Sahastralinga Talav or the tank of thousand
Shiva shrines is situated at the ancient city of 48891Patan, in
Gujarat. It is one among the many artificial tanks built in different parts of Gujarat, under the patronage of King Siddhraj Jaisinh (1093-1143 AD). Spread over an area of 5 km, it was used to receive water through a canal from Saraswati River. The architecture of the tank epitomizes the great sense of water management in medieval times and the sanctity of water had in the Hindu religion.
The tank has been named after the thousand Lord Shiva shrines, which once stood adorning its edges. Though most of the shrines are lost in antiquity, those remain still reflect the magnitude of the original grandeur, the tank had had in it’s hey days.
Legend has it that King Siddhraj Jaisinh's wished to marry a beautiful woman named Jasma Odan, of the tank diggers' community. She refused his desire and committed sati to protect her honor. According to a local belief, the tank became waterless because of her curse.
