Panchamukha can be interpreted as the five ways of praying to God in Hindu philosophy.
These five ways are known as naman, smaran, keerthanam, yacham and arpanam.
The five faces of Panchamukaa are each a depiction of one these five forms of worship.
Hanuman always used to naman, smaran and keerthanam of Rama. He totally surrendered (arpanam) to Rama.
He also begged (yachanam) Rama to bless him with undivided love.There are many legends and interpretations of this. One of the legend is that Lord Hanuman appeared before Raghavendra Swami in a unique way amalgamating
within him the avataras of "varaha, garuda, anjaneya, narasimha and hayagreeva", thus five-headed
Details of Panchamukaa
Correct statue of Panchamukhi Hanuman depicting the five heads in their correct position
The front (east) facing head is that of Lord Hanuman, south facing is Narasimha, north facing is Varaha, rear facing
is Garuda and finally the head atop the four heads is Hayagriva.East facing Anjaneya to grant Ishta Siddhi to humanity.South facing Karala Ugraveera Narasimha to grant Abhista Siddhi to humanity.
West facing Mahaveera Garuda to grant Sakala Sowbhagya to humanity.
North facing Lakshmi Varaha to grant Dhana Prapthi to humanity.
Urdhva Mukha being Hayagriva to grant Sarva Vidya Jaya Prapthi to humanity.
Panchmukhi Hanuman Dhyana Mantra
“Panchasyachutamaneka vichitra veeryam |
Sri shanka chakra ramaniya bhujagra desam ||
Peethambaram makara kundala noopurangam |
Dhyayethitam kapivaram hruthi bhvayami” ||
Hanuman is a great yogi (mystic) having transcended the five senses (Pancha Indriyas). In Kamba Ramayanam (in Tamil), the significance of number five is beautifully narrated as follows:
1. The son of one of the five elements (son of wind – Pavana Thanaya)
2. Crossed one of the five elements (water – the ocean)
3. Through one of the five elements (sky)
4. Met daughter of one of the five elements (daughter of earth – Sita Devi)
5. Burnt down Lanka by one of the five elements (fire).
Hanuman being the faithful devotee he is, undertakes the mission of rescuing them back safely. But he is quite perplexed when he reaches the underworld and realizes that the only way to save them was to kill Mahiravana, Mahiravana being the master of trickery and deceit carefully has his lives split in all 5 directions, 3 of which were in lamps. So hanuman took the form of a Panchamukhi Hanuman, (with five faces). Panchamukhi Hanuman, (with five faces). The faces were namely Hanuman, Hayagriva, Garuda, Varaha and Narasimha. And they successfully vanquished the enemy and saved Rama and Lakshmana.
Make: Made in pure silver.
Dimensions: 2.5 inches (H) x 1.8 inches (W)
Weight: 70 gms