During the month of Sawan, Shiva devotees perform Jalabhishek on Shivling by doing Kanwar Yatra of hundreds of kilometers on foot. Sahastra Shivling, built in the Maa Bhadrakali temple complex in Itkhori of Chatra district of Jharkhand, has become the main center of faith of Shiva devotees in the month of Sawan. This religious place is famous all over the country due to its amazing features. Where devotees get the rare privilege of offering water to 1008 Shivlings simultaneously.

Jalabhishek on 1008 Shivlings
This 5 feet high and 4 feet round Shivling present in the temple complex is made of black stone. There are 1008 small Shivlings around the Shivling. When people perform Jalabhishek on the Shivling, water is offered one by one on 1008 Shivlings, which is a miraculous sight in itself. Kanwariyas going to or coming from Deoghar in Sawan, do not forget to offer water here. This is the reason why a huge crowd of devotees gathers here in this holy month.

Mention of construction in the 10th century
According to the temple priest Umesh Pandey, Itkhori's Sahastra Shivlingam is of the 10th century. According to the inscriptions and copper plates found from excavations around the temple complex, this temple was built by the ruler of the Pal dynasty, Mahendra Pal, between 988 AD and 1038 AD. The remains of the Pal dynasty period are present in the museum of Itkhori, which include idols of Sanatan, Buddhist, and Jain religions. These remains are from the 9th to 12th centuries, which show the antiquity of this region. According to religious texts, worshiping this type of Sahastra Shivlingam is infallible.

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