https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/ha...hmukhi-hanuman
Quote:
During the Ramayana war, a losing Ravana summoned one of his brothers, Ahiravana, the chief of patala (netherworld). Disguising himself as Vibhishana, Ahiravana threw Hanuman off-guard and kidnapped Lord Rama and Lakshman.
When Hanuman went to patala, he learned the only way he could kill Ahiravana. This demon’s soul rested in five candles. The only way to destroy him was to extinguish all five candles at the same time. That is when Hanuman manifested his Panchamukhi roop, each form facing a different direction. Together, they blew out the candles and brought back the still-unconscious Lord Rama and Lakshaman back to Lanka.
Thus, the worshipper of the Panchamukhi Hanuman form is liberated from different fears, negativity, and enemies.
Hanuman is often referred to as a yogi. He is believed to have reached perfection in his siddhis and had gained control over his five senses (Pancha Indriyas). This is one of the many interpretations of the number five.
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Hanuman took the Panchamukhi form for slaying the demonic king of the netherworld Ahiravana, who was also Ravana's brother.
This form has the faces of Narasimha, Hayagriva, Garuda and Adivaraha, which are associated with the lion, horse, eagle and boar respectively.
Imo, this shows that the Panchamukhi Hanuman was the combined form of the vitality contained in the animal and bird species, which had come together in the service of the Divine in the form of the Avatar Rama.
It also probably shows that Hanuman exerted himself to the utmost creatively for eliminating the demonic force.
I would say this ranks as one of his greatest feats, the others being his voyage to Lanka and procuring the healing sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas.