Panchayatana puja is the system of worship which was most common in every Brahmin house till few decades

ago. The Panchayatana is a system which consists of the worship of five deities: "Adityam Ambikaam Vishnum Gananaatam Maheswaram" Aditya is Lord Surya. Ambika is Goddess Devi. Vishnu is Lord Narayana. Gananaatham is Lord Ganesha. Maheswara is Lord Shiva. These five are the great divine force whom every householder worships as pancha devata puja. Based on the tradition followed by the family, one of these deities is kept in the center and the other four around it and worship is offered to all the deities. Adhi Shankara systemised the Sanatana Dharma(Hinduism) and classified it into broad Six categories. Shaiva - with Shiva as the Presiding deity Vaishnava - with Vishnu as the Presiding deity Shaktha - with Devi as the Presiding deity Ganapatya - with Ganesha as the Presiding deity Kaumara - with Subramanya as the Presiding deity Sowra - with Surya (planets) as the Presiding deity Deva Puja and Archana is one of the most important duties imposed by the Shastras. The Shastras are filled with details of the Panchayatana puja details and Adhi Shankra only prescribed us to follow it without fail. The panchayatana scheme represent the five elements: Akashasyadhipo vishnuh agneshchaiva maheshvari | vayoh suryah kshiterishah jivanasya ganadhipah || Akasha : Space : Vishnu Vahni : Fire : AmbikA Vayu : Air : Aditya kShiti : Earth : Shiva Jala : Water : Ganapati All the five deities are not Panchaloka or any other metal idols; But these five are represented by small natural stones found in various parts of India. Name of Deity : Ganesha Bhuta(Tatwa) : Apu(Water) Name of the Stone (Sila) : Red Sonabhadra Name of the River : Sone Name of the State where found in India : Bihar

Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Lotus and Bandook flowers Name of Deity : Surya(Sun) Bhuta(Tatwa) : Vayu (Air) Name of the Stone (Sila) : Crystal Name of the River : Vallam Name of the State where found in India : Tamil Nadu (Tanjavur) Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Bandook flower and plantain tree Name of Deity : Vishnu Bhuta(Tatwa) : Akasha(Space) Name of the Stone (Sila) : Saligrama Name of the River : Gandaki Name of the State where found in India : Nepal Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Tulsi (basil), Ashwatha, and Amalaki leaves. Marigold, Punnaga, and yellow flowers Name of Deity : Shiva Bhuta(Tatwa) : Prithivi(Earth) Name of the Stone (Sila) : Banalinga Name of the River : Narmada (Omkara-kunda) Name of the State where found in India : Madhya Pradesh Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Godlen shower tree Flower ,Bel leaves & Amalaki leaves. Akund (Calotropis gigantea), Crown flower Nagalingam flower Name of Deity : Ambika(Devi) Bhuta(Tatwa) : Agni(Fire) Name of the Stone (Sila) : Swarna Mukhi (Rekha Shila) Name of the River : Swarnamukhi Name of the State where found in India : Andhra Pradesh Names of flowers and leaves used for worship : Red flowers - Hibiscus or China rose and Neem leaves The image of that particular devata is kept in the centre, surrounded by the other gods. If he is a devotee of Vishnu, he places the idol of Vishnu in the centre with the other idols surrounding it. If he is a devotee of Lord shiva, a lingam is placed in the middle with the other images around it. If he is a devotee of Suryanarayana, he has a sphatika as the central object of worship.