There are many small and big Marāṭhā period temples at Sasvad located about 33 km away from Pune. The east-facing temple of Siddheśvara (18.338362, 74.007828) is one more in the series of grand temples like Sangameśvara, Cāngā Vaṭeśvara, Gaṇeśa, Bhairavanātha, etc. This temple is on the bank of the river Karha and a ghāṭ has also been built in front of it. A bridge has also been built here to cross the river. Although the sculptures on the temple are insignificant, it is an important temple for its Marāṭhā architecture.

Siddheśvara temple.

Architecture: The temple follows a traditional architectural layout comprising a nandīmaṇḍapa, sabhāmaṇḍapa, antarāḷa, and garbhagṛha. The nandīmaṇḍapa houses a striking Nandī image crafted from black basalt, which faces Siddheśvara. Atop the nandīmaṇḍapa, there is a small śikhara.

Upon entering the sabhāmaṇḍapa, one notices a Gaṇeśa carving on the lalāṭapaṭṭa and a kīrtīmukha on the uduṁbara. The entrance features three śikharas on its uttrāṅga. Inside, the sabhāmaṇḍapa is unadorned and devoid of pillars. Its vitāna is dome-shaped. Besides the main entrance, there are two additional doors on either side. The sides connecting to the antarāḷa feature two devakoṣṭhas: the right one houses an image of Gaṇeśa, while the left one contains an image of Viṣṇu. Niches for storing pūjā materials are also present. A Kūrmaśilpa is situated at the center of the maṇḍapa. Following this, one reaches the antarāḷa section.

The door to the garbhagṛha mirrors the simplicity of the sabhāmaṇḍapa entrance. The garbhagṛha itself is situated slightly lower than the sabhāmaṇḍapa. In its center stands a tall śivaliṅga. A sculpture of Pārvatī occupies a devakoṣṭha situated behind the śivaliṅga.

Nandī.

A ground-plan of the Siddheśvara temple.

Kūrmaśilpa.

Temple Exterior: The temple's exterior is notably plain, lacking any intricate carvings. Ventilators are found on three sides of the garbhagṛha, allowing for natural light and airflow. Both the sabhāmaṇḍapa and the garbhagṛha have śikharas that were recently restored. While the restoration was crucial due to the deteriorating condition of the original śikharas, it came at the cost of the temple's original architectural integrity. Unfortunately, the restoration efforts were not led by a specialized scientific team, resulting in a loss of original characteristics. The new śikharas are tall but devoid of any images or sculptures, further emphasizing the divergence from the temple's original design.

Some vīragaḷas belonging to the 14th-15th century have been kept outside the temple. A relatively ancient square-shaped śivaliṅga and Nandī are nearby. Apart from this, another ancient śivaliṅga can be seen on the temple premises. It seems that earlier, an ancient temple might have been located here

Vīragaḷas (Hero stones)

Concluding Remarks: Overall, based on the current status of architecture, the Siddheśvara temple was built in the 18th century CE, and a good example of classical Marāṭha architectural style.