Panchayatana style
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Panchayatana means "five shrines". In this temple plan, the main shrine stands in the centre of the platform. Four smaller shrines stand at its four corners. This arrangement became a popular pattern in Nagara (north Indian style) temples. It reflects the idea of a central god surrounded by other gods.
Example
The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh in Uttar Pradesh (c. fifth century CE) is an early example. Its main Vishnu shrine stood on a platform with four smaller shrines at the corners.
Don't confuse with
- Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram: five separate shrines, each cut from a single rock and standing in a row. They are not one temple built around a central shrine.
Related concepts
- Puranic Hinduism
- Vaishnavism
- Avatar
- Dashavatara
- Varaha
- Vasudeva-Krishna
- Shaivism
- Linga
- Garbhagriha
- Antarala