This is the 507th most frequent Japanese word.
堂
A hall or building, often of significant or ceremonial purpose.
In this sentence, "堂" is used in the context of "本堂" (hondou), which refers to the main hall of a temple. The word "堂" often appears as a component in names of buildings dedicated to certain functions or purposes.
この寺院には壮大な本堂があります。
This temple has a magnificent main hall.
Here, "堂" is used in "食堂" (shokudou), meaning a dining hall or cafeteria. The character "堂" conveys the idea of a spacious hall or room designated for a particular type of activity, in this case, eating.
道の駅に食堂があるので、そこで昼ご飯を食べましょう。
There is a dining hall at the roadside station, so let's eat lunch there.
In this example, "堂" appears in "図書堂" (tosho-dou), where "図書" means books or literature, and "堂" specifies the building or room where this activity primarily occurs, serving as the library.