The Āsmāī Devī temple enjoys a picturesque location on a small hillock, just 1 km west of the Pandare village and 9 km from Baramati city. The temple is steeped in local legend, which tells of goddess Āsmāī descending to this hill in the form of a little girl accompanied by sheep. While the sheep moved on, she chose to remain, a phenomenon witnessed by a local cowherd named Ghule. As a nod to this story, a stone within the temple premises bears the carving of a ram's head. The goddess derives her name from the word Aśma, which means stone or rock, highlighting her manifestation in rock form on this hill. This backstory was conveyed by the temple's local priest. Further adding to the temple's significance is a unique tradition observed during Navarātri when a lakhoṭā or letter is sent to the temple from Tuljapur, reaffirming its spiritual connection with other centers of devotion.

The Āsmāī Devī temple

Architecture: The presence of a lion image at the temple's front adds a distinct symbolic element, possibly denoting strength or protection. Inside, the gūḍhamaṇḍapa adheres to the Navaraṇga style, marked by its simplicity and an arrangement of four pillars and 12 pilasters. The door of this maṇḍapa has been recently expanded to a height of six feet, enhancing accessibility. Additional doors have also been constructed on the north and south sides in more recent times.

Inside the gūḍhamaṇḍapa, a straightforward image of Gaṇeśa and a śivaliṅga are found. The temple lacks an antarāḷa, a feature commonly seen in many temples. On the lalāṭabimba of the garbhagṛiha, there is another image of Gaṇeśa. Additional images are placed on a raised platform within the garbhagṛiha, but their identities remain concealed under drapery. The temple's exterior is characterized by its flatness. A significant part of the original śikhara remains, possibly offering clues to the temple's initial architectural style and its period of construction.

Gūḍhamaṇḍapa

Garbhagṛiha

Temple exterior

The temple exterior

On the temple premises, there is a dīpamāḷa of recent times. Idol pedestal and pādukā are seen to be kept on the temple premises.

Dīpamāḷa

Except for two Vīrgaḷas, there is a nāgaśiḷā on the temple premises.

God and goddesses.

Hero stones

Concluding Remarks: The temple exudes a sense of quietude and spiritual vitality, a feeling amplified by its clean and well-maintained surroundings. Architectural elements suggest a relatively later period of construction, likely dating to the 17th or 18th century CE. This temporal attribution aligns with the specific stylistic features and iconographic elements present in the temple.