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With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to

,

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)

Core Books/NCERT

Explanation

Option c is correct: Panchayatan is an architectural and religious concept from Hindu temple design.It refers to a main shrine (dedicated to a primary deity) surrounded by four subsidiary shrines, forming a five-shrine layout. It was introduced during the Gupta period (4th–6th century CE) and later became common in North and Central India.Exmaple: Vishnu temple at Deogarh (Madhya Pradesh), early Gupta temple, is a classic Panchayatan structure.