The village of Anthurne, situated 25 km from Baramati and 3 km from Lasurne, once harbored an old temple dedicated to Mahādeva. Unfortunately, due to neglect, the garbhagṛha of this temple had deteriorated significantly, and parts of its exterior walls had even collapsed. Faced with this state of disrepair, the villagers made the decision to demolish the temple in 2021, with plans to construct a new one in its place. Regrettably, the nandīmaṇḍapa, sabhāmaṇḍapa, and dīpamāḷa were also taken down, despite being in good condition. This loss signifies the disappearance of architectural and spiritual heritage that had been part of the community for centuries. The demolition of these traditional elements should make us ponder how the community interacts with its historical and religious landmarks, as well as how it envisions the role of such structures in contemporary life.

Ruins of the original Mahādeva temple.

Some relics of this temple, ancient śivaliṅga, images, three Nandīs, ten vīragaḷas and a satīśiḷā have been kept in the temple premises.

Nandīs, Mahādeva temple.

A satīśiḷā.

Hope they will be maintained well after the new construction. The Gaṇeśa sculpture of this temple is in good condition so it will be installed after completion of the new temple.

Gaṇeśa sculpture, Mahādeva temple.

Apart from this, the vīragaḷas in the village are worth noting. The fencing wall of the temple is still intact. The temple doorways at the east and west have been retained.

A gate and fencing wall of the Mahādeva temple.

There is another temple of Nāgeśvara (18.085387, 74.797532) at some distance to the west of this temple. Its garbhagṛha is remaining in its original form.

Nāgeśvara temple.

Concluding Remarks: The lack of documentation or evidence about the demolished Mahādeva temple in Anthurne is certainly unfortunate. It's not just the loss of a structure, but also the vanishing of a piece of heritage and history. The absence of photographs or videos prior to demolishing the old temple suggests a gap in the cultural preservation efforts at the local level. Given that these temples are not merely buildings but repositories of collective memory and spirituality, their demolition has far-reaching implications.

It's imperative that the government consider implementing laws or guidelines for comprehensive audits of ancient structures before they are altered or demolished. Such audits could involve architectural assessments, photographic documentation, and even community consultations. This approach could help ensure that cultural and historical significance is adequately weighed against the practicalities of upkeep and restoration.