The legend of ‘Heggade’
The position of the Heggade or Dharmadhikaari of Dharmasthala is a unique one, unknown in any other religious center in India. As per the tradition of this Kshetra, the Heggade represents Lord Manjunatha himself. He is a pious grahastha or house holder with numerous religious, social and cultural responsibilities. After assuming the responsibility of the Heggade, his religious duties include propagating Dharma in accordance to the command of the Dharma Daivas, who accept him as their foster son and ensure that the traditional rituals are observed regularly in the temple of Lord Manjunatha through his leadership.
In discharging his responsibilities true to his conscience and acting on the precepts of religion, the Heggade acquires an aura of divinity which enables him to function as a representative of Lord Manjunatha and the Dharma Daivas. He executes his social responsibilities as a pious grahastha through the four traditional endowments – Anna Daana, Aushadha Daana, Vidya Daana and Abhaya Daana. These are the traditionally observed charities of granting food, medicine, education and ensuring freedom from fear. Till date, all the four endowments are carried out by the Dharmadhikaari at an exponential rate every day. Thousands of devotees avail free food at the temple. Innumerable health concerns have been resolved at SDM hospitals and mobile hospitals. An ocean of students have availed quality education from SDM institutions. Rural men and women avail jobs, financial aids and dignity of life under the social welfare schemes of Dharmasthala. Also, the Dharmaadhikaari dispenses justice to the needy at his residence every day.
Twenty generations of the Heggade lineage have devoted their lives to manage and develop the Dharmasthala Kshetra. Sheer dedication, selfless service and pious devotion to God and man have been the foundation of the revered religious centre, Dharmasthala.