The story behind Panchmukhi Hanuman

Panchmukhi Hanuman is a very popular form of Lord Hanuman which means “Five Faced”. It is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya or alternatively Panchamukhi Anjaneya. (Anjaneya, which means "son of Anjana"). The origin of Sri Panchamukhi Hanuman can be marked out from war in Ramayana.

During the war of Lanka between Lord Ram and demon Ravana, Ravana asked Patala Loka (hell)king Mahiravana for help. Mahiravana was a practitioner of black magic and dark art. He assumed the form of Vibeeshana and took Lord Ram and Lakshman to Patala Loka with the intention to kill them and gifting it to Goddess Kali. Hanuman also reached Patala Loka in search of Lord Rama and Lakshman. Where Lord Hanuman came to know that to kill Mahiravana he has to extinguish five burning lamps kept in different directions at the same time. In order to finish this task, Lord Hanuman assumes the form of Panchmukhi Hanuman and extinguishes the 5 lamps simultaneously. The five faces he assumed were the form of -

1. Sri Varaha facing the North

2. Sri Narasimha facing the South

3. Sri Garuda facing the West

4. Sri Hayagriva facing the sky and

5. His own (Hanuman) facing the East.

Thus demon Mahiravana a powerful black magician was killed and Lord Rama and Lakshmana are saved. Devotees believe this form of Lord Hanuman as the power to overcome problems and protection from all evils.

"Jai Hanuman"