panchayatana

Panchayatana is a form of Hindu worship in which a single puja is performed for five deities, typically arranged with one central image surrounded by four others. The term panchayatana translates to “five shrines” or “five worshipables.” It is a hallmark of the Smarta tradition and is associated with the teachings of Adi Shankaracharya, who is credited with systematizing its use as a coherent expression of the unity of the divine.

In the standard arrangement, five deities are invoked: Ganesha, Surya (the Sun), Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi (the Goddess). The central deity is regarded as the ishta or chosen form for the devotee, while the surrounding four are invoked to complete the equitable representation of the divine in multiple aspects. The five together symbolize the notion that different manifestations of the one Brahman can be worshipped without sectarian exclusivity.

Practices of Panchayatana puja involve a single set of offerings and ritual items used for all five deities. The devotee performs invocations (adhavami), offerings, prayers, and aarti to the central deity, while also respectfully acknowledging the others in turn. Mantras associated with each deity are recited in sequence or collectively, highlighting the philosophy of non-dualism that underpins Smarta Hinduism.

Today, Panchayatana puja is observed in many Hindu households and temples, especially within Smarta communities. It serves as a practical and symbolic method of honoring diverse aspects of the divine while reinforcing the underlying unity of all forms of worship.