Arunachala Panchamukha

Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Dhyana Sloka

Panchasyachutamaneka vichitra veeryam ||
Sri shanka chakra ramaniya bhujagra desam ||
Peethambaram makara kundala noopurangam ||
Dhyayethitam kapivaram hruthi bhvayami ||

Arunachala is the universal form of all deities known and unknown.

The great Hill from before Time has been the centre of the universe signifying the ultimate goal, the source.

It is the final destination for the grand path of Self Enquiry.

Being unique in its form, the Aruna Hill has been believed to manifest itself in infinte darshans in various angles.

Every deity, god or godddess can be found in the Hill.

And one of the stunning, stunning darshans of the Hill is the form of PANCHAMUKHA ANJANEYA or PANCHAMUKHA HANUMAN.

Panchamukha Hanuman is the symbol of Self Enquiry and helps those who tred the path. The Ramayana talks of Panchamukah Hanuman when Lord Hanuman went to kill Mahiravan and rescue the captured Lord Rama and Lakshmana. The five faces of the Lord blow out five lights which represent the life of Mahiravan at the same time. Then the Lord emerges from the bowels of the Earth with Rama and lakshmana.

I feel the story is a metophor where the five lights represents the senses and Panchamuka Hanuman represents the act of Self Enquiry. The result of the effort is the emergence of the Lord Rama from the bowels of Maya.

The five face Hanuman with five faces:

-- The East facing Sri Hanuman removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of mind.


-- Sri Karala Ugravira Narasimha Swami, facing the South, removes fear of enemies and confers victory.


--The West facing Sri Mahavira Garuda drives away evil spells, black magic influences etc., and removes all poisonous effects in one's body.


--Northfacing Sri Lakshmi Varaha wards off the troubles caused by bad influences of the planets and confers all prosperity.


--The Urdhva Mukha facing upwards of Sri Hayagriva Swami confers knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny.

Arunachala Hill has all these darshans of the five faces if one sees closely.

They will be elaborated in the next post.

for more information on panchamukha visit the beautiful site

www.panchamukha.org

imge courtesy: www.panchamukha.org