noted for its picturesque locale. Bale Kallu Gudda - one of the highest hills in Dakshina Kannada District - is nearby. A winding scenic journey from Charmadi, 18 km away, takes to Alekan Waterfalls. Alekan Waterfalls is roughly four kilometers from kottigehara.....more
Bandaaje/Bandaje Arbi falls
Bandaaje Arbi Falls, one of the beautiful waterfalls in the Western Ghats, is located near Mundaaje, in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. It cascades down from a height of 200 ft.....more
Dondole Falls
Dondole waterfalls is a nice water falls which is around 20 kms from a place called Kakkinje which is just 3kms before charmadi from Ujire. Part of this 20 kms can be covered in a jeep and after a rivercrossing and 50minutes of walk through the forest one reaches this waterfall which is of around 50+ft height.....more
Chakra River
Chakra is a west flowing river which originates east of Kodachadri in Shimoga District. This river basin has a catchment area of 336 sq km. The sub tributary of Chakra River is Kollur. Chakra River, the important source of irrigation in Karnataka, has a total length of 52 km....more

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