Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple- Karnataka

Address

Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple- Pesthangadi Taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, (Near Mangalore), Karnataka – 574 216. Phone: 082562 66666

Diety

Manjunatha Swamy Amman: Bhagavati Amman

Introduction

Dharmasthala Temple is a 1000-year-old religious institution in the temple town of Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. The deities of the temple are Shiva, who is referred to as Mañjunatha, Ammanavaru, the Tirthankara Chandraprabha and the protective gods of Jainism, Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumarasvami and Kanyakumari. The temple is considered unique since it belongs to the Shaiva sect of Hinduism. The priests are Madhwa Brahmins, who are Vaishnava, and the administration is run by a Jain Bunt family called the Pergades.

Puranic Significance

1000 years ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma in Mallarmadi, then a village in Belthangady. Here lived the Jain Bunt chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi in a house called Nelliadi Beedu. According to the legend, the guardian angels of Dharma assumed human forms and arrived at Pergade’s abode in search of a place where Dharma was being practised and could be continued and propagated. As was their habit, the couple hosted these illustrious visitors with their entire wherewithal and great respect. Pleased by their sincerity and generosity, that night the Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of Pergade. They explained the purpose of their visit to him and instructed him to vacate his house for the worship of the Daivas and dedicate his life to the propagation of Dharma. Asking no questions, the Pergade built himself another house and began worshiping the Daivas at Nelliadi Beedu. This worship of daivas continues. The Dharma Daivas again appeared before Pergade to build separate shrines to consecrate the four Daivas – Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. Also, Pergade was instructed to choose two persons of noble birth to act as the Daivas’ oracles and four worthy persons to assist Pergade in his duties as the executive head of the shrines. In return, the Daivas promised Pergade protection for his family, abundance of charity and renowned for the ‘Kshetra’. Pergade, as desired, built the shrines and invited Brahmin priests to perform the rituals. These priests requested Pergade to install a Shivalinga beside the native Daivas. The Daivas then sent their vassal Annappa Swamy to procure the linga of Shiva from Kadri Manjunath Temple, near Mangalore. Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.

Beliefs

Those possessed with evil spirits, facing spell and witchcraft effects and mentally retarded come to the temple and stay here for a week and return back cured and blessed. Those cheated by others in money matters, losers in property partitions, unable to approach courts due to absence of documentary evidences surrender to Lord saying “Manunatha Swami Dhanike. Those possessed with evil spirits, facing spell and witchcraft effects and mentally retarded come to the temple and stay here for a week and return back cured and blessed. Those cheated by others in money matters, losers in property partitions, unable to approach courts due to absence of documentary evidences surrender to Lord saying “Manunatha Swami Dhanike.

Special Features

Sri Annappa Swami in the temple is regarded as the representative of all Justice Deities and root source of the reputation of the temple. He is the head of the daily feeding conducted in the temple. Lord Manjunatha Swami blesses the devotees from the sanctum sanctorum in a big Linga form. Procession deities are on both sides. There are also shrines for the Justice Deities. Sri Kumaraswami and Kaala Rahu are in the shrine of Mother Kanyakumari. The procession deity of Kanyakumari Amman is in a central place here. Lords Lingoghbava and Maha Ganapathi are behind the sanctum sanctorum. The shrine of the Ishta Devathas is in the northern corner of the prakara. About 10,000 people are fed in the Annapoorana choultry each day. It is noteworthy that Mr. Hegde is respected here as the present representative of Lord Manjunatha Swami hearing cases. He calls both parties and gives an opportunity to both sides to present their cases. He makes a best and mutual compromise between the parties and where necessary he also gives his verdict. Parties are happy to accept his decision. There is a beautiful garden, a tank and Lord Annappaswami shrine opposite the temple. The revenues of the temple are used for running schools, colleges, hospital and a home for the aged. No charge is levied for conducting marriages in the temple. Except affordable contributions in the hundi, the devotee need not spend any money in the temple.