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Hanuman's special avatar as Annihilator
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A 36-feet tall Panchamukha Anjaneya idol is to be installed at Pappanchavadi, near Pondicherry. And even as work is in progress, T. A. SRINIVASAN narrates the significance of this unique form Vayuputra assumed to terminate evil.
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A picture of benevolence... combining the valour of five deities.
SRI ANJANEYA is hailed as the personification of selfless service to Lord Rama and Sita. Legends say that when Lord Rama was about to leave for His heavenly abode when the purpose of His incarnation was fulfilled, He asked Anjaneya to accompany Him, but the latter politely declined the offer saying that he wanted to be present in the holy land where Lord Rama walked in human form and where Sri Rama Nama Japam was regularly conducted. The "Dhyana Slokam" of Anjaneya says that wherever "Raghunatha Keerthanam" is sung he is present, though not visible to the human eye, with his eyes full of tears and with his hands folded in prayer to His Lord.
Epics narrate how he saved the lives of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Bharata. Such a saviour had to assume the form of a slayer when demons like Sahasrakantan, Raktha Bindhu and Rakthakshan tried to kill Rama, Lakshmana and Vibhishana during the epic battle in Lanka.
Ravana, who had lost all weapons and stood helpless on the battlefield, was was asked (by Rama) to go back to his city and come fully prepared the next day. He approached another demon, Mayilravana, and explained to him the fate that had befallen him and sought his help to win the war. The demon, with the help of black magic, took away Rama and Lakshmana and planned to kill them after conducting rituals in a secret place. Anjaneya immediately swung into action and learnt from Vibishana that the demon's life, in the form of five "Brahmaras" (wasps), was kept inside a box in a cave, far away from the seven seas. He sped to the cave and brought the casket to the place where the demon was conducting poojas. As it was necessary to kill all the five wasps at the same time to annihilate the demon he assumed the form of Viswaroopa Panchamukha Anjaneya, with Divine powers of all the Lords. His form radiated the brilliance of one crore suns and he killed all the five wasps, thereby spelling the ruin of Mayilravana and ultimately his mentor, Ravana.
According to ``Sudarsana Samhitai," Mayilravana took away the Sudarsana Chakra and Anjaneya was asked to retrieve it. He fought a fierce battle with the demon and unable to face Anjaneya's fury, the demon indulged in tricks. The Lord told Anjaneya that in order to kill the demon, who might take the form of an animal or bird or snake, he should possess the powers of all His earlier incarnations like Varaha, Narasimha and Hayagreeva and also His mount, Garuda. It was then that he took the form of Panchamukha Anjaneya with "Trinetras" (three eyes) in each face.
Goddess Parvati gave the Padmam (lotus), Rama the Divine Bow and Arrow, Garuda the Amrita Kalasam (pot containing the nectar) and his wings, and the God of Death, Yama, the Pasa rope. Other gods bestowed their entire powers and blessed him. Anjaneya waged a fierce battle with Mayilravana and killed him. He retrieved the Sudarsana Chakra and restored it to the Lord. The Panchamukha Swaroopa of Anjaneya is thus considered as one which eradicates all evils and showers blessings and benevolence on those who worship him.
Whatever the legend, the worship of Panchamukha Anjaneya is becoming popular and already temples have come up in various places. S. Ramani Anna, founder-trustee of the Nanganallur temple, (where Hanuman is worshipped as Ekamukha Adivyadhihara Anjaneya) has launched the Panchamukha Sri Jayamaruthi Seva Trust and Panchamukha Sri Jayamaruthi Charitable Trust to install a 36-feet high Panchamukha Anjaneya idol, the tallest of all, at Panchavatee (Pappanchavadi) near Pondicherry. He got the inspiration when he visited Pondicherry along with Veeravalli S. Santhanam, a philanthropist. While passing through Pappanchavadi, it struck them that the temple should be built there. The latter agreed to give a portion of the land he had bought for starting an industry.
The gigantic idol taking shape at Swarnam Silpakalaikoodam, in Kelambakkam. — Pic. by R. Sreenath.
The proposed temple will have shrines for Anjaneya, Lord Pattabisheka Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna, besides Vibishana, Jambhavan and others including Ganesha, who will be known as Jaya Mangala Valampuri Vinayakar. Dr. M. Palaniappan of Nagappa Motors has agreed to meet the cost of the Vinayaka shrine. All the idols including that of Anjaneya are being sculpted in the Swarnam Silpakalaikoodam of Muthaiah Sthapati in Kelambakkam, on Old Mahabalipuram road.
The Anjaneya idol is being carved out of a single boulder, weighing 150 tonnes, obtained from the hills of Pazhaiyaseevaram, seat of the beautiful Narasimha Temple and which is visited by Lord Varadaraja of Kanchipuram on the day following "Thai Pongal" as it was from here that the stone was obtained for carving out the centuries-old Varadaraja Moolavar idol in the Kanchipuram temple. The actual height of the Anjaneya idol will be 30 feet while the Peedam will be six feet high and the Upapeedam will have a height of three and a half feet. It will have a girth of 15 feet and after installation the actual height of the idol may touch 40 feet. A 64-feet high Vimanam is to be built over the sanctum sanctorum while the Rajagopuram might be constructed later.
The Anjaneya idol will have in the 10 hands sword, shield, Suvadi or manuscript, Ankusam, Amrita Kalasam, mountain, plough, snake, tree and Kadvangam (the leg of a cot). A three-feet long "Panchamukha Hanumath Yantram" will be installed on the Peedam. The Yantram, incidentally, was taken to many holy places including Tirupati and Ahobilam. Angatha and Sugreeva will be the Dwarapalakas. Besides the main door there will be a door at the rear to enable devotees to worship Garuda.
Five Pradakshinams and five Namaskarams will be the norm. The most important offerings here will be Gulapoopam (jaggery appam) and plantain fruit. All the idols will have the prefix of "Jaya Mangala." According to a Devaprasnam conducted by Sri Unnikrishna Panikkar, the temple, right from the day of consecration, will be a great centre of religious sanctity and activity. The temple will have all the usual features and the Vaikhanasa Agama will be followed in conducting the worship. The starting of a Vedapatasala, a primary health centre and Annadanam scheme are also on the cards. The estimate for the entire project is Rs. 2 crores. The temple site is Panchamukha Sri Jaya Maruthi Seva Trust, Pappanchavadi, Vanur taluk, near T.C. Koot road, 605111, Villupuram district (phone no. 0413-2678823). Devotees and philanthropists may send in their donations to the above address for this holy cause.
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