Jasma Odan is a folk deity from medieval
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...
about a woman who committed ''
sati'' to protect her honor after her husband was murdered by
Siddharaj Jaisinh, a king of
Chaulukya dynasty
The Chaulukya dynasty (), also Solanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are now Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India, between and . Their capital was located at Anahilavada (modern Patan). At times, their rule extended ...
.
Legend
Jasma was a wife of Rooda who was a pond digger. They belonged to the
Odh rajput tribe, a drifting tribe of laborers in
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the nin ...
,
Kathiawar
Kathiawar () is a peninsula, near the far north of India's west coast, of about bordering the Arabian Sea. It is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch in the northwest and by the Gulf of Khambhat (Gulf of Cambay) in the east. In the northeast, it ...
, and some parts of
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern s ...
.
They were at
Anhilwad Patan
Patan () is the administrative seat of Patan District, Gujarat, Patan District in the Indian state of Gujarat and is an administered municipality. It was the capital of Gujarat's Chavda dynasty, Chavda and Chaulukya dynasties in medieval ti ...
to dig
Sahastralinga Tank
Sahasralinga Tank or Sahasralinga Talav is a medieval artificial water tank in Patan, Gujarat, India. It was commissioned during Chaulukya (Solanki) rule, but now it is empty and in a ruined state. It is a Monument of National Importance protected ...
, a lake and thousand shrines with
lingam
A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotion ...
.
Siddharaj Jaisinh, a king of
Chaulukya dynasty
The Chaulukya dynasty (), also Solanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are now Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India, between and . Their capital was located at Anahilavada (modern Patan). At times, their rule extended ...
, was captivated by the beauty of Jasma and proposed marriage. He offered to make her queen of Gujarat but she refused. Jaisinh killed her husband. She committed ''
sati'', by jumping into the
pyre
A pyre ( grc, πυρά; ''pyrá'', from , ''pyr'', "fire"), also known as a funeral pyre, is a structure, usually made of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite or execution. As a form of cremation, a body is placed upon or under the ...
, to protect her honor. Her curse made the tank of Sahasralinga Tank waterless and Siddharaj without an heir to his kingdom of Gujarat.
The Jasmadevi temple dedicated to her, constructed by the
Odh rajput tribe in the 12th century, is situated near Sahasralinga Tank at
Patan, Gujarat
Patan () is the administrative seat of Patan District in the Indian state of Gujarat and is an administered municipality. It was the capital of Gujarat's Chavda and Chaulukya dynasties in medieval times, and is also known as Anhilpur-Pat ...
.
Popular culture
A
Bhavai
Bhavai, also known as ''Vesha'' or ''Swang'', is a popular folk theatre form of western India, especially in Gujarat.
Etymology
''Bhavai'' may derive from the Sanskrit word ''Bhava'', meaning expression or emotion. It is also associated wit ...
''vesha'', a folk theatre form based on legend, has been performed since the nineteenth century.
It was recreated for a stage performance titled ''Jasma Odan'' by
Shanta Gandhi in 1982.
The 1926 Indian silent film ''Sati Jasma'' about the folk deity was created by
Homi Master. It starred
Gohar Mamajiwala and
Khalil in the lead roles.
A Gujarati film titled ''Sati Jasma Odan'' was directed by Chandrakant Sanghani in 1976. The songs of the film were penned by Kanti Ashok and music was composed by Mahesh Naresh.
See also
*
Sahastralinga Tank
Sahasralinga Tank or Sahasralinga Talav is a medieval artificial water tank in Patan, Gujarat, India. It was commissioned during Chaulukya (Solanki) rule, but now it is empty and in a ruined state. It is a Monument of National Importance protected ...
References
{{Reflist
Shakti temples
Hindu folk deities
Indian folklore