Shrine vs. Temple — What's the Difference?

A site of worship that is often personal or commemorative.

Serves as a communal gathering place for rituals and ceremonies.

May contain relics, symbols, or images of the revered figure.

A building dedicated to religious worship or activities, often for multiple deities.

Can be a natural site or constructed space regarded with reverence.

Often has a structured hierarchy and clergy responsible for rituals.

A holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, person, or event.

Can be an architectural landmark and symbol of cultural identity.

Serves as a place for individual prayer, offerings, or meditation.

Facilitates teachings, spiritual education, and community services.

A shrine (Latin: scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: escrin "box or case") is a sacred or holy site dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated.

A temple (from the Latin templum) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Islam (whose temples are called mosques), Judaism (whose temples are called synagogues), and ancient religions such as the Ancient Egyptian religion.

A place where devotion is paid to a deity or deities, as in Shinto.

A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.

The tomb of a saint or other venerated person.

A group of buildings in Fleet Street, London, which stand on land formerly occupied by the headquarters of the Knights Templar. Located there are the Inner and Outer Temple, two of the Inns of Court.

A location where an important event in the life of a holy person is thought to have occurred.

The flat part of either side of the head between the forehead and the ear

A container or receptacle for sacred relics; a reliquary.

A device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched.

A site hallowed by association with a revered person or object or with an important event

A building dedicated to religious ceremonies or worship.

To enshrine.

Temple Either of two successive buildings in ancient Jerusalem serving as the primary center for Jewish worship.

A holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, or similar figure of awe and respect, at which said figure is venerated or worshipped.

(Judaism) A synagogue, especially of a Reform congregation.

A case, box, or receptacle, especially one in which are deposited sacred relics, as the bones of a saint.

Mormon Church A building in which the sacred ordinances are administered.

(figuratively) A place or object hallowed from its history or associations.

Something regarded as having within it a divine presence.

To enshrine; to place reverently, as if in a shrine.

A building used for meetings by any of several fraternal orders, such as the Freemasons.

A case, box, or receptacle, especially one in which are deposited sacred relics, as the bones of a saint.

A building reserved for a highly valued function

Any sacred place, as an altar, tromb, or the like.

Temple Either of two groups of buildings in London, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, that house two of the four Inns of Court and that occupy the site of a complex used by the medieval Knights Templars.

A place or object hallowed from its history or associations; as, a shrine of art.

The flat region on either side of the forehead.

Short for Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a secret fraternal organization professedly originated by one Kalif Alu, a son-in-law of Mohammed, at Mecca, in the year of the Hegira 25 (about 646 a. d.) In the modern order, established in the United States in 1872, only Knights Templars or thirty-second degree Masons are eligible for admission, though the order itself is not Masonic. A member of the order is popularly called a Shriner, and the order itself is sometimes called the Shriners.

Either of the sidepieces of a frame for eyeglasses that extends along the temple and over the ear.

To enshrine; to place reverently, as in a shrine.

A device in a loom that keeps the cloth stretched to the correct width during weaving.

A place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person

A house of worship, especially:

Enclose in a shrine;

A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.

(Judaism) synagogue, especially a non-Orthodox synagogue.

(Mormonism) As opposed to an LDS meetinghouse, a church closed to non-Mormons and necessary for particular rituals.

(in Japan) A Buddhist monastery, as opposed to a Shinto shrine.

A meeting house of the Oddfellows fraternity; its members.

(figurative) Any place regarded as holding a religious presence.

(figurative) Any place seen as an important centre for some activity.

(figurative) Anything regarded as important or minutely cared for.

(figurative) A gesture wherein the forefingers are outstretched and touch pad to pad while the other fingers are clasped together.

(anatomy) The slightly flatter region, on either side of the human head, behind of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch, and forward of the ear.

(ophthalmology) Either of the sidepieces on a set of spectacles, extending backwards from the hinge toward the ears and, usually, turning down around them.

(weaving) A contrivance used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.

(transitive) To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; to temple a god

A contrivence used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.

The space, on either side of the head, back of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch and in front of the ear.

One of the side bars of a pair of spectacles, jointed to the bows, and passing one on either side of the head to hold the spectacles in place.

A place or edifice dedicated to the worship of some deity; as, the temple of Jupiter at Athens, or of Juggernaut in India.

The edifice erected at Jerusalem for the worship of Jehovah.

Hence, among Christians, an edifice erected as a place of public worship; a church.

Fig.: Any place in which the divine presence specially resides.

A building dedicated to the administration of ordinances.

A local organization of Odd Fellows.

To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; as, to temple a god.

Place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity

The flat area on either side of the forehead;

An edifice devoted to special or exalted purposes

(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation

A shrine is a sacred place for personal devotion to a specific entity, while a temple is a larger, community-focused place of worship for multiple deities.

Generally, shrines and temples are open to all, but some may have restrictions based on religious or cultural practices.

Yes, shrines dedicated to specific deities or figures can be located within temple complexes.

Clergy perform rituals, lead worship, provide spiritual guidance, and maintain the temple’s traditions.

Yes, many shrines are located in natural settings and are revered for their spiritual significance.

Many, but not all, religions have temples or similar structures for communal worship; practices vary widely.

Typically, yes, temples are larger and designed for communal worship, but there can be exceptions.

Visiting a shrine is often a personal, reflective act, while visiting a temple is usually for communal worship and participation in rituals.

While typically religious, shrines can also commemorate secular events or individuals revered in a community.

Temples serve as centers for worship, rituals, community gatherings, and sometimes educational or social services.

While the concept of temples is common, the design, worship practices, and deities vary greatly among different religions.

Individuals visit shrines for prayer, offerings, or meditation, often seeking personal solace or blessings.

Temple festivals celebrate religious events, bring communities together, and often involve elaborate rituals and processions.

Some portable shrines can be moved and are often part of processions, but many are fixed and considered sacred spaces.

Donations support the maintenance of these sacred spaces, fund rituals and festivals, and are also acts of devotion.