The temple is administered by the Heggade family, who are Jains by faith but serve as the secular trustees of the Hindu temple.
The temple is distinct for hosting both Hindu and Jain deities within its influence area.
It maintains a museum, the Manjusha Museum, which houses a collection of ancient palm-leaf manuscripts and historical artifacts.
The temple follows the 'Anna Dana' tradition, providing free vegetarian meals to all visitors regardless of caste or creed.
A monolithic statue of Bahubali, standing 39 feet tall, is located on a nearby hill as part of the temple trust's holdings.
The temple complex is situated near the Nethravathi River, which is considered sacred by local devotees.
The temple administration runs an 'Annapoorna' dining hall capable of feeding thousands simultaneously.
Despite being a Shiva temple, the rituals follow a blend of Vedic and non-Vedic traditions influenced by the Heggade family's Jain background.
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala is an 800-year-old Hindu temple housing a Shiva lingam, uniquely administered by a Jain Bunt family, the Heggades. The main sanctum features a shiva lingam that according to temple tradition was brought from Kadri by a legendary saint. The site is a rare example of religious harmony where both Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions are practiced alongside Jain principles. The temple complex is part of a larger charitable institution that provides free meals to thousands of pilgrims daily. The architecture follows a traditional Kerala-style layout with intricate wood carvings and slanted tiled roofs. It sits on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Western Ghats region. The temple is renowned for its 'Anna Dana' (charity of food) which is central to its daily operations. The administration actively manages various educational and social welfare projects across Karnataka.
The elevated view of the temple architecture from the outer courtyard, or the Bahubali statue hill at sunset.
Remove your footwear at the designated stands before entering the inner temple complex.
Participate in the 'Anna Prasadam' meal, which is organized efficiently for thousands of pilgrims.
Visit the Manjusha Museum located within the temple town to view local historical artifacts.
Avoid taking photographs inside the inner sanctum where it is strictly prohibited; do not litter in the temple complex.
Strict dress code: men must remove shirts before entering the inner sanctum; modest traditional clothing is mandatory for all visitors.
