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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