Dharmasthala(listen^ⓘ) (earlier known as Kuduma^[1]) is an Indian temple town on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangady taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India.^[2]

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Dharmasthala
Temple Town
Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 12.951°N 75.371°E / 12.951; 75.371
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Dakshina Kannada
Taluk	Belthangady
Government
• Type	Local Government
• Body	Gram Panchayat
Population
• Temple Town	9,818
• Metro	246,494
Languages
• Official	Kannada
• Spoken	Tulu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	KA-21
Nearest city	Belthangady

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The town is known for its centuries-old Dharmasthala Temple, devoted to the Hindu god Manjunatha. Some other temples and shrines are dedicated to Ammanavaru, Chandranath and the Dharma Daivas (guardian spirits of Dharma) — Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. The temple is unusual because it is a Hindu temple run by a Jain administration, and poojas are conducted by Hindu priests who subscribe to the Vaishnava ideologies. Most Shiva temples are run by Shaivas as opposed to the Madhava Bhramins, devotees of Vishnu and his avatars. On average, the temple attracts around 2,000 pilgrims a day.

Local legend says that the Shiva Linga was brought to Dharmasthala by Annappa, who is believed to have worked for the Dharmasthala Heggade family. Annappa is thought to have installed the Shiva Linga after his master expressed interest in offering his services to Lord Shiva. The Shiva Linga, which was installed overnight by Annappa not far from the Heggade household, was alleged to be moved from the Kadri Temple; Annappa was said to have disappeared after this.

800 years ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma (ಕುಡುಮ) in Mallarmadi,^[3] then a village in Belthangady (ಬೆಳ್ತಂಗಡಿ). Here lived the Jain chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballathi in a house called Nelliadi Beedu. Pergade and the local chieftains built several 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 Lord Manjunatheshwara (ಶ್ರೀ ಮಂಜುನಾಥೇಶ್ವರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ) from Kadri, near Mangalore. Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.

Around the 16th century, Shri Devaraja Heggade invited Shri Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit the place. The swamiji gladly came but refused to accept Bhiksha (food offering) because the idol of Lord Manjunatha had not been consecrated according to the vedic rites. Shri Heggade then requested the Swamiji to reconsecrate the Shiva Linga himself. Pleased by the observance of the vedic rites and Heggade's charity to all, the Swamiji named the place Dharmasthala the abode of religion and charity. Thus, the roots of charity and religious tolerance established by the Pergades 800 years ago have been nurtured and strengthened by 21 generations of the Heggade family of Tulu lineage (Heggade being a derivative from Tulu word Pergade). Today's Dharmasthala blossoms with the fruit of this selfless dedication.

Sri Manjunatheshwara Cultural and Research foundation, started by the Temple committee, is engaged in preserving ancient manuscripts and paintings.^[4] A museum of antique objects has been established called "Manjusha Museum" and a car museum houses a rare collection of vintage cars.^[4]

Traditional folk arts like Yakshagana and ethnic crafts like Navalgund carpets and Kasturi embroidery are revived by Dr. Heggade. ^[4] Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana Trust is engaged in renovation of temples across Karnataka and every year, a Sarva Dharma Sammelana (multi-religious meet) is held at Dharmasthala, where spiritual leaders from various faiths and schools participate.^[4]

In 1973, a statue of Lord Bahubali, carved out of a single rock, was installed at Dharmasthala on a low hill near the Manjunatha Temple. It is about 39 feet (12 m) high, has a 13 feet high pedestal and weighs about 175 tonnes. This is one of the five stone statues of Bahubali in Karnataka.^[5][6]

The present head of Dharmasthala, Padma Vibhushan Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, the 21st in succession to the Dharmadhikari Peetha, has launched several socio-economic programmes such as free mass weddings which were started in 1973.

Dharmasthala is among the few pilgrim centers in India that provides boarding and lodging to all the visiting devotees at a cheap cost.^{[citation needed]}

Bahubali Statue is near the temple on a small hill. It is revered by Jains as a symbol of sacrifice. Kukke Subramanya Temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya is just 62 km from Dharmasthala. Temple called bayalu aalaya Ganapathi temple soutetadka is just 16km. Kalasa, Sringeri and Horanadu are less than 100 km from Dharmasthala.