Dharmasthala is a pilgrimage
centre on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangady taluk of
Dakshina Kannada district. The town is known for its Dharmasthala Temple which
houses the shrine of Shiva, Manjunatha, Ammanavaru, Chandranath and the Dharma Daivas (guardian spirits of Dharma) —
Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. The temple is unusual in that
it is run by a Jain administration and poojas are conducted by Hindu priests of
the Madhva order.
Lakshadeepa, the
festival of lights, is the annual festival of Dharmasthala in November–December.
On an average the flow of pilgrims is about 10,000 people a day. A mechanised
kitchen provides free food for all pilgrims, and there are guest houses with
modern amenities.
Dharmastala represents religious
tolerance. A Jain Tirthankara is worshiped beside Daivas and Lord Manjunatha (Shiva). The priests are Vaishnavite
Brahmins and the guardian of the temple a Heggade (Jain). To those who come
here for justice, the Heggade dispenses judgments that are said to represent
the will of the deities.
Social Service and Other Programs
One project is called Shri Kshetra
Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, which organizes activities for rural
development. Its employees go to villages to make small groups called Shree
Shakti Sangha and provide bank loans to group members for business. They ensure
supply of drinking water to villages in summer.
Every one of the pilgrims who
visits Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala is treated like an honored guest, irrespective
of caste, creed, culture or status. The "Anna Dana" (Food Donation)
is one of the impressive aspects of this place. Free food is provided to the
devotees. The dining hall is known as "Annapurna".
Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala,
manages 25 educational institutions, ranging from primary schools, Gurukulas to
teach yoga, Sanskrit, etc., to colleges having professional courses in
engineering, medicine and dental science.
In the field of health care, the medical trust provides services to eradicate and prevent many diseases. The Nature Cure Hospital, built on the banks of the Netravati River, uses a system based on the five elements of Air, Earth, Ether, Water and Light.