YOU MUST KNOW #42

Significance of five heads of Panchmukhi Hanuman

During the war between Lord Ram and Ravana in Ramayana, Ravana took the help of Ahiravana, king of Patala.

In order to protect Lord Ram and Lakshman, Lord Hanuman formed a fortress with his tail.  Ahiravana disguised himself as Vibhishana, the noble brother of Ravana, and took Lord Ram and Lakshman to Patala Loka.

Hanuman entered patala loka in search of Ram and Lakshman, He found that the life of Ahiravana was hidden in the five lamps which were placed in different directions. He could be killed only by extinguishing all five lamps at the same time. To accomplish this Hanuman had to take the form of Panchamukhi Hanuman.

This form of Hanuman has five faces.  Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha, and Hayagriva are the other four faces along with Hanuman’s face.  Using these five faces in different directions of the lamp, Hanuman blows air out to extinguish them, thereby killing Ahiravana in the process.

In Kamba Ramayanam (in Tamil), the significance of the number five is beautifully narrated as follows:

The son of one of the five elements (Vayu or Wind)

crossed one of the five elements (water – the ocean)

through one of the five elements (sky)

met the daughter of one of the five elements (Prithvi or Earth – Sita)

Burnt down Lanka by the use of one of the five elements (fire).

Jai Bajrang Bali Ji🙏🙏