The Yamāī Devī temple, located at coordinates 18.143503, 74.511302 in Malegaon Khurd, is dedicated to Goddess Yamāī. Revered as a local deity, she is perceived as a manifestation of Bhairavī. Situated near a canal to the north of the town along the Baramati-Nira Road, the temple stands facing east. It's strategically positioned 8 km from Baramati and 102 km from Pune city. The temple's religious ceremonies are overseen by Mr. Somnath Narayan Mokashi, a priest belonging to the Gurav caste. Architecturally, based on its unique patterns, the temple can be tentatively dated to the 15th – 16th century CE. It boasts a construction primarily comprising stones and bricks.

Yamāī Devī temple

Architecture:  The architecture of the Yamāī Devī temple is unpretentious, with a notably plain entrance. The lintel above the entrance features a carved image of a goddess. Eschewing traditional temple segments like the vāhanamaṇḍapa, mukhamaṇḍapa, antarāḷa, and garbhagṛha, the temple comprises a single, expansive hall. This hall is supported by four substantial pillars and complemented by 12 half-pillars. The garbhagṛha-esque segment measures 540 x 540 cm internally and 750 x 750 cm externally. The idol of Yamāī Devī is positioned in the western part of the maṇḍapa, elegantly draped in a sari and festooned with ornaments. To the deity's right stands an image of Bhairava, and to the left, a depiction of another goddess.

The maṇḍapa's pillars are understated, devoid of ornamental carvings. At a height of 200 cm, each pillar's structure comprises a base, a rectangular shaft, two octagonal segments, an unembellished shaft, another octagonal segment, a circular section, a disc, and concludes with a flat capital at the pinnacle. The ceiling beams find their equilibrium atop these primary pillars. The ceiling itself is simple, with a central lotus motif as its sole embellishment. The remaining sections of the maṇḍapa ceiling are bare, devoid of any decorative motifs. This temple can be perceived as a representation of the waning phase of traditional temple architectural style. Its exterior is straightforward, absent of designs and niches/aediculae, with only the base of its four walls showcasing some minimal designs. The temple's facade is uniformly colored.

Rectangular openings have been recently fashioned on the walls to facilitate lighting. The temple's superstructure, constructed from bricks, tapers gracefully towards a miniature version of itself, culminating in a finial, or Kalaśa. Encircling the Yamāī temple is a lengthy, imposing fortification wall which, in the present day, has been both preserved and restored in places. Additionally, a well can be found to the temple's left.

A goddess image on the lintel.

Yamai Devi Sculpture: The main sculpture of the goddess Yamāī is on a pedestal. The goddess's attributes are as follows: in the upper right hand, she holds a pellet drum (Damarū); in the lower right hand, she holds a sword; in the upper left, she holds a trident and in the lower left; she holds a drinking bowl. The goddess is depicted as seated in Lalitāsana and beneath her seat to the left; is a human head, while to the right; is a buffalo head depicted. She wears a Kiriṭa-type crown and it is decorated with a small skull garland. She wears round earrings, shoulder lace, necklace, armlets, rings, anklets, and waistbands. From the overall depiction, the goddess seems to be a Bhairavī.

Yamāī Devī

A close view of Yamāī Devī

Yamāī Devī

Bhairava and Bhairavi: to the right hand of the Yamāī idol, there is a Bhairava image. He holds a drum in his upper right hand and a sword in his lower right hand. In his upper left hand, he holds a trident while in his lower left hand; he holds a skull cup. He is adorned with a crown, earrings, and a garland of skulls. To the left hand of the Yamāī idol, there is a worn-out sculpture of a deity seated in padmāsana. On the lintel of the entrance, a four-handed goddess is carved. The image is worn out. However, we can understand that in the upper right hand, she holds a pellet drum (Damarū); in the lower right hand, she holds a sword; in the upper left, she probably holds a trident; and in the lower left; she holds a drinking bowl or a skull cup. She is adorned with a crown and round earrings. She probably could be Bhairavī.

Bhairava

Sculpture of an unidentified goddess.

Outer part of the temple.

Concluding Remarks: Recently, a lion has been installed outside the temple as the mount of the goddess. A few colossal tamarind trees on the temple premises beautify the temple area and make it picturesque. The temple is in moderately good condition. Considering the temple architecture style, plain pillars, and structure, it seems the temple belongs to the 15th – 16th century CE and is dedicated to the goddess Bhairavī. The temple could be a good example to study and understand the structure from the last or declining phase of the traditional temple architecture.