LORD MANJUNATH OF DHARMASTHALA

The grateful couple then built one separate shrine for Annappa and it lies just opposite the Manjunathaswamy temple.

The word Manjunatha can be split up into two words; one - Lord of the snow, perhaps for taking his abode on the Himalayas. Two - Manjula simply means pleasing to the eye, and `nath' stands for lord; so it means one, Lord who pleases the eyes of the beholder irrespective of his spiritual or political leanings. When the linga was brought, the brahmins who raised objections were found tongue-tied, and then they grew vociferous in praising the Lord and emptying their souls in ecstatic raptures. So the temples thus came into existence not only lured Jains but indus as well. Why, Hindus in course of time out - numbered the Jains. A happy ending indeed.

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