Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple

Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dharmasthala is unique in India — a Shiva temple administered by a Jain family (Heggade). The temple embodies the spirit of religious harmony for over 800 years. The presiding deity Lord Manjunatha (Shiva) is worshipped by Hindu priests while Jain idols are also venerated in the premises. The temple is run by the Heggade family who provide free meals (Annadana) to over 30,000 pilgrims daily, making it one of the largest free feeding operations in the world. A 39-foot statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwara) was installed here in 1973.