800 years ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma in Mallarmadi, a then village in South Kanara. Here lived the Jain Chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi in a house called Nelyadi Beedu. Simple, pious and affectionate people; the Pergade family was known for its generosity and hospitality to all. According to legend, the guardian angels of Dharma assumed human forms and arrived at Pergade’s abode in search of a place where Dharma was being practiced and could be continued and propagated. As was their habit, the Pergade couple hosted these illustrious visitors with all their wherewithal and great respect. Pleased by their sincerity and generosity, that night the Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of Shri Birmanna 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 worshipping the Daivas at Nelyadi Beedu. This continues even today. As they continued their worship and their practice of hospitality, the Dharma Daivas again appeared before Shri Birmanna Pergade to build separate shrines dedicated to the four Dharma Daivas – Kalarahu, Kalarkai, 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 Shri Pergade in his duties as the Executive Head of the shrines. In return, the Daivas promised Shri Pergade family protection, abundance of charity and renown for the ‘Shri Kshetra’. As ordained, Shri Pergade built the shrines and invited Brahmin priests to perform the rituals. These priests requested Pergade to also install a Shivlinga beside the native Daivas. The Daivas then sent their vassal Annappa Swamy to procure the Idol of Lord Manjunatheshwara from Kadri, near Mangalore. Subsequently Shree Manjunatha Swamy temple was built around this idol.

Around the 16 Century, Shri Devaraja Heggade invited Shri Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit the shrine. 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 re-consecrate 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 twenty one generations of the Heggade family, (Heggade being a derivative from Pergade). Today’s Dharmasthala blossoms with the fruit of this selfless dedication.

Dr. Heggade’s 48 years of path-breaking contribution to social, economical and cultural development of the society, is what truly defines his unyielding service to the nation. From having converted small towns into modern educational hubs, redefined the very role of a temple from being a place of worship to a place of service, revived ancient sciences to further enhance modern lifestyles, and most importantly, having shown that one individual has the power to fuel and ignite the status quo condition of a nation, makes him deserve all the awards and accolades that he receives and more. This is exactly why in 2015, Dr. Veerendra Heggade was awarded the second highest award a civilian can receive in India, the Padma Vibhushan. At tender age of 20, Dr. Heggade took on the tremendous responsibility of being the Dharmadhikari, and thus began a glorious new chapter in the town of Dharmasthala. Even as a teenager, Dr. Veerendra Heggade knew that his true calling was to carry forward the 600- years- old awe-inspiring legacy of his ancestors and to transform into reality, the vision nurtured by his illustrious father, Shri Ratnavarma Heggade. His father nurtured the dream of a more modern Dharmasthala. The traditional role of a Dharmadhikari involved the Chaturdanas, or four charities: Annadana, Abhayadana, Aushadhadana and Vidyadana. Since the very beginning Dr. Heggade not only fulfilled these duties but modernized these danas to suit changing times and needs. For More Info : http://www.veerendraheggade.in/