Jayamangala Panchamukha Anjaneya Swamy, Panchavati – The Temple

Jayamangala Panchamukha Anjaneya Swamy, Panchavati – The Temple

This stunning temple sprawls across 12-acre land on Pondicherry- Tindivanam road. The gigantic image of Anjaneya (Hanuman) that stands 36 feet high on the lotus-base is one of the tallest Hanuman images in India. The deity is a unique Vishwaroopam image (universal image) with five faces. Hanuman’s own face is shown in the center with the other four showing Garuda (vehicle of Vishnu), Hayagriva (horse-faced incarnation), Narasimha (lion-faced incarnation and Varaha (boar-faced image).

This five-faced Panchamukha Sri Anjaneya is a symbol of the synergy that exists in Hinduism between animal, man and the divine. As only four faces of Anjaneya are visible from the front, a small glass window on the rear wall allows you to see the fifth face at the rear as you take a Pradakshinam (circumambulation) of the shrine. In front of Panchamukha Anjaneya shrine, there is a vessel filled with water which has a floating stone said to weigh about 14 kgs, which was one of the rocks used by Lord Rama’s Vanara Sena (monkey army) to build the bridge across to Lanka. Rama was on a mission to attack his wife Sita’s kidnapper, the ten-headed demon Ravana.

The stone was obtained from the hills of Pazhaiyaseevaram, out of a single boulder, the Anjaneya idol is carved and weighs 150 tonnes. The lord Hanuman idol is 30 feet in height while the Peedam (base) is 6 feet high and the Upa Peedam (Sub-base) is 3.5 feet in height. It has a girth of 15 feet and after installation the actual height of the idol touches 40 feet. Over the sanctum sanctorum, a 64-feet high Vimanam is built. The Anjaneya idol has 10 hands with Ankusham, Sword, Suvadi or manuscript, Amrita Kalasam, Shield, Plough, Mountain, Snake, Kadvangam (the leg of a cot) and tree.

On the Peedam, a three-foot long "Panchamukha Hanumanth Yantra" is installed. The Yantra, incidentally was taken to many holy places, including Tirupati and Ahobilam.  Sugreeva and Angatha are the Dwarapalakas. Significance for every face of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman-Sri Hanuman faces east. He grants purity of mind and success. Narasimha faces south. He grants victory and signifies fearlessness. Garuda facing west removes black magic and any poisonous effect. Varaha facing North showers prosperity, wealth. Hayagriva faces the Sky. But since we cannot see it, it is usually tilted and shown above Hanuman's face.

Hayagriva gives Knowledge and good children. Each head signifies -  Hanuman for courage and strength, Narasimha for fearlessness, Garuda for magical skills and the power to cure snake bites, Varaha for health and exorcism and Hayagriva victory over enemies. In this Indian temple, to worship Garuda, besides the main door there is a door at the rear where devotees can offer their prayers from.

Apart from the main shrine, this Temple has two magnificent shrines. The first one is dedicated to Jayamangala Valampuri Maha Ganapathy and the other to Lord Rama (incarnation of Lord Vishnu). Rama is shown in his Pattabhisheka Thirukolam (coronation form). This Shrine houses idol of Rama and Sita along with Bharata, Shatrugna, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Jambavan, Vibhishana, Angada, Sugreeva and Garuda.

The entire story of Ramayana has been depicted here with paintings of the important incidents in order, at the top on the walls on both sides in front of the Anjaneyar sannidhi. Pancha (5) Namaskarams and 5 Pradakshinams (Circumbulation) is the norm. Panchamukha Anjaneya Temple is run by Panchamukha Sri Jayamurthi Seva Trust including Parama Sri Ramani Anna. The temple land was donated by Saanthanam Iyengar.