sites include the Brahma Sarovar, the Sannihit Sarovar, Gurdwara 6th Patashahi and the Devi Bhadrakali temple, which is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas. The bathing-fair held here on the occurrence of a solar eclipse is said to be attended by half a million pilgrims.
Sack of Sthaneshwar by Mahmud of Gazni
Thanesar was sacked and many of its temples were destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni.
“ 'The city of Taneshar is highly venerated by Hindus. The idol of that place is called Cakrasvamin, i.e. the owner of the cakra, a weapon which we have already described. It is of bronze, and is nearly the size of a man. It is now lying in the hippodrome in Ghazna, together with the Lord of Somnath, which is a representation of the penis of the Mahadeva, called Linga." ”
Firishta records that
“ In the year A.H. 402 (A.D. 1011) Mehmood Gazini resolved on the conquest of Thanesur ”
, the most sacred Hindu place, in the kingdom of Hindoostan. It had reached the ears of the King that Thanesur was held in the same veneration by idolaters, as Mecca by the faithful; that they had there set up a number of idols, the principal of which they called Jugsoma, pretending that it had existed ever since the creation. Mahmood having reached Punjab, required, according to the subsisting treaty with Anandpal Tuar (Tomar King of Delhi - Indraprasth), that his army should not be molested on its march through his country. An embassy was accordingly sent to inform the Raja of his intentions, and desiring him to send safe-guards into his towns and villages, which he would take care should be protected from the followers of his camp. Anandpal Tuar, agreeing to this proposal, prepared an entertainment for the reception of the King, at the same time issuing orders for all his subjects to supply the camp with every necessary of life.
The Raja's brother, with two thousand
