In the Panchmukhi Hanuman (five-headed monkey God) beside the head of a Hanuman (monkey). there is the head of a lion, a head of an eagle, a head of a wild boar, and a head of a horse. Each face represented in the head of Panchamukhi Hanuman has a particular relivance. The lion represents the powerful Narasimha. The eagle represents the soaring Garuda. The wild boar is represented by Vishnu’s boar form. The horse represents Hayagriva, the god of wisdom. It's not only five different faces that Panchmukhi Hanuman holds but five pair hands hold five different weapons. Very often in temples, the Panchmukhi Hanuman is kept facing the southward direction for which it is known as Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman. The southward direction is associated with Yama. Yama represents death, ghosts, goblins, negative and malevolent forces. This form of Hanuman is used especially in the occult practices to protect oneself from negative forces.
This particular image of Panchmukhi Hanuman became very popular about a thousand years ago, which is much much after the Valmiki Ramayana was composed. That particular period was closely linked to the tantric period and the rise of yogic practices. The belief was that Hanuman being a celibate sage had Siddhi (blessing bestowed on him), or special occult powers. This power enabled him to change his shape and size according to his will and decide. With the help of his Siddha, he could fly in the air, float on water, reduce his shape and size – become as tiny as a bee, and as gigantic as a mountain. Because of such activity, Panchmukhi Hanuman was considered popular among occult practitioners.
A new form of storytelling for Ramayana emerged in the Middle Ages known as Adbhut Ramayana. The Adbhut Ramayana had tantric flavor, where Ram( of Ramayana) is not the protagonist. Here Sita takes the form of Mahakali to defeat Ravana. Here Sita is represented as more independent and quite capable to take care of herself. Sita here is represented as giving power to Ram, to establish his royal authority and prestige by defeating Ravana.
At the same time, there is a story of Ram being seized by Mahiravana. Hanuman goes to the nethermost regions and, fighting different forms of demons, he ultimately defeats Mahiravana, his wife and son, Ahiravan. He rescues Rama from the danger, who was about to be sacrificed to the goddess Kali. Here, Hanuman is closely associated with Kali, and in this relation, the occult form and tantric form of traditions. This form of Hanuman is often also called as Patali Hanuman (monkey god, one who traveled to the netherworlds) and is very popular in rural India.
My personal observation and the key takeaway are, Hanuman representing the image of Panchamukhi Hanuman with his five arms, five heads, tread on, and crushed two demons - Mahiravan and Ahiravan, with his upraised tail and an aggressive posture, is a very strong tantric symbol. The image of Panchamukhi Hanuman is used independently by many people as a symbol of safeguard, strength, power, and protect themselves during difficult and hard times. The image reminds us of the possibilities. Hanuman has its origin from vanara, a monkey in the popular imagination. However when vanara meets Ram (of Ramayana), when he serves Ram being his most obedient and dedicated follower, he then travels to the south of India and later to the nether regions (Patal) and discovers the divine potential within him as he solves problems. This potential enables him to come over to the limitations of his physical monkey body. He discovers within himself the horse, the lion, the eagle and the wild boar. It reminds us to rise above the constraints of biology, through faith, patience, and perseverance. It teaches us our mental capacity and potential is much much more powerful than our physical capacity. And we can easily overshadow our physical strength with the help of our mental faculty.
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