Khandoba and Kala Maruti Temples, Pandare

Located nine kilometers from Baramati city, Pandare village boasts several small temples constructed from the best stone available. Villagers claim that the temples of Jejuri, Shikhara-Shinganapur, and Malegaon were built using stone from Pandare, resulting in an abundance of stone temples in the village. The temples of Khanḍobā and Mārutī are situated near the Baramati-Nira road and feature architectural styles from the 15th-16th century, though they have been recently restored.

The Khanḍobā temple

The Khanḍobā Temple: The Khanḍobā temple is simple in construction and faces east. It includes Nandī's plinth, antarāḷa, and garbhagṛha, with a recent pillar and dīpamāḷa located in front of the temple. The temple is enclosed within a recent fencing wall and boasts a well. Various symbols carved by masons adorn the temple's exterior, with a beautiful image of Bhairava in the garbhagṛha. The temple also includes a dual śivalinga and Gaṇeśa sculpture. Although the temple features a Bhairava image in the garbhagṛha, the reason for its name as Khanḍobā temple is unknown. Villagers discovered genealogy documents with a date of 1630 in the śikhara of the temple several years ago, and more documents were found in 1962.

The antarāḷa of the Khanḍobā temple is simple and measures 202 (l) X 198 cm (b). The garbhagṛha is 215 cm long and 198 cm wide, with the image of Bhairava placed on a 25 cm high adhiṣṭhāna in the garbhagṛha. A channel has been dug on the north of this adhiṣṭāna to let the abhiṣeka water flow through. The temple includes a 780 cm long, 270 cm wide, and 84 cm deep pradakṣiṇāpatha, as well as a Nandī platform of 163 X 163 cm in front of the temple. Inscriptions are visible on the temple and its premises, with the entire exterior of the temple being flat and without carvings or devakoṣhṭhas. The śikhara of this temple is of recent times, and no architectural remains are visible on the antarāḷa.

Iconographical description: The image of Bhairava in the garbhagṛha of the Khanḍobā temple is distinct, measuring 156 cm tall and 82 cm wide. Bhairava is depicted with protruding teeth and is four-handed on the right side, holding a ḍamaru in the upper hand and a sword in the lower hand. The image is adorned with various accessories and is seated in lalitāsana with a demon (apasmāra puruṣa?) lying under his feet. The śivalinga measuring 73 cm X 66 cm, is placed before the Bhairava image, consisting of two lingas. An old Nandī is located on the nandīmanḍapa, with a balipīṭha situated next to it. Inscriptions and carvings are visible on the balipīṭha, with four pādukās placed on it.

Bhairava

Śivaliṇga

Inscriptions at the temple premises
Inscription no. 1. There is a distinctive inscription outside the Khanḍobā temple gate. The height of the inscribed slab is 126 cm, and the width is 30 cm, while the depth of the slab is 23 cm. The moon and the sun are carved in the upper part of the slab. There are two lines inscribed below in Devanāgarī script. The subsequent letters in the inscription are not identifiable. Still, some letters like Ma (म), Gha (घ), Pa (प) can be recognized. A temple-like figure is carved under the inscription. It has a pillar on each side and pādukā at the center. Kalaśa and trishūl are carved on this structure. The figure's height is 28 cm, and the width is 21 cm. It may be a memorial stone of some Śiva sādhaka.

Inscription no. 2:  Outside the Kāla Mārutī temple stands a unique stele known as the kāmadhenū and ass curse. Local lore suggests that it originally stood in front of the Khanḍobā temple. This slab has dimensions of 90 cm in height, 30 cm in width, and 26 cm in depth. At the top of the slab is a kalaśa-like figure. Directly beneath this, within a 12 cm x 30 cm area, the sun and moon are intricately carved. Further down, an 11-line Devanāgarī inscription, spanning 28 x 30 cm, is etched onto the stone. However, time has rendered the inscription faint and challenging to decipher. Below the inscription, a cow is carved within a 20 x 30 cm space, distinguishable by a standing sword before her. The subsequent section of the stele is fragmented, though a donkey's face remains visible. It's noteworthy that the script style of this stele closely matches another inscription located in front of the Khanḍobā temple. Local residents have indicated the presence of a similar inscription in Jagtap Ali. Efforts are needed to carefully interpret the inscriptions here, emphasizing the importance of their preservation.

Inscription 1

Inscription 2: A kāmadhenū and ass curse stele.

Kāla Mārutī Temple: Moving away from the Khanḍobā temple, there are other temples, such as the Kāla Mārutī and Gaṇapatī temples. The south-facing Kāla Mārutī temple is 366 cm X 366 cm and sits on a 72 cm high plinth with a 265 cm high wall. The image of Mārutī inside the temple is magnificent, standing 190 cm tall and 80 cm wide with a monster (?) lying beneath his feet. A horizontal stone block in front of the image is believed to relieve back muscles pain. A north-facing Gaṇapatī temple measuring 310 cm X 310 cm can also be found in front of the Kālā Mārutī temple. The Gaṇapatī temple nearby houses an image of Gaṇeśa, but lacks exterior sculptures. The Kālā Mārutī and Gaṇeśa temples are owned by Sham Kaka and Balu Kaka, with a 'Kala Mārutī Vikas Pratishthan' organization in place. The head priest is Mr. Bapu Vishwanath Shende, and Shri Subhash Jagtap serves the temple.

Temples of Kāla Mārutī and Gaṇapatī.

Concluding Remarks: The images of Bhairava and Mārutī in the Khanḍobā temple are believed to be from the same period. Although the craftsmanship and finesse of these images may not be of the highest quality, they are considered the finest examples of sculpture art from that time period. No similar images can be found in the surrounding area. Based on the temple architecture, sculpture art, and inscription style, it is likely that these temple was built around the 15th-16th century CE.