Panchayatana

A temple is a Panchayatana one when the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at four different corners. Panchayatan also refers to a type of worship (puja) performed by Smarta brahmins. The panchayatana puja is marked by the simultaneous worship of five different deities viz. Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Ganesh, and the Goddess. Though individual Smartas may choose one or another from among these as their primary deity yet, all these deities are ritually honored since they are all considered manifestations of the divine.