Garbhagriha

A garbhagriha (Sanskrit: गर्भगृह, romanized: Garbhagṛha) is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, what may be called the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum".

The term garbhagriha (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words garbha for womb and griha for house. Although the term is often associated with Hindu temples, it is also found in Jain and Buddhist temples.

The garbhagriha is the location of the murti (statue or icon) of the temple's primary deity. This might be a statue or icon of Shiva, as the lingam, his consort the Goddess in her consecrated image or yoni symbol, Vishnu or his spouse, or some other god in symbol or image. In the Rajrani temple in Bhuvaneshvara, near Puri, there is no symbol whatsoever in that lightless garbhagriha.