Before the advent of Adi Shankaracharya, there were more than sixty-eight different ways of worship of the Hindu Gods with corresponding Deities.
Sankaracharya, quoting the Sruthi, The Vedas, streamlined the system of worship into Six, Shanmatha.
They are,
Ganapathyam, Lord Ganesh,
Soumaaram, Lord Surya, Sun.
Saivam,Lord Siva,
Saktham, Goddess Parvati.
Kaumaaram, Lord Subramanya and
Vaishnavam, Lord Vishnu.
He also laid down the rues for Panchayathana Puja, to be performed Daily