Panchayatana (temple)

Hindu temples are built in the panchayatana (पञ्चायतन) layout: the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. The origin of the name are the Sanskrit words pancha (five) and ayatana (containing), referring to a "five-shrined" layout.

Generally, Hindu temples are built along a west-east axis. The four subsidiary shrines are located at the north-east, south-east, south-west, and the north-west.

Examples of Panchayatana temples

 * Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho
 * Brahmeswara Temple in Bhubaneswar
 * Jagdish Temple in Udaipur
 * Lakshmana Temple in Khajuraho
 * Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar
 * Arasavalli Temple near Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh near Visakhapatnam. Main shrine dedicated to Aditya. Subsidiary shrines dedicated to Ganesh, Shiva, Parvati and Vishnu.
 * Dashavatara Temple in Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh. It should be the oldest panchayatana temple in India.
 * Nabaratna Temple in Pantchupi
 * Shiva Panchayatana Temple in Tumbadi, Tumkur district. Subsidiary shrines dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha, Vinayaka, Parvati and Surya.
 * Gondeshvara temple, in Sinnar, Maharashtra
 * Panchayatan temple at Dronasagar, Kashipur, Uttarakhand is an archeological site, from 6th century AD.
 * Rinmukteshwar Panchdevalaya, Ena situated in Ena Village of Surat district in Gujarat State.