|
The 600-year-old Pergade tradition
of generous hospitality to all those who enter the portals
of the Kshetra continue even today. Every one of the thousands
of pilgrims who daily visit Dharmasthala is an honoured guest
irrespective of caste, creed, culture or status. As always
free food and shelter is provided to pilgrims who seek the
blessings of Lord Manjunatha, the exponential growth in visitors
not withstanding.
 The
Annapoorna Choultry, the beautiful dining hall is equipped
to feed 30,000 to 50,000 guests comfortably on any given day.
The modern kitchen with automised cooking aids is a marvelous
demonstration of how mass meals can be made hygienic, tasty
and quick.
 For
the convenience of pilgrims, a number of rooms that formed
the accommodation at the old dharmasthala's Ganga, Kaveri
and Narmada has been augmented by seven modern guest houses
Netravathi, Vaishali, Sharavathi, Gayatri, Gangotri and Saket
which have increased the capacity manifold. Sri D.
Harshendra Kumar, brother of Sri Veerendra Heggade,
has been managing the affairs of the various departments of
Dharmasthala by rendoring yeoman service.
While
communication betwen the seeker and God is a part of every
religious institution, it is a metaphysical experience removed
from the travails of day to day living. Dharmasthala is however
different in this regard for it reaches out to people through
Shri Veerendra Heggade. Those who come to the Kshetra with
their woes and problems are given a patient hearing and guidance.
No quarrel or family dispute is too petty to ignore, for the
Heggade knows that the seeds of discontent sown by unresolved
disputes can fester and build into a lifetime of hatred. Through
Counseling and the dispensation of justice, Shri Veerendra
Heggade helps regain peace of mind and guides to shelter under
the divine grace and benevolence of Lord Manjunatha Swamy.
|
Reaching
out to the needy is second nature to the Heggade. During the
severe drought that almost crippled life in North Karnataka
districts of Gulburga, Bijapur, Dharwad etc., he toured the
districts tirelessly. Witnessing the dire straits of the people,
specially the women, be soon identified the needy and distributed
a phenomenal 50,000 sarees. The floods in South Kanara District
in 1974 too saw him extend a helping hand to the flood affected.
Yet again in 1992, when surprise floods wreaked havoc in Gadag,
the Heggade was in the forefront, helping resettle victims
through donations in cash and building material. When the
massive earthquakes ravaged Gujarat and when the Tsunami hit
the east coast of India, Shri Veerendra Heggade, spontaneously
reaching out with generous donations of Rs. 25 lakhs and Rs.
58 lakhs respectively. Dharmasthala also helped to reconstruct
a government school at Andaman – Nicobar Islands, which
was completely destroyed by the disastrous Tsunami. These
are but a few examples of how the Heggade continues to be
an angel of mercy to those in need.