Bhairavnath temple, Malegaon Budruk

Located near Baramati City, Malegaon Budruk is a town known for its fertile plains, owing to the richness of its soil. Within this area stands the Bhairavanātha temple, which harbors a distinctive tradition. Historically, individuals who suffered snake bites would be brought to this temple as part of a revered ritual. To counteract the venom, the afflicted were guided to circumambulate the temple thrice before drinking juice from the neem tree, believed to alleviate the poison's lethal effects. Significantly, a neem tree, symbolic of this age-old practice, still stands behind the temple, positioned in the right-hand corner.

Bhairavnāth temple

The temple plan consists of maṇḍapa, antarāḷa and garbhagṛha.

Sabhāmaṇḍapa: The temple's maṇḍapa boasts four full-fledged pillars complemented by ten pilasters. There are two points of entry to this maṇḍapa: one situated to the north and the other to the south. Characterized as a Navaraṅga type, the maṇḍapa features ceilings adorned with lotus motifs. These pillars, standing at a height of 2 meters, are notably plain and lack intricate decorations. At the enterance of the of the maṇḍapa, there are two 1.5 feet high Śaiva Dvārapālas. They hold cobras, drums, and mace in their hands. One hand is in a blessing gesture. There is a kīrtimukha carved on the head of the Dvārapāla to the left, and the one to the right wears a beautifully carved crown.

Garbhagṛha:  The entrance to the garbhagṛha has been overlaid with tiles, obscuring our view of any possible sculptures that might have existed there. Inside the garbhagṛha, four demi-pillars are positioned. At its heart stands a self-existent Śiva liṅga. Positioned behind the Śiva liṅga are the sculptures of Bhairava and Jogeśvarī, both set upon a tile-covered pedestal. They bear snakes in the two front hands and the rear hands holding the drum and trident. These depictions give the impression of being more recent carvings rather than ancient. Externally, the walls of the garbhagṛha are designed in the Pañcaratha style. The antarāḷa is flanked by four pilasters, and its walls too are concealed behind tiles.

Bhairava and Jogeśvari sculptures

The entrance to the Mandapa

Temple Exterior: The exterior of the garbhagṛha is of Pañcaratha type. The superstructure has been constructed recently and is made up of cement and bricks. There are no signs of an ancient boundary wall on the temple premises. Recent walls have been erected on the east and north sides of the temple, while the remaining sides are adjoined by the walls of neighboring houses. The newly constructed boundary wall features an entrance directly facing the temple. Positioned in front of the temple is a one-foot-high pilaster, intended for burning camphor.

Loose images: Foot impressions (probably a burial insignia) are in stone on a pedestal behind the temple. Also, Śivaliṅga, Nandī, and one human head made of stone are kept on a pedestal. The human head bears a mustache. The marriage ceremony of Bhairavanātha is celebrated on the eve of Kālāṣṭamī.

A foot impression (probably a burial insignia), Śivaliṅga, Nandī, and one human head on a pedestal.

Concluding Remarks: Considering the temple's structure, it is possible that the temple was built in the 15th-16th century. The Pañcaratha-type walls of the garbhagṛha support the inference. The Śaiva Dvārapālas carved on the eastern entrance of the maṇḍapa are noteworthy. Similar Dvārapālas are present at the entrance of the garbhagṛha of the Kashi-Viśveśvara temple in Malegaon, which is older than the Bhairavanātha temple. It is possible that the artisans were inspired by the Dvārapālas in the Kāśī-Viśveśvara temple when designing the ones in the Bhairavanātha temple. The temple’s pillars are plain, and Mr. Chagan Manohar Gurav serves as the priest.