LORD MANJUNATH OF DHARMASTHALA

ORIGIN OF THE DIVINITY OF THE KSHETRA

The sacred land now called Dharmasthala went by the name of Kuduma, an integral part of Mallarmadi village belonging to the Revenue Taluq of Belthangady of the South Canara district of the former princely state of Mysore. Kuduma, etmyologically means a place where giving charity - dana predominated over all other things. It was a Jain Kshetra then, where many pious families lived in amicability under the chieftancy of one of the most pious jain families of Ammu Devi Ballalthi with her husband Birmanna Perggade in their simple residence called Nelyadibeedu. They were renowned for their religiocity and were held in high esteem by the entire community. They were worshipping Chandranathaswamy in a small Basadi with great piety. They cared more for the spiritual progress of their followers than for their material advancement. So, spiritual activities went on to the contentment of all; why to the total satisfaction of the celestials, who feeling highly gratified with the exemplary life of that dharmika couple decided to invest them with absolute authority of ruling the land and to making it an earthly Dharmapitha.

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