In Sanskrit Pancha refers to “five” and Atayana refers to the word “altar” hence the word Pachayatna.
The simultaneous worship (Puja) of the five deities is preformed by Smarta Brahmins.The five deities, or manifestation of the Divine are Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Ganesha and the G-ddess Devi.
The central area is called the Garbhargriha or ‘ womb-house), the raised platform is the Jagati, the curved spire is called the Shikhara and the Kalasha/Amalake is the very top of the Shikhara.
