In the Dakshina Kannada region of Karnataka stands the Dharmasthala Manjunatha temple, a shrine of remarkable harmony where Shiva is worshipped as Manjunatha. For some eight centuries it has been administered by a family of Jain Heggades as its hereditary custodians, its rituals performed by Vaishnava priests, and its guardian deities the local Dharma Daivas — a living embodiment of the temple's very name, the abode of dharma.
Renowned for its tradition of selfless service, Dharmasthala offers free meals to all of its many thousands of daily pilgrims and is a great centre of charity, education, and the settling of disputes. Nearby rises a towering monolithic statue of the Jain saint Bahubali. Manjunatha of Dharmasthala is revered across communities as a Lord who upholds righteousness, drawing devotees of every background to a place defined by giving.
