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18-Hanumaan Panchmukhaa

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18-Hanumaan as Panchmukhaa
Branched from   7-Hanumaan in Battlefield

Thus Hanumaan had to have his five faces to free Raam and Lakshman from Ahiraavan. He assumed the following faces :---

Varaah - Varaah Avataar is the third Avataar of Vishnu, in the form of a Boar. He appeared in order to bring Prithvi out of the sea by defeating Hiranyaaksh who had taken the Earth and carried it to the bottom of the cosmic ocean...
Narasinh - Narasinh Avataar is the Avataar of Vishnu to kill Hiranyakashyap and to grace his son Prahlaad...
Garud - The Garud is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hinduism and Buddhism mythology. He is the ride of Vishnu. Garud is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila...
Hayagreev - Hayagreev is another Avataar of Vishnu taken to kill Hayagreev named Raakshas...
Read about all these Avataar HERE

Note
Some interpret them like this : ---
East facing Aanjaneya to grant humanity Isht Siddhi.
South facing Karaal Ugraveer Narasih to grant humanity Abheesht Siddhi.
West facing Mahaaveer Garud to grant humanity Sakal Saubhaagya.
North facing Lakshmee Varaah to grant humanity Dhan Praapti.
Oordhwa Mukh (atop) being Hayagreev to grant humanity Sarv Vidyaa Jaya Praapti.

Shree Panchamukhaa Aanjaneya Swaamee was the main deity of Shree Raaghavendra Swaamee. The place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Hanumaan is now known as Panchmukhaa Aanjaneya or Panchmukhee Aanjaneya - Aanjaneya means "the son of Anjanaa" - it is another name of Hanumaan). Here a temple also has been built or him. This form of Hanuman is very popular.

Significance of Hanumaan's Five Faces

Every Face of Shree Panchamukhaa Hanumaan has a significance —

(1) Hanumaan's original faces East. This face removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of mind and success.
(2) The Narasinh face of Hanumaan faces South in his original form. He grants victory and fearlessness.
(3) The West facing face is of Mahaaveer Garud. It removes all poisonous effects in one's body and black magic.
(4) The North facing face is of Lakshmee Varaah. It  wards off the troubles caused by bad influences of the planets and showers all kinds of prosperity and wealth - Asht Aishwarya.
(5) The Hayagreev Mukh faces the Sky - Oordhwamukh. But since we cannot see it, it is usually tilted and shown above Hanuman's face. Hayagreev gives knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny.

Thus, there is nothing in the world which does not come under any the influence of any of the five faces.
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Hanuman is a great Yogee (mystic) having transcended the five senses (Panch Indriya).
In Kamban Raamaayan (in Tamil), the significance of number five is beautifully narrated as follows:
He is--
(1) The son of one of the five elements (son of wind - Pavan Tanaya)
(2) crossed one of the five elements (water – the ocean),
(3) got through one of the five elements (flying in the sky),
(4) met daughter of one of the five elements (daughter of earth - Seetaa)
(5) burnt down Lankaa by one of the five elements (fire).
Thus he had the grace of all the five elements.
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Sundar Kaand, which highlights the heroic exploits of Lord Hanumaan in Lankaa is also the 5th canto in the Raamaayan. Therefore, it is considered auspicious to go around his idol 5 times, 14 times, 23 times, 32 times or with such numbers the digits of which add to five.

Interpretations of Panchmukh
(1) here are five ways of prayer to Hanumaan -  Naman, Smaran, Keertan, Yaachanaa and Arpan. The five faces depict these five forms. Hanumaan always used to Naman, Smaran and Keertan of Raam. He totally surrendered (Arpanam) to his Master. He also begged (Yaachanaa) Raam to bless him His undivided love.

(2) In Bhagvad Geetaa, Krishn says to Arjun, "He who acts for me who is engrossed in me, who is my devotee, who is free from attachment, he reaches me". We find all these 5 qualities enshrine in Hanumaan. Each of his face explains the five divine qualifications.

There is a belief that one of the faces is that of Shree Vinaayak. The idol of Aadiyant Mahaa Prabhu depicts a figure of half Aanjaneya and half Vinaayak, means half Ganesh and half Hanumaan. At Madhya Kailaash Temple Adyar Madras - The idol is an amalgam of Shree Vighneshwar and Shree Aanjaneya on the lines of Ardh-Naareeshwar (Shiv and Paarvatee) and Shree Shankar-Naaraayan (combination of Shiv and Naaraayana). The word Aadiyant stands for "beginning to end" (Aadi = beginning and Anta = end). There is a Tamil saying "Begin with Ganesh and end up with Aanjaneya". Many people visit the temple to get blessing of the "Twins" against the influence of Navagraha. The importance of the idol is that Shree Vighneshwar and Shree Aanjaneya are the only two deities who are totally free from any influence over them whatsoever by the Nava Graha. It is believed that, the devotees can and do influence the Nava Graha themselves proportionate to the devoutness with which the devotees address themselves to Shree Aadiyant Prabhu.

Legend About Panchmukhaa Form
Hanumaan's Panchmukhaa form is a very rare form. There are many legends and interpretations to this.

According to one legend Hanumaan is said to have appeared before Raghavendraswamy in a unique way amalgamating within him the Avataar of "Varaah, Garud, Aanjaneya, Narasinh and Hayagreev", thus five-headed. Panchamukhee, located on the south bank of river Tungabhadraa near Manchala now known as Mantraalaya is where Raghavendraswamy performed penance for 12 long years in a cave. In appreciation of his Yog, Lord Panchmukhee Pranadevaru, Kollahpura Mahaa Lakshmee, Lord Venkateshwar of Tirupati and Koorm Avataar gave Darshan to him. Then he left for Mantraalaya where he entered into Samaadhi. A temple has been constructed at the spot where he performed penance known as the Panchmukhee Aanjaneyaswamy Temple.

Panchmukhaa Kavach
Read it here.

 

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Created and Maintained by Sushma Gupta
Created on 07/27/2011 and Updated on 09/26/2021
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