Ratha (architecture)#Examples of triratha temples

{{Short description|Facet of a Hindu temple}}

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Image:Triratha-Pancharatha-Saptaratha.jpg

Image:Plan of subsidiary shrines of Brahmeswara Temple.jpg (5 ratha) plan]]

In Hindu temple architecture, a ratha is a vertical offset projection on the plan of a structure, particularly of the shikhara above the sanctum.{{cite book |last1=Harris |first1=Cyril M. |title=Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture |date=2013 |publisher=Courier Corporation |isbn=9780486132112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kp_DAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT1200 |accessdate=3 June 2019 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Eagle |first1=Andrew |last2=Karmaker |first2=Kongkon |title=Dinajpur temple sheds new light on distant past |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/dinajpur-temple-sheds-new-light-distant-past-1430014 |website=The Daily Star |accessdate=3 June 2019 |language=en |date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603145202/https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/dinajpur-temple-sheds-new-light-distant-past-1430014 |url-status=live }} The term has the same meaning when applied to the forms of the bases of statues.

A ratha is generally carried up from the bottom of the temple to the superstructure.Harle, 153{{cite web|url=http://tourism.oriyaonline.com/temple_architecture.html|title=Orissa Tourism - Temple Architecture of Orissa, Temples of Orissa, Orissa Temples, Architecture of Temples of Orissa, Oriya Culture, Temple Tours of Orissa, Orissa Tourism - tourism.oriyaonline.com|work=oriyaonline.com|access-date=2012-10-05|archive-date=2012-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013100126/http://tourism.oriyaonline.com/temple_architecture.html|url-status=dead}} The corners of each ratha touch notional circles on the plan of the temple, centred on the murti or cult image inside the sanctum. The sides are oriented along the main horizontal axis of the temple (normally running east–west) or at right angles to it, generating (except around the entrance to the sanctum) a multi-faceted plan that harmonizes the square and the circle, becoming more circular in overall shape as the number of rathas increases.

The rathas may be decorated with geometric figures or statues, such as statues of a gatekeeper watching outside or a niche with a statue of a deity. Sometimes, the facet of the ratha is hollowed to the interior; these are rathas with recesses. If there is only one facet,{{clarify|date=August 2024}} this is a temple with three rathas (triratha): the wall and the facets on the left and the right.

If there is a main facet and a secondary one, the temple has five rathas (pancharatha). There are also temples with seven rathas (saptaratha){{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Architecture|title=Architecture|work=banglapedia.org|access-date=2015-06-30|archive-date=2020-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116231638/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Architecture|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://spiritualvedicnames.com/saptaratha/|title=Saptaratha|work=spiritualvedicnames.com|access-date=2012-10-05|archive-date=2013-02-02|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202211000/http://spiritualvedicnames.com/saptaratha/|url-status=live}} and nine rathas (navaratha).