Vardhaman Book on Jainism

Author(s): Jayshree Menon
Publisher: Bennete Coleman & Co Ltd

Page 73

The legend of Dharmasthala
Reaching out to the needy and providing them succour is second nature to Heggade. During severe drought in the North Karnataka districts of Gulbarga, Dharwad and Bijapur and during the floods in Dakshina Kannada in 1974 and in Gadag in 1992, Heggade was in the forefront helping to resettle the victims.
As for vidyadana, the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Education Trust provides the best educational facilities possible in the region. The many free hostels provide boarding and lodging facilities to the needy to pursue their education.
Heggade's modern outlook is evident from the fact that he has introduced a unique combination of subjects at SDM College, Ujire, allowing students to combine psychology, rural development with Sanskrit, home science and business management.
Fight hundred years ago, Dharmasthala was L known as Kuduma in Mallarmadi, then a vil lage in Dakshina Kannada. Here lived the Jain chieftain, Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballaithi in a house called Neliyadi Beedu. They were simple, pious and affectionate people. The Pergade family was known for it generosity and hospitality to all.
According to the legend, the guardian angels of dharma assumed human forms and came to earth in search or a place where dharma was being practised and could be continued and propagated. They arrived at Pergade's abode. As was their habit, the Pergade couple hosted these visitors with great respect. Pleased by their sincerity and generosity, that night the Daivas appeared in
Pergade's dreams. They explained the purpose of their visit and instructed him to use this house for the worship of the Daivas and dedicate his life to the propagation of dharma.
Asking no questions, Pergade built himself another house and began worshipping the Daivas at Neliyadi Beedu. This continues even today.
As they continued their worship and their practice of hospitality the Dharma Daivas again appeared before the Pergade in his dreams. This time they asked him to build separate shrines to consecrate the four Daivas - Kalarkai, Kalarahu, Kumaraswami and Kanyakumari. Pergade was instructed to choose two people of noble birth to act as the Daivas' oracles and four worthy persons to assist Pergade in his duties
as the executive head of the shrines. In return, the Daivas promised Pergade protection for his family, abundance for charity and renown for the kshetra. As desired Pergade, built the shrines and invited Brahmin priests to perform the rituals. These priests requested Pergade to also install a Shiva linga beside the native Daiva. The Daivas then sent their vassal Annapa Swami to procure the linga of Manjunatheswara from Kadri, Mangalore. Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.
Around the 16th century, Devaraja Heggade invited Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit the place. The Swamiji gladly came, but refused to accept bhiksha (food offering) because the idol of Lord Manjunatha has not been consecrated according to the Vedic rites. Heggade then requested the Swami to do so and the Swami named the place Dharmasthala - the abode of religion and charity.
Thus the roots of charity and religious tolerance established by the Pergades 800 years ago, have been nurtured and strengthened by the Heggade family, the word Heggade being a derivative of Pergade.
When a group of vocational institutions established under the Janata Shikshana Samithi, Dharwad by the late freedom fighter Sri Hukerikar were floundering, Heggade stepped in and these have now blossomed into fine centres of learning.
The beautiful Ayurvedic College cum Hospital at Udupi and many others at Ujira and Mangalore stand testimony to the healing touch of Heggade.
The unceasing quest of Heggade to revive the ancient heritage of arts and science has found expression in another unique institution - SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences at Ujire. The engineering and dental colleges at Dharwad, are Heggade's vision for professional excellence.
Heggade has been committed to rural development since 1982. He initiated a project to bring the inhabitants of under developed villages into the mainstream, by fulfilling their basis needs food, shelter, clothing and employment.
73 VARDHAMAN
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