Katha message

Why do we go to temples?....... The archana that is performed consists the holy names of the Lord and they have a specific pattern! They glorify the Lord's avathara, his kalyana gunas, his daya, Karunya, and also an assurance that what is sought is definitely obtained! Then the sevarthy's specific need is addressed. As Bagavan has pointed out in Bagavat Gita : "chatur-vidhya bhajante mam janah sukritino arjuna arto jijnasur artharthi jnani cha bharatarsabha” There are four types of devotees they are Artha, Artharti, Jigyasu, and Jnani! The first one wants his distress alleviated the second wants to fulfill his desire, the third wants none of the above but is curious of knowing more about the concept of God and divinity! and the fourth is a realized soul! Similarly our ancestors have designed the timing of worship and also provided a method to continue the worship at home by way of Aradhana for an image of the Lord at home! If you carefully observe the temple timings are spread over the entire day! making it accessible to all. For instance a farmer can not visit the temple in the morning as he has to tend to his fields, similarly so many can not undertake this visit in the morning for them the time slots between the early morning and Artha jama may be convenient. As Lord is beyond time and space he could not be confined to these time intervals but to make the devotee come to Him without any hassles, these were put in place! During some period one may not be able to visit the temple at all, for them specific days listed as holy in the almanac are kept to come to the temple and offer his prayers. People due to their occupation leave their home town and stay for long outside their home town, for them it would be convenient to come during the annual festivals and derive the benefit of god's grace! If you carefully look at these festivities you would know that they provide for participation of all these people. Festivals like Anna koota, Naraimani, etc are evolved with these people like farmers or growers in mind. Similarly the temple rituals accommodate men women, children, young, old, and different asramas like Brahmacharya, Grhastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa too. These festivals also provide opportunity to vidyarthis to come to the temple and recite Vedic portions that they have learnt in Patasalas, and give opportunity to others who have learnt fine arts, harikatha, dance drama, music exponents, purohitas who have learnt agama sastras, grammarians and other literary experts to come and present their skills as an offering to the Lord! Now you probably get a fair idea of how the image and temple worship has been a great boon to our religion and society and serve the purpose of elevating our consciousness to a higher level!

Panchmukha Hanuman

Panchamukhi Hanuman

Panchmukhi hanuman kavach

श्री गणेशाय नम: | ओम अस्य श्रीपंचमुख हनुम्त्कवचमंत्रस्य ब्रह्मा रूषि:| गायत्री छंद्:| पंचमुख विराट हनुमान देवता| र्‍हीं बीजम्| श्रीं शक्ति:| क्रौ कीलकम्| क्रूं कवचम्| क्रै अस्त्राय फ़ट्| इति दिग्बंध्:| श्री गरूड उवाच्||

अथ ध्यानं प्रवक्ष्यामि| श्रुणु सर्वांगसुंदर| यत्कृतं देवदेवेन ध्यानं हनुमत्: प्रियम्||१||

पंचकक्त्रं महाभीमं त्रिपंचनयनैर्युतम्| बाहुभिर्दशभिर्युक्तं सर्वकामार्थसिध्दिदम्||२||

पूर्वतु वानरं वक्त्रं कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभम्| दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं भ्रुकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम्||३||

अस्यैव दक्षिणं वक्त्रं नारसिंहं महाद्भुतम्| अत्युग्रतेजोवपुष्पंभीषणम भयनाशनम्||४||

पश्चिमं गारुडं वक्त्रं वक्रतुण्डं महाबलम्| सर्वनागप्रशमनं विषभूतादिकृन्तनम्||५||

उत्तरं सौकरं वक्त्रं कृष्णं दिप्तं नभोपमम्| पातालसिंहवेतालज्वररोगादिकृन्तनम्| ऊर्ध्वं हयाननं घोरं दानवान्तकरं परम्| येन वक्त्रेण विप्रेन्द्र तारकाख्यमं महासुरम्||७||

जघानशरणं तस्यात्सर्वशत्रुहरं परम्| ध्यात्वा पंचमुखं रुद्रं हनुमन्तं दयानिधिम्||८||

खड्गं त्रिशुलं खट्वांगं पाशमंकुशपर्वतम्| मुष्टिं कौमोदकीं वृक्षं धारयन्तं कमण्डलुं||९||

भिन्दिपालं ज्ञानमुद्रा दशभिर्मुनिपुंगवम्| एतान्यायुधजालानि धारयन्तं भजाम्यहम्||१०||

प्रेतासनोपविष्टं तं सर्वाभरण्भुषितम्| दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानु लेपनम सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवं हनुमद्विश्वतोमुखम्||११||

पंचास्यमच्युतमनेकविचित्रवर्णवक्त्रं शशांकशिखरं कपिराजवर्यम्| पीताम्बरादिमुकुटै रूप शोभितांगं पिंगाक्षमाद्यमनिशं मनसा स्मरामि||१२||

मर्कतेशं महोत्राहं सर्वशत्रुहरं परम्| शत्रुं संहर मां रक्ष श्री मन्नपदमुध्दर||१३||

ओम हरिमर्कट मर्केत मंत्रमिदं परिलिख्यति लिख्यति वामतले| यदि नश्यति नश्यति शत्रुकुलं यदि मुंच्यति मुंच्यति वामलता||१४||

ओम हरिमर्कटाय स्वाहा ओम नमो भगवते पंचवदनाय पूर्वकपिमुखाय सकलशत्रुसंहारकाय स्वाहा|

ओम नमो भगवते पंचवदनाय दक्षिणमुखाय करालवदनाय नरसिंहाय सकलभूतप्रमथनाय स्वाया|

ओम नमो भगवते पंचवदनाय पश्चिममुखाय गरूडाननाय सकलविषहराय स्वाहा|

ओम नमो भगवते पंचवदनाय उत्तरमुखाय आदिवराहाय सकलसंपत्कराय स्वाहा|

ओम नमो भगवते पंचवदनाय उर्ध्वमुखाय हयग्रीवाय सकलजनवशकराय स्वाहा|

||ओम श्रीपंचमुखहनुमंताय आंजनेयाय नमो नम:||

Panchmukhi hanuman kavach

Hanuman is the favorite God for many. He is known by various names such as Rama Bhakta (devotee of Lord Rama), Pavanputra (son of Wind God, Vaayu), Anjaneya (son of Anjani), and so on. The adventures of Lord Hanuman are described in the Sundara Kaandam, a part of the epic Ramayana. Reading various chapters of this scripture brings specific benefits. It is believed that the devotees of Lord Hanuman are not affected by malefic attributes of planets, mainly Shani Bhagwan or Saturn, evil forces, and negative energies. There are several hymns in praise of Lord Hanuman, the most popular being the 40 stanza Hanuman Chalisa.

As the following mantra indicates, Lord Hanuman provides his devotees with knowledge, power, courage, and health.

Budhdirbalam yasho dhairyam nirbhayatvam arogata
Ajaadtyam vakpatutvam cha hanumat smaranadbhavet
Panchamukhi refers to five faces. According to the scriptures, Lord Hanuman assumed this form to slay Mahiravana, brother of Ravana. Mahiravana was a sorcerer and an ardent devotee of Goddess Mahamaya. Instigated by Ravana, Mahiravana took Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana to Paathaala Loka (the netherworld) and was tempted to sacrifice them to Goddess Mahamaya.To save the divine brothers, Lord Hanuman had to stub out five lamps burning in different directions simultaneously. He therefore assumed the Panchamukha form to win this task.
The Panchamukha form of Lord Hanuman has the following five faces:

• Hanuman (a fervent devotee of Lord Rama) – facing the east
• Narasimha ( an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who slayed Hiranyakashipu) – facing the south
• Garuda ( the mount of Lord Krishna) – facing the west
• Varaha (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who slayed the demon Hiranyaksha) – facing the north
• Hayagriva (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, considered the God of wisdom)– facing upwards

The Panchamukha Hanuman Stuthi is a potent stotra meant to praise each of the five forms. This stotra helps to alleviate troubles and keep evil forces away. It serves as a protection to devotees who chant with utmost faith.

Om namo bhagavathe panchavadanaaya poorva kapi mukhe
Sakala shatru samhaarnaaya swaaha
The east facing form of Lord Hanuman protects devotees from problems caused by enemies. He provides happiness and fulfills wishes.

Om namo bhagavathe panchavadanaaya dakshina mukhe
Karaala vadanaaya Narasimhaaya sakala bhoota praeta pramadanaaya swaaha
The south facing form of Lord Narasimha removes all types of fear, sins, unfavorable influences of spirits and demons, and fulfills our wishes.

Om namo bhagavathe panchavadanaaya paschima mukhe
Garudaaya sakala visha haranaaya swaaha
The west facing form of Lord Garuda removes all types of ailments, negativities, black magic, poison, and fear.

Om namo bhagavathe panchavadanaaya uthara mukhe
Aadivarahaaya sakala sampatkaraaya swaaha
The north facing form of Lord Varaha provides the ashta aishwarya (eight different forms of wealth).

Om namo bhagavathe panchavadanaaya oordhwa mukhe
Hayagrivaaya sakala jana vasheekaranaaya swaaha
The upwards facing form of Lord Hayagriva helps devotees attract the goodwill of people. The words of His devotees turn into reality. He bestows them with advancement in seeking knowledge, good company of friends, intelligence, good children, and salvation.
The Panchamukha Hanuman Gayatri can be chanted to overcome obstacles in life.

Om Anjaneyaya Vidmahe Panchavaktraaya Dheemahi
Tanno Hanumath Prachodayaath
The five forms namely Hanuman, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha, and Hayagriva can also be invoked individually by chanting specific Gayatri mantras.

Hanuman Gayatri:
Shree aanjaneyaya vidmahe mahabalaaya dhimahi tanno Kapi prachodayat

Narasimha Gayatri:
Vajranakhaaya vidmahe tikshanadamshtraya dhimahi tanno Narasimha prachodayat

Garuda Gayatri:
Tatpurushaaya vidmahe suvarna pakshaya dhimahi tanno Garudah prachodayat

Varaha Gayatri:
Om dhanurdharaya vidmahe vakradamshyara dhimahi tanno Varaha: prachodayat

Hayagriva Gayatri:
Om vaagishwaraaya vidmahe Hayagrivaaya dhimahi tanno hangsa prachodayaat
If you are troubled by evil influences, and want to seek protection from fears, enemies, and the occult, Panchamukha Hanuman is the God for you. He protects those who seek refuge in Him.