Veerendra Heggade
Encyclopedia
Dharma Adhikari Veerendra Heggade is a philanthropist and the hereditary administrator (Dharmadhikari) of the Dharmasthala
Temple. He succeeded to the post of dharmadhikari at the age of 20, on October 24, 1968 becoming the 21st Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala
Temple dedicated to the Hindu
God Manjunatha
.
Veerendra Heggade’s first major act upon becoming Dharmadhikari was to realise his father’s dream by completing the carving and installation of the 39 ft., 170 ton Bahubali
statue at Dharmastala.
In 1982, on the eve of his taking over of Dharmadhikara, Sri Heggade initiated a "grameenaabhivruddhi yojane" (Integrated Village-Welfare Program) within the Belthangadi Taluk. The program included such provisions as funding for poor farmers with agricultural credit, technical training for young people through the RUDSET Insititute program, a temperance effort, and money management classes for rural women. He also established the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) group which manages more than 30 educational institutions.
In 1993, during silver jubilee celebrations of his Patthabhisheka, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma
, the then President of India, called Veerendra Heggade Rajarshi
. In 2000, the government of India awarded him the prestigious Padma Bhushan
award for his services in the fields of education, religion and social welfare.
Heggade has been awarded honorary doctorates from Mangalore University
, Gulbarga University
and Karnataka University for his social welfare activities.
and Rathnamma Heggade (née Shetty),the others being Harshendra Kumar,Surendra Kumar and Rajendra Kumar.Heggade is married to Hemavathi Heggade and has a daughter named Shraddha.In January 2006, his mother Rathnamma Heggade aged 80 died in Janthigoli when a van collided with the car in which she was travelling.Heggade is a car and award collector and photography aficionado. His car collection is on display in Dharmastala.
culture and heritage. The temple town of Dharmasthala hosted The World Tulu Convention from 10 to 13 December 2009. As a precursor to the grand event the organizing committee held Tulu language related educational and cultural programmes in all 7 Tulu speaking taluks in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The taluks include, Mangalore, Bantwal, Belthangady, Sullia, Puttur, Karkala and Udupi under the leadership of Heggade
Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala is a temple village on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangadi taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka....
Temple. He succeeded to the post of dharmadhikari at the age of 20, on October 24, 1968 becoming the 21st Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala is a temple village on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangadi taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka....
Temple dedicated to the Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
God Manjunatha
Manjunatha
Manjunatha is incarnation of "God Shiva". Manju means snow and Natha means lord. Since Shiva lives in kailasa , and he is the lord of that loka, he is called Manjunatha....
.
Dharmadhikari
Bahubali
According to Jainism, Bahubali, called Gomateshwara , was the second of the hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, and king of Podanpur. The Adipurana, a 10th century Kannada text by Jain poet Adikavi Pampa According to Jainism, Bahubali, called Gomateshwara , was the second of the...
statue at Dharmastala.
In 1982, on the eve of his taking over of Dharmadhikara, Sri Heggade initiated a "grameenaabhivruddhi yojane" (Integrated Village-Welfare Program) within the Belthangadi Taluk. The program included such provisions as funding for poor farmers with agricultural credit, technical training for young people through the RUDSET Insititute program, a temperance effort, and money management classes for rural women. He also established the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) group which manages more than 30 educational institutions.
In 1993, during silver jubilee celebrations of his Patthabhisheka, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma was the ninth President of India serving from 1992 to 1997. Prior to his presidency, Dr Sharma had been the eighth Vice President of India, serving under President Ramaswamy Venkataraman...
, the then President of India, called Veerendra Heggade Rajarshi
Rajarshi
Rajarshi or Rajarishi is, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, a royal saint and rishi.-Order:A Rajarshi is a king who turned into a royal sage, or Rajarshi...
. In 2000, the government of India awarded him the prestigious Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
award for his services in the fields of education, religion and social welfare.
Heggade has been awarded honorary doctorates from Mangalore University
Mangalore University
Mangalore University is a public university located in Konaje, Karnataka State of India. Ranked with a four star by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in June 2000, this young university offers higher education and conducts research in various fields...
, Gulbarga University
Gulbarga University
- Institution :Gulbarga University was a post graduation centre of Karnatak University, India. In 1980 The Government of Karnataka enacted a law and gave it the status of university....
and Karnataka University for his social welfare activities.
Personal life
Born in a Jain Bunt family,He is the eldest among the four sons born to Ratnavarma HeggadeRatnavarma Heggade
Dharmasthala Ratnavarma Heggade was an Indian philanthropist,educationist and legislator who is best known for being the hereditary administrator of the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple from 1955 to 1968.-Early life:...
and Rathnamma Heggade (née Shetty),the others being Harshendra Kumar,Surendra Kumar and Rajendra Kumar.Heggade is married to Hemavathi Heggade and has a daughter named Shraddha.In January 2006, his mother Rathnamma Heggade aged 80 died in Janthigoli when a van collided with the car in which she was travelling.Heggade is a car and award collector and photography aficionado. His car collection is on display in Dharmastala.
Contribution towards preserving Tuluva culture
Heggade has been a great supporter of preserving TuluvaTuluva
The Tuluva -Geographic Distribution :Though most of the Tuluva population is found in the Tulu Nadu region, migrant poplulations are found the world over. In recent times, the first period of migration started at the beginning of the 20th century to places such as Mumbai and Chennai and other...
culture and heritage. The temple town of Dharmasthala hosted The World Tulu Convention from 10 to 13 December 2009. As a precursor to the grand event the organizing committee held Tulu language related educational and cultural programmes in all 7 Tulu speaking taluks in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The taluks include, Mangalore, Bantwal, Belthangady, Sullia, Puttur, Karkala and Udupi under the leadership of Heggade