Where Faiths Serve Together
Dharmasthala's Manjunatha Temple presents one of India's most remarkable instances of inter-religious harmony: a Shiva temple administered for over eight centuries by the Jain Pergade (now Heggade) family, who maintain the shrine's Hindu worship traditions with the same devotion as their own Jain faith. This unique arrangement, sustained across many generations, has made Dharmasthala synonymous with practical dharma — righteous conduct expressed through action rather than doctrine alone.
The temple's free kitchen (annachatra) feeds upwards of 15,000 pilgrims daily regardless of caste, creed or background, embodying a scale of consistent charitable service rivalled by few religious institutions in India. Dharmasthala also houses notable Jain Basadis and a towering Bahubali statue nearby, making the town a significant pilgrimage centre for Jains as well as the Hindu devotees who form the majority of its visitors.
