[āyataṃte'tra, yat ādhāre lyuṭ] 1 Place, abode, house, resting-place; (fig. also); śūlāyatanāḥ Mu. 7 hangmen; snehastadekāyatanaṃ jagāma Ku. 7. 5 was centred in her; R. 3. 36; sarvāvinayānāmekaikamapyeṣāmāyatanaṃ K. 103; ºmṛgeṇa 130 domestic deer; Chāṇ. 32; (hence) a receptacle, home, support, seat.

2 The place of the sacred fire, altar, shed for sacrifices.

3 A sanctuary, sa- cred place; as in devāyatanaṃ,...