Dharmasthala (earlier known as Kuduma[1]) is an Indian temple town[2] on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangady taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India.[3] It is a panchayat village,[4] and it is the only village in its gram panchayat.[5]

The town's Dharmasthala Temple houses the shrine of Shiva, Manjunatha, Ammanavaru, Chandranath and the Dharma Daivas (guardian spirits of Dharma) — Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. The temple is unusual in that it is run by a Jain administration and poojas are conducted by Hindu priests of the Madhva order. Lakshadeepa, the festival of lights, is the annual festival of Dharmasthala in November–December.[6] On average about 10,000 pilgrims a day visit. A kitchen provides free food for all pilgrims, and there are guest houses.