Sri Pancha Mukhi Anjaneya Temple - Mantralaya
Pancha mukhi Anjaneya
Pancha Mukhi Anjaneya Temple
Panchamukhi Anjaneya Swamy Temple is located nearly 21 kilometers from Mantralaya across the Tungabadra River in Ganadala , Raichur Dist in Karnataka State.There are many Local Auto's, Van's and Buse's to take you to this place and another place one also need to visit nearby to this temple is Bikshalaya.
Main Temple
Origin of Panchmukhi Anjaneya -- Pancha means Five and Mukhi means faces, so panchmukhi Anjaneya or Hanuman is a form Lord Hanuman which has five different faces.
Panchmukhi Anjaneya or Hanuman is said to be originated at the time of war between Ravana and Lord Rama. During the war, Ravana took help of Ahiravana, the King of Patala (Hell).Ahiravana appeared in the form of Vibhishana. Then he took Sri Rama and Lakshmana to patala loka. Hanuman in order to protect them formed a fortress with his tail and entered Patala Loka. There he found that he had to extinguish five lamps burning in five different directions at the same time to kill Ahiravana.
Then he originated into the form of Panchmukhi Hanuman with Anjaneya, Hayagriva, Narasimha, Garuda and Varaha faces and killed Ahiravana by extinguishing the five lamps.
Lord Panchamukhi Anjaneya Swamy was the main deity of Sri Raghavendra Swami.
Panchamukhi Anjaneya, the very name tells us that the Lord Hanuman here is in the form where he has five heads.The five heads of Lord Panchamukhi are amalgamation of Lord Varaha, Garuda, Hanuman, Narasimha and Hayagriva.
Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. He is the symbol of power, energy, strength and knowledge and an epitome of true devotion and Brahmcharya (Bachelor hood).
There is a small shrine for paduka of Sri Anjaneya [Hanuman] where a pair of footwear is kept and every year in this temple new pair of shoes will be offered to Hanuman.But at the end of the year these shoes will get worned out as if it was used by Hanuman and people here believe the same.
The anjaneya is a swayambu inscription on the rocky cave. Here one can find the foot steps of Hanuman.Pooja's are being conducted Regularly.
Facts about Panchmukhi Anjaneya / Hanuman Temple
1)Sri Raghavendraswamy observed 12 years long penance at this place.
where Anjaneya or Hanuman appeared in his Panchmukhi form ( 5 Avataras - Hayagriva, Narasimha,Garuda,Varaha and Anjaneya )in front of sri Raghavendra swamy.
2)The five ways to worship Panchmukhi Hanuman are Namana, Smarana, Keerthanam, Yachanam and Arpanam. Hanuman used to Namana, Smarana and Keerthanam of Lord Rama.
3. Lord Krishna says to Arjun in Bhagwadh Geeta, “He who acts for me, who is engrossed in me, who is my devotee, who is free from attachment, he reaches me”. All these 5 qualities are enshrined in Anjaneya or Hanuman.
Significance of Pancha mukhi Hanuman:
East facing Anjaneya grants Ishta Siddhi.
South facing Karala Ugraveera Narasimha grants Abhista Siddhi.
West facing Mahaveera Garuda grants Sakala Soubhagya.
North facing Lakshmi Varaha grants Dhana Prapthi.
Urdhva Mukha being Hayagriva grants Sarva Vidya Jaya Prapthi.
The cave temple is surrounded by unique rock formations. There is a Bed and pillow formation besides a vimana [plane like] formed naturally by Rocks.
About five hundred metres away from the main cave temple on the northern side is the shrine for the grama devatha, Yarakalamma. It is customary to visit this temple also while visiting the panchamukhi temple - it is believed that the pilgrimage is not complete without visiting Yarakalamma Devi.There are Lots of Monkeys in and around this place if possible carry some Banana's to feed them.
When one Visits Mantralaya & after getting Sri Raghavendra Swami ashirvada or Blessings one must Visit to this place and see Serene atmosphere there.
---- Hari Om ----
