Manjayya Heggade

Manjayya Heggade

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Manjayya Heggade Profile

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  • Manjayya Heggade

Manjayya Heggade Biography

Manjayya Heggade was a philanthropist, educationist and legislator who served as the 19th Dharmadhikari or head of the Dharmasthala Temple, an 800-year-old religious institution in the temple town of Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, and the administration is run by a Jain Bunt family called the Pergades. He became Dharmadhikari in 1918 following the death of his uncle Manjayya Heggade, and served in this position till 1955. Following his death, his nephew Ratnavarma Heggade succeeded as Dharmadhikari. Manjayya has been elected to Madras Legislative Council, and was known for his orator skills.

 

Manjayya Heggade was born in 1889 in a family called the Pergade, who are the feudal lords of the temple town of Dharmasthala. They pass over the administration of the Dharmasthala temple to the next generation, and the next senior male member takes power. Though the family remains the trustees of a Hindu temple, they follow Jainism. He succeeded his uncle Chandayya Heggade after his death in 1918, at the age of 29. He took the major task of eradication of Malaria in the temple town soon after he took power as Dharmadhikari.

 

He started a Sarva Dharma Sammelan in 1932 in Dharmasthala for inter faith dialogue. As a philanthropist and educationalist, he set up educational institutions in Dharmasthala. He started a high school in the Belthangady taluk in 1918, and for this purpose he gave land as well huge fund for the completion of the project. In 1940 he set up another educational institution, Siddavana Gurukula. He lived during the period, 1889–1955. Currently Ratnavarma Heggade’s son, Veerendra Heggade follows the legacy of his forefathers and has been serving as the administrator for the past 50 years; a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, given by government of India.

Published: September 18, 2018

Updated: September 18, 2018

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