Biography: In the early decades of the 20th century, when Dharmasthala was steadily establishing itself as a place of spiritual significance, Late Shri Manjayya Heggade envisioned something far more transformative. Coming into his role as Dharmadhikari in 1918 at just 29 years old, Manjayya understood a fundamental truth: lasting societal change could not be built on temples alone, but required the foundation of education. Born into the Pergade family and educated in Mangalore, he possessed both the traditional wisdom of his lineage and modern thinking, a rare combination for his time.
Key Achievements:
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- Fighting the Malaria Epidemic: Late Manjayya Heggade’s first act as Dharmadhikari wasn’t ceremonial, it was urgent. Malaria had ravaged Dharmasthala, claiming lives and crushing hope. Rather than merely tending to temples, he tackled the root causes of suffering.
- Educational Expansion (1918): In that same pivotal year of 1918, Manjayya Heggade established the first high school in Belthangady Taluk, a region starved of quality education. But he didn’t stop at buildings. He donated vast tracts of land and considerable resources.
- Reviving Traditions (1940): By 1940, over two decades into his mission, Manjayya founded the Sidhavana Gurukula, an institution that breathed new life into the ancient Indian Gurukula System.
