There is a group of medieval temples at Palasdev in the Pune district. Among these, the ‘Saraḍeśvara’ or Viṣṇu temple (18.247365, 74.876296) near the Paḷasanātha temple is the oldest one. After the construction of the Ujani Dam over the Bhima River was completed in 1978, all the temples in this village were submerged. They only re-emerge during the few months of summer. Since these temples were under water for most of the year, silt had accumulated everywhere.

The temples of ‘Saraḍeśvara’ (Viṣṇu) and Paḷasanātha.

Legend: According to a legend prevalent in this area, “When King Nahuṣa became a lizard (सरडा) due to a curse, he fell at this place, hence this temple is called Saraḍeśvara temple.” Many people with the surname ‘Sarde’ live in this area. They might have some association with this story.

Architecture: The temple of Saraḍeśvara is west facing and it consists of mukhamaṇḍapa, sabhāmaṇḍapa, antarāḷa and garbhagṛha. The sabhāmaṇḍapa of the temple has mukhamaṇḍapa on three sides. These mukhamaṇḍapas also have kakṣāsanas alongside. Major portions of the kakṣāsanas have collapsed. It is seen that some simple vāmana stambhas are in those.

Saraḍeśvara temple.

A close view of Saraḍeśvara temple.

There are four simple stambhas in the sabhāmaṇḍapa. They have nāgabandhas on their stambhaśīrṣas.

Sabhāmaṇḍapa of the temple.

Then the antarāḷa without devakoṣhṭhas is seen. The garbhagṛha’s entrance is simple and the stambhaśākhā is visible. There are no dvārpālas etc. carved on the door.

The entrance of garbhagṛha.

The garbhagṛha is simple and currently, it is empty. The exterior of the garbhagṛha is plain and there is no carving on it. The śikharas of the garbhagṛha and sabhāmaṇḍapa have completely collapsed. They were probably built in bricks. Garuḍa or vāhanamaṇḍapa is not seen in front of the temple.

A general view of Saraḍeśvara temple with the backwater of Ujani dam behind.

Inscription: An inscription is engraved on the pillar which is at the right of the navaraṅga in the Saraḍeśvara temple. It is in Devanāgarī script and Marathi language. This inscription was first mentioned in the list of engraved inscriptions published in 1873 by Burgess and Cousens. Later, especially M. G. Dikshit got imprinted and edited this inscription in 1949. This only two-lined inscription is from Śaka Era 1079 and according to the Gregorian calendar, this year is calculated as 1157 CE.

1. Śrī Caṅgdev Daṇḍanāke Viṣṇgṛha kele | Īśwar saṁvacharī nīphajale | prāsādī Basvaṇ Ūvajā tehāce putra Bhāiyā | Vaṁbhī

2. Niṣpattī soneyā sāhastru eku 1000 prāsādia akāravātottare bhūmī 100 dāupasāu bāhilā | Saku 1079 Maṅgal Mahaśrī

Translation: Śrī Caṅgdev Daṇḍanāyaka built this Viṣṇgṛha. He was born in the Īśwar saṁvatsara. Bhāi, the son of Basavaṇa Upādhyāya, who was associated with this Prāsād, donated one thousand (1000) gold coins from the Niṣpattī deposits. Also given ‘akarāvātottara’ i. e. tax-free land associated with prāsāda and ‘dāupasāu’ (dāyaprasāda) of 100 (gold coins). Śaka era 1079. Maṅgal Mahaśrī.

An inscription of 1157 CE is engraved on the pillar.

The northern portion of the temple.

Hero stones.

Concluding Remarks: An image of Hanumāna, satīśiḷā and a beautiful vīragaḷa can be seen in the Saraḍeśvara temple premises. The temple has been extensively damaged due to the water of the Ujani dam. The government should take some concrete steps to protect this temple.