Dharmasthala

Dharmasthala
Temple Town
Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala
Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala is located in Karnataka
Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala
Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 12°57′04″N 75°22′16″E / 12.951°N 75.371°E / 12.951; 75.371
Country India
StateKarnataka
DistrictDakshina Kannada
TalukBelthangady
Government
 • TypeLocal Government
 • BodyGram Panchayat
Population
 • Temple Town9,818
 • Metro
246,494
Languages
 • OfficialKannada
 • SpokenTulu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationKA-21
Nearest cityBelthangady
Temple gate built by Sri Ratnavarma Heggade
Sri Manjunatha swamy temple

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

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, as it is a Hindu temple run by a Jain administration, and poojas are conducted by Hindu priests who follow the Vaishnava ideologies. Most Shiva temples are run by Shaivas as opposed to the Madhva Brahmins, devotees of Vishnu and his avatars. On average, the temple attracts around 2,000 pilgrims a day.

  1. ^ Karnataka State Gazetteer, Part 2. Office of the Chief Editor, Karnataka Gazetteer Department, Government of Karnataka. 1983. p. 1199. Madhwa Saint Vadirajaswamy of the Sode Matha who paid a visit to this place in the 16th century reconsecrated the linga and bestowed on the place the name Dharmasthala which was till then called Kuduma.
  2. ^ "Dharmasthala - Divine Getaway". Bangalore Mirror. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2009.