Gorinto consist of five rings which are symbolic of the elements of the universe in ancient India, or Godai (five elements) in Japanese: from the top to bottom, the Hoju shape (a lotus flower, Ku-rin = the ether ring), the crescent shape (Fu-rin = the air ring), the pyramid, or hat or roof shape (Ka-rin = the fire ring), the sphere shape (Sui-rin = the water ring), and the cube shape (Chi-rin = the earth ring).
五輪塔は、上から宝珠形＝空輪、半月形＝風輪、三角形（または笠形、屋根形）＝火輪、円形＝水輪、方形＝地輪によって構成され、古代インドにおいて宇宙の構成要素・元素と考えられた五大を象徴する。