This temple is located on the banks of the Nethravathi River in Dharmasthala. The main temple is dedicated to Shiva in the name of Manjunatha. Besides the primary deity, there are other deities like Dharma Daivas, Shakti(Ammanavaru) as well as the four guardian Spirits of Lord Dharma such as Kalarkayi, Kanyakumari, Kalarahu and Kumaraswamy. A few centuries ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kaduma which is in Belthangady.
The famous Jain Bunt chief Birmanna Pergade, used to reside in his house Nelliadi Beedu along with his wife Ammu Ballalthi. Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of Shri Birmanna Pergade and asked him to start worshipping them in that place. Pergade built himself another house and began worshipping the Daivas at Nelyadi Beedu. Shri Pergade built the shrines and invited Brahmin priests to perform the rituals. These priests requested Pergade to install a Shiva Linga beside the native Daivas. A daiva, a local deity with supernatural powers, Annappa Swamy bought the shiva linga of Dharmasthala from Kadri Manjunatheshwara temple (Mangalore) and after a while, the temple was built around the shiva linga. After that Kaduma became Dharma Kshethra and the abode of four Dharma Daivas.
Dharmasthala became a place dedicated to Dharma and Religion maintained by 20 generations of the Pergade family. The eldest member assumes the position of Dharma Adhikari and uses the title Heggade. Now, the present Dharmadhikari is Veerendra Heggade. The famous statue of Bahubali in Dharmasthala was carved out of single rock and it is about 39 feet in height.
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