Lord Hanuman is believed to be the 10th Rudra, a divine form of Lord Shiva, who has 11 Rudras in total. Hanuman was born to Kesari, the king of monkeys, and Anjana. That’s why he is also called Anjaneya. Hanuman is known as the god of strength and wisdom.
During the battle of Lanka between Rama and Ravana, Hanuman took a five-faced form (Panchamukhi) to defeat a powerful demon named Ahiravana, who had kidnapped Rama and Lakshmana and taken them to the underworld (Patalaloka).
Ahiravana was a master of black magic and used a dangerous weapon called Nagapasha—darts filled with snake poison. To kill him, Hanuman had to blow out five oil lamps placed in five directions at the same time. To do this, he took the form of Panchamukhi Hanuman and completed the task, killing the demon and saving Rama and Lakshmana.
The five faces of Panchamukhi Hanuman are:
- Hanuman face (east) – Removes sins and purifies the mind. Brings peace and protection from Saturn (Shani).
- Garuda face (west) – Protects from black magic, evil spirits, and poison. Also helps in marital issues.
- Varaha face (north) – Removes planetary problems in one’s horoscope. Brings eight types of wealth and relieves problems caused by Rahu.
- Narasimha face (south) – Destroys fear and enemies. Gives success and removes the effects of Mars (Mangal dosha).
- Hayagriva face (upward/sky) – Gives knowledge, victory, a good life partner, and removes the curse of being childless.
This powerful form is worshipped for protection and blessings in both South and North India.
A famous temple called Hanuman Dhara in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh is believed to be the place where Hanuman rested after the war. Lord Rama created a stream of water to heal the burns on Hanuman’s tail caused during the battle in Lanka.
In Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, a 40-foot tall green granite idol of Panchamukhi Hanuman stands. The green colour represents wisdom.
Hanuman was also a student of Lord Surya (the Sun god) and was a master of Sanskrit. He is seen as a symbol of intelligence, devotion, and discipline.
Many believe that Hanuman remained unmarried, but some devotees in South India say he married Survachala, the daughter of Surya. This belief is not accepted by all.
Hanuman had a son named Makaradhvaja, who was born magically and later became the king of Patalaloka, after Hanuman defeated Ahiravana.
ASTRO GIVA 