During his stay in South India, Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwarananda Ji visited his dear friend Dr Veerendra Ji, the Heggade of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple in Udupi, Karnataka. 

The reunion of longtime friends was filled with warmth and conversation about the great and big spiritual centres they run.

About Dharmasthala:

Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala, the land of righteousness and piety, is one of South India’s most renowned religious landmarks, with a history as old as 800 years. Manjunatheshwara, the chief deity of the spiritual abode, has taken the form of a Shivalinga and made the temple town of Dharmasthala immaculate, ever since and forever. Lord Manjunatheshwara, is worshipped in a very unusual yet exceptionally inordinate manner in Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala, as this Shaiva temple is beseeched by Vaishnava priests and administered by Jain descendants.

“Dharmasthala”, the abode of dharma, is the quintessence of humanity and faith. As the name suggests, the word dharma in its truest sense means righteousness, it is the embodiment of the world’s most divine emotions in spite of one’s caste, creed or religion.

The position of the Heggade of Dharmasthala is a unique one, in the tradition of this Kshetra, he represents Lord Manjunatha. He is a pious grihastha or householder with numerous religious, social and cultural responsibilities towards the society. He executes his social responsibilities as a pious grihastha (householder) by extending the four traditional Danas – Anna Dana (to feed), Aushadha Dana (to heal), Vidya Dana (to educate) and Abhaya Dana (to protect from fear). These being the gifts of food, medicine, education and freedom from fear.  (extract from the page: https://www.shridharmasthala.org/temple/ )