One of the places most cherished by Lord Shiva on Earth is Dharmasthala. How did this place come to be known as Dharmasthala? Why does the Jain community manage one of India’s most famous Shiva temples? What is the background of the Heggade family? To understand all this, read this article.

The original name of Dharmasthala was Kaduma. It is believed that around 800 years ago, a powerful individual named Annappa brought a Shivalinga to this place. According to legend, Bhimanna Pergade and Ammu Ballathi, members of the Jain community, resided in the Nelladi Beedu household. One night, the deities of Dharma appeared in Pergade’s dream, instructing him to establish a temple in Nelladi. Following their command, Pergade installed the deities of justice—Kalarahu, Kalakayi, Kumaraswamy, and Kanyakumari.

From that day, Kaduma became a sacred place of Dharma and the abode of the Dharma deities. Later, the place came to be known as Dharmasthala. It is a unique Shiva temple on Earth where the Jain and Hindu communities coexist harmoniously. Vaishnava priests perform the daily rituals, while Jains, as administrators, manage the temple’s operations.

Located on the banks of the Nethravati River in Dakshina Kannada district, the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple is not only a favorite place of Lord Shiva but also a cherished destination for his devotees. In the main temple, Lord Manjunatha is worshipped as a form of Shiva. Alongside him, Goddess Ammanavaru, Chandranatha, and the Dharma deities are also revered.

The Legacy of the Pergade Family

Since then, Dharmasthala has been managed by 20 generations of the Pergade family, dedicated to Dharma and religious activities. The senior member of the Pergade family assumes the title of Dharmadhikari and is known as Heggade. Currently, Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade serves as the Dharmadhikari.

From the day Pergade installed the deities of justice, Kaduma became a sacred center and the abode of the four Dharma deities. The Pergade family invited Brahmin priests to perform rituals for the Dharma deities. These priests requested Pergade to install a Shivalinga alongside the local deities. While searching for the linga, the deities sent Vatsala Annappa Swamy to bring one from the Kadri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Mangalore. Shortly afterward, a temple was built around the Shivalinga.