UPSC Prelims 2014 Q44: Art & Culture – Architecture & World Heritage
With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to
- (a) an assembly of village elders
- (b) a religious sect
- (c) a style of temple construction
- (d) an administrative functionary
Answer: (c) a style of temple construction
Explanation
Panchayatan
Panchayatana is a style of temple construction.
A main shrine stands in the centre, with four smaller shrines at the four corners.
Pancha means five.
| Example | Place | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Dashavatara Temple | Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh | Gupta, about 6th century; among the earliest |
| Kandariya Mahadeva Temple | Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh | Chandella, 11th century |
| Lakshmana Temple | Khajuraho | Chandella |
| Lingaraja Temple | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | 11th century |
Parts of a Nagara temple:
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Garbhagriha | Inner sanctum |
| Mandapa | Pillared hall |
| Shikhara | Tower over the sanctum |
It does not mean an assembly of village elders, a sect or an official.
Answer: (c) a style of temple construction.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. An assembly of village elders is a panchayat, not Panchayatan.
- (b) Incorrect. It is not the name of a religious sect.
- (c) CORRECT. Panchayatan is a style of temple construction with five shrines.
- (d) Incorrect. It is not an administrative functionary.
Key point
Panchayatana: temple layout with a main shrine and four subsidiary shrines at the corners; Dashavatara temple at Deogarh is an early example.
Remember
Panchayatan = five-shrine temple plan.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Panchayatan with panchayat.
- Forgetting the count: one main plus four corner shrines.
- Placing the first examples in the south; they are northern (Nagara) temples.
Exam tip
Pancha = five shrines. Think of the five dots on a dice.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — An Introduction to Indian Art, Ch 6 (Temple Architecture and Sculpture)
- Archaeological Survey of India — Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh