Have you ever heard about a deity that has not one, but five powerful faces with each face, having unique strength and blessings? This incredible deity is Lord Hanuman and this particular form with five faces is known as “Panchmukhi Hanuman”.
Lord Hanuman is one of the seven Chiranjeevies, who continue to bless and protect the world with their presence. Panchmukhi Hanuman is considered a symbol of immense power and protection. Devotees believe worshipping Panchmukhi Hanuman and keeping his idol at home invites protection, courage, and good fortune.
In this blog, we will explore more about Panchmukhi Hanuman, his five faces, his origin story, and much more. So, read this blog till the end to gather all of this knowledge!
The Five Faces of Panchmukhi Hanuman
The word “Panch” means five, “Mukhi” means faces. So, Panchmukhi Hanuman means a form of Lord Hanuman with five faces. Let’s learn about each of those five faces:
- Hanuman (Central Face): This is the usual and familiar face of Lord Hanuman, which resembles the monkey face. It represents strength, devotion, service, and unwavering loyalty.
- Narasimha (South Face): This is the lion-faced form and represents fierce protection, destruction of evil, and courage. Devotees also refer to this face of Lord Hanuman as “Narasimha Avatar”.
- Garuda (West Face): This is the eagle-faced form and represents freedom, the power to eliminate any kind of negativity, and protection from negative energies.
- Varaha (North Face): This is the boar-faced form and represents stability, strength, and ability to conquer obstacles.
- Hayagriva (Skyward Face): This is the horse-faced form and represents knowledge and wisdom. Havagriva is an avatar of Lord Vishnu and is considered the god of learning and knowledge.
Origin Story of Panchmukhi Hanuman
The origin story of Panchmukhi Hanuman is quite interesting and goes back all the way to the time of Ramayana. When Lord Ram had a great battle with Ravana and was fighting him, Ahiravana, Ravana’s brother, entered their fight.
Ahiravana was a master of magic and kidnapped Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman and took them to Patak Lok (underworld). When Hanuman realized the situation, he rushed to rescue them.
To save Lord Ram and Lakshman, Hanuman had to defeat Ahiravana. To do so, Hanuman discovered that Ahiravana had five lamps and each lamp represented his force of life. To defeat him, all these lamps had to be extinguished at the same time.
At this point, Hanuman took on the magnificent form of Panchmukhi Hanuman and used all of his five faces to extinguish the lamps.
- To extinguish the lamp facing the north, Hanuman used the Varaha face.
- To extinguish the lamp facing the south, Hanuman used the Narasimha face.
- To extinguish the lamp facing the west, Hanuman used the Garuda face.
- To extinguish the lamp facing the skyward direction, Hanuman used the Hayagriva face.
- Finally, to extinguish the last lamp, Hanuman used his central face.
This way, using all five pieces simultaneously, Hanuman defeated Ravana’s brother, Ahiravana, and rescued Lord Ram and Lakshman.
Significance of Panchmukhi Hanuman
Panchmukhi Hanuman holds great symbolism and deep spiritual significance. Lord Hanuman represents
- Protection: Lord Hanuman is considered a powerful protector and he is believed to protect his duties against any kind of evil forces.
- Courage: Lord Hanuman is full of strength and this particular quality inspires his devotees to gather courage and fight against all the difficult situations.
- Prosperity: Lord Hanuman is also believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the lives of his devotees.
- Wisdom: One of the five faces of Panchmukhi Hanuman, the Hayagriva face, represents knowledge and makes him a great source of wisdom.
In today’s modern and stressful world, the symbolism and significance of Panchmukhi Hanuman feel more relevant than ever. When you face any kind of challenge, you can think of Lord Hanuman to gather courage. When you feel overwhelmed on busy days, you can think of him to gather strength.
Each of the faces of Panchmukhi Hanuman reminds you that you have all the kind of strength, needed to fight any situation, is within you. Whether it is overcoming a difficult situation or seeking peace of mind, Panchmukhi Hanuman always helps in showing the right path and offering support.
Significance of Sindoor on Panchmukhi Hanuman
When you see a Panchmukhi Hanuman idol, I am sure you must have noticed a bright red powder, called Sindoor, covering his entire body. Well, the sindoor is considered a very special offering for Panchmukhi Hanuman.
The story behind this sindoor goes back to the time of Ramayana. Once Mata Sita, Lord Ram’s wife, was applying sindoor on her forehead. Out of curiosity, Lord Hanuman asked Mata Sita the reason behind putting the sindoor.
To this question, Mata Sita responded that it is a symbol of her love and prayer for Lord Ram’s long life. Lord Hanuman, the ultimate devotee of Lord Ram, thought that if a little sindoor could bring Lord Ram’s long life, then covering my whole body with it could also do wonders.
So, Lord Hanuman covered his entire body in Sindoor to show his love and faith towards Lord Ram. Because of this, people offer Sindoor to Lord Hanuman to show their love, respect, and unwavering devotion.
What Does Sindoor Represent?
Through visual appearance, the sindoor just looks like a red powder. However, it holds a deep significance. It is considered a sacred offering as it represents purity. Sindoor also signifies the power of Lord Hanuman.
How to Offer Sindoor?
Applying or offering sindoor to Panchmukhi Hanuman is considered highly auspicious and is a simple act of worship. You can gently apply the sindoor with your finger or use a small brush.
Conclusion
With five powerful faces, Hanuman, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha, and Hayagriva, and each having unique strength and blessings, Panchmukhi Hanuman is a symbol of protection, courage, wisdom, and prosperity.
Having a Panchmukhi Hanuman idol in your home is way more than just a beautiful addition. It is a way to cleanse the negative energies from your home and fill your home with positivity.
We are pretty sure, by now you have understood the importance of bringing Panchmukhi Hanuman into your life and might be thinking about bringing his blessings into your home.
At DevDarbaar, we care for such feelings and hence are dedicated to providing you with the finest quality. We believe that every idol should be crafted with care, and love, and should be a true reflection of the divine.
Visit our website to explore our premium collection built with high-quality craftsmanship, and bring the blessings of Panchmukhi Hanuman today. Let his strength protect you and your loved ones from all the negative energies!
