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Dharmasthala, Karnataka · 12.9601°, 75.3784°
A temple of about 800 years' standing founded by the Jain chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballalthi, and reconsecrated in the 16th century by the Madhva saint Vadiraja Tirtha. It is unusual in being administered for some twenty generations by a Jain Bunt family, the Heggades, while Madhva Brahmin priests conduct its worship.
Guardian spirits are said to have come to Birmanna Pergade seeking a home where dharma was kept, and told him to raise shrines for four protective deities.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Heggade (Pergade) family