Pancha Mukha Hanumath Kavacham
Translated By P.R.Ramachander
Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri Raghavendra Swami. The place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Hanuman is now known as Panchamukhi. There is also a shrine for Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. A., 40 feet (12 m) tall monolithic green granite murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. This place was known as Rudravanam in olden times when many saints and seers had blessed this place with their presence. The Panchamukha Hanuman Ashram itself was established by a saint called Venkatesa Battar.
Hanuman assumed this form to kill Mahiravana, a powerful rakshasa during the Ramayana war. Mahiravana had taken Lord Rama and Lakshmana captive, and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same instant. Hanuman assumed His Panchamukha form and accomplished the task, thus killing the rakshasa, and freeing Rama and Lakshmana.
This form of Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya and Panchamukhi Anjaneya. One of the most famous places of Pligrimage in central India is claimed to be the Resting Place of Shiri Hanuman Ji is Chitrakoot. The Hanuman Dhara Temple is situated on the peak of mountain where there is natural rock formation image of Shri Hanuman inside the cave and a natural stream of water falling on the tail. It is believed that after the coronation of Lord Ram, Hanuman requested for a permanent place to settle in the Kingdom of Lord Ram, where his Injury of burns on his tails will be cured. Lord ram then with his arrow spurred a stream of water on the tip of mountain and asked hanuman to rest there and water of the stream will fall on his tail to cool down burning sensation on his tail.
The access to the cave temple is through stairs starting from bottom of the mountain to its top. It takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes to reach the temple. Over time the temple has gained a new name, namely Hanuman Dhara. The cave temple is located on the top of the mountain and water comes in the stream throughout the year, although the mountain has no permanent source of water on it like Glaciers or snow coming from the covered mountains of Himalayas.
Other places where statues of Lord Hanuman can be found are:
- 67 foot Murti of Lord Hanuman Ji has been installed at Sankat Mochan Shri Hanuman Mandir, located in the Punjab town of Phillaur.
- 40 foot Murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed at Tiruvallur, near Chennai,India.
- 36 foot Murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed at Panchavatee,Pondicherry, called Viswaroopa Jayamangala Panchamukha Sri Anjaaneyaswamy.
- 32 foot Murti of Adhivyadihara Sri Bhaktha Anjaneyaswamy, Nanganallur, Chennai which is molded out of a single rock.
Every Face of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has significance
- Sri Hanuman faces east. He grants purity of mind and success.
- The Narasimha faces south. He grants victory and fearlessness.
- The west facing Garuda removes black magic and poisons.
- The north facing Varaha, showers prosperity, wealth.
The Hayagriva mukha 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.
This Kavacham is addressed to this fierce form of Hanuman. This Kavacham is not a stotra but a tantric mantra aimed at providing protection to the chanter. Some people believe that this sloka should not be recited but used to worship the five faced Hanuman. It is written at the end of the stotra that it was taught by Rama to Sita as per her request. But the first few lines show that this is a version was taught by Garuda, where he mentions that it was created by the Lord of lords[1].
Om Asya Sri Pancha Mukha Hanumath kavacha maha manthrasya Brahma Rishi, Gayathri Chanda, Pancha mukha virat Hanuman Devatha, Hreen bheejam Sreem Shakthi, Kroum keelakam, Kroom kavacham, Kraim asthraya phat.Ithi Digbanda
Om for armour of the great armour of the five faced Hanuman, sage is Brahma, Gayathri is the meter, God addressed is the regal five faced Hanuman, Hreem is the root, Sreem is the power, Kroum is the nail. Kroom is the armour and Kraim is the arrow. Thus all directions are tied.
Sri Garuda Uvacha:
Sri Garuda said:
Adha Dhyanam pravakshyami, srunu sarvanga sundari, Yath krutham deva devena dhyanam hanumatha priyam., 1
I am now reciting the meditative chant, Oh pretty lady,
Which is created by God of Gods and is dear to Hanuman,
Pancha vakthram Maha bheemam, tripancha nayanair yutham, Bahubhir dasabhir yuktham, sarva kamartha sidhidham., 2
Who has five faces, who was greatly gross, who had fifteen eyes,
And had ten hands and would grant all desires.
Poorvam thu vanaram vakthram, koti soorya sama prabham, Damshtra karala vadanam, brukuti kutilekshanam., 3
In the east is the face of the monkey, with the brilliance of billions of Suns,
With protruding teeth in a black face, which is curved and angry.
Asyaiva dakshinam vakthram Narasimham mahadbutham, Athyugra thejo vapusham bheeshanam bhaya nasanam., 4
In the south is the face of greatly wonderful Narasimha,
Which is very serious, the god being fearsome and a destroyer of fear.
Paschimam Garudam vakthram vakra thundam Mahabalam, Sarva naga prasamanam visha bhoothadhi krundanam., 5
In the west is the face of very strong Garuda with a curved beak,
Which subdues all snakes and which cuts away poison and ghosts
Utharam soukaram vakthram krishnam dheeptham nabhopamam, Patala Simha Vetala jwara rogadhi krunthanam., 6
In the north is the face of a boar, which is black, shining and comparable to sky,
And which cuts away underworld, Lion, ghosts, fever and sickness.
Oordhwam hayananam ghoram danavanthakaram param, Yena vakthrena viprendra tharakakyam maha suram., 7
In the top is the fearsome face of horse, which destroys asuras,
By using which face the chief of Brahmins killed the great asura called Tharaka.
Jagaana saranam thasyath sarva sathru haram param, Dhyathwa Pancha mukham rudhram hanumantham dhaya nidhim., 8
Meditating upon Hanuman who is merciful and angry,
Immediately after waking up and surrendering to him,
Would put an end to all the enemies and lead to salvation.
Angam trishulam, Gadwangam, pasam angusam parvatham, Mushtim, kaumodhakim vruksham darayantham kamandalum,., 9
Bindipalam Jnana mudhraam dasabhir muni pungavam, Yethanyayudha jaalaani dharayantha bhajamyaham., 10
I sing about the great sage who is armed with his organs,
Trident, sword, rope, goad, mountain, fist,
Mace, trees and holding the water pot,
Sign of protection and also Jnana in his ten hands.
Prethasanopavishtam tham sarvabharana bhooshitham, Divya malambaradharam, divya gandhanulepanam, Sarvascharya mayam devam Hanumath viswatho mukam., 11
Hanuman who evokes great surprise with his universal face,
Sits on a corpse, wears all sorts and kinds of ornaments,
Wears a divine garland and anoints himself with divine ointments.
Panchasyam achyutham maneka vichithra varnam, Vakthram sasanga shikaram kapi raja varyam, Peethabaradhri makutair upa shobhithangam, Pingakshamadhyamanisam Manasa smarami., 12
I mentally meditate on him who has five faces of Vishnu,
Who has multi coloured and diverse faces,
Who was the top one respected by all monkeys,
Who shines in the yellow silk that he ties on his head,
Who has red eyes and who is the first always.
Markataisam mahothsaham sarva shathru haram param, Shathrum samhara maam raksha siman apad udhara., 13
Oh monkey god who is exuberant and who destroys all his enemies,
Please save me by killing all my enemies, Oh God who lifts people from danger.
Om Harimarkata markata manthramidham,parilikhyathi likhyathi vama thale, yadi nasyathi nasyathi shathru kulam,yadi muchyathi muchyathi vama latha., 14
Om, if this divine chant of the monkey of Vishnu[2], monkey of Vishnu is written on the left side, the enemies would be destroyed, destroyed and the contrary aspects would be pardoned, pardoned.
Om Hari markataya swaha[3]
Om my offerings in the fire to Vishnu’s monkey
Om namo bhagawathe Pancha vadanaya Poorva kapimukhaya sakala shathru samharakaya swaha
Om my offerings through the fire to the five faced God who has monkey face on the east side and the God who destroys all our enemies.
Om namo bhagawathe Pancha vadanaya Dakshina mukhaya, karala vadanaya, narasimhaya sakala bhootha pramadhanaya swaha
Om my offerings through the fire to five faced God who has the black face of Narasimha on the south side and to the God who hurts all beings.
Om namo bhagawathe Pancha vadanaya, paschima mukhaya garudananaya sakala visha haraya swaha.
Om my offerings through the fire to five faced God who has the face of Garuda on the west side and to the God who cures all types of poisons.
Om namo bhagawathe Pancha vadanaya, Uthara mukhaya aadhi varahaya, sakala sampathkaraya swaha.
Om my offerings through the fire to five faced God who has the face of the primeval boar and who blesses with all types of wealth.
Om namo bhagawathe Pancha vadanaya, Urdhwa mukhaya, hayagreevaya, sakala jana vasankaraya swaha.
Om my offerings through the fire to five faced God who has the face of god hayagreeva (horse) and to the God who attracts all beings.
Om asya Sri Pancha Hanuman maha manthrasya, Sri Ramachandra Rishi, anushtup Chanda, Pancha mukha veera Hanuman devatha, Hanumanithi bheejam, Vayu puthra ithi shakthi, Anjani sutha ithi keelakam, Sri Rama dhootha hanumath prasada sidhyarthe jape viniyoga. Ithi rishyadhika vinyaseth.
Om for the great chant of the five faced Hanuman, the sage is Lord Ramachandra, meter is Anushtup, the god addressed is the five faced Hanuman, the root is Hanuman, the power is the son of Wind God, the nail is the son of Anjana, and the chant is being done to please Hanuman who is the emissary of Sri Rama. Thus do the preliminaries starting from the sage.
Adha kara nyasa (acts by the hand)[edit]
Om Anjani suthaya angushtabhyam nama Om Rudhra murthaye Tharjaneebhyam nama Om Vayu puthraya madhyamabhyam nama Om Agni garbhaya Anamikabhyam nama Om Rama Dhoothaya kanishtikabhyam nama Om Pancha mukha hanumath kara thala kara prushtabhyam nama Ithi Kara nyasa
Om salutations to son of Anjana through the thumb
Om salutations to Rudhra murthy through the fore finger
Om salutations to son of wind god through the middle finger
Om salutations to he who has fire within him through the fourth finger
Om salutations to the messenger of Rama through the little finger
Om salutations to he who has five faces through the entire palm.
Thus the ritual acts of the hand
Adha Hrudhayadhi nyasa (hand on the heart)[edit]
Om Anjani suthaya hrudayaya nama Om Rudhra murthaye Sirase Swaha Om Vayu puthraya shikhaya vashat Om Agni Garbhaya kavachaya hoom Om Rama dhoothathaya nethraya Voushat Om Pancha mukha hanumathe asthraya phat Om Pancha mukha Hanumathe swaha Ithi Hrudhayadhi nyasa
Om salutations at the heart for son of Anjana
Om offering to the fire to Rudhra Murthy
Om Vashat for son of wind god in the head
Om hoom for the armour of he who has the fire within him
Om Voushat for the eyes for messenger of Rama
Om Phat for arrow of the five faced Hanuman
Om offering in the fire to five faced Hanuman
Thus ends the rituals at heart
Dhyanam (Medtitation)[edit]
Vande Vanara Narasimha khagarat kreedaswa vaktharanwitham, Divyalankaranam tri Pancha nayanam dheedheepya manam ruchaa, Hasthabhdhai rasi kheta pusthaka sudhaa Kumbha angusadhim halam, Gadwangam phani bhooruham dasa bhujam sarvari veerapaham.
Salutations to him who has faces of a monkey, Narasimha, king of birds, horse and a boar,
Which are divinely decorated, have fifteen eyes, which shines immensely,
Who has ten hands and holds shield, book, nectar, goad, plough and
Sword and moves with his body all over the earth and is valorous everywhere.
Adha Manthra (chant)[edit]
Om Sri Rama dhoothaya, Anjaneyaya, Vayu puthraya, Maha bala parakramaya, Sita dukha nivaranaya, Lanka dahana karanaya, Maha bala prachandaya, Phalguna sakhaya, Kolahala sakala Brahmanda viswa roopaya, Saptha samudhra nirlanganaya, Pingala nayanaya, Amitha vikramaya, Surya bimba phala sevanaya, Dushta nivaranaya, Drushti niralankruthaya, Sanjeevini sanjeevithangada Lakshmana maha kapi sainya pranadhaya, Dasa kanda vidhwamsanaya, Rameshtaya, Maha Phalguna Sakhaya, Sita sahitha Rama vara pradhaya, Shad prayoga gama Pancha mukha veera hanuman manthra jape viniyoga.
I start the chant of the valorous Hanuman with five faces along with six fold rituals, and worship the emissary of Rama, The son of Anjana, The son of wind God, The very valorous hero, The one who removed the sorrow of Sita, The one who was the cause of burning of Lanka, The one who is well known as very powerful, The one who is the friend of Arjuna, One who assumes the tumultuous universal form, One who crossed the seven oceans, One who has red eyes, One who is greatly valorous, One who thought that the sun was a fruit, One who reformed bad people, One who has firm sight, One who gave back life to army of monkeys and Lord Lakshmana by bringing the Sanjeevini mountain, one who broke the ten headed one, one who is close to Rama, One who is a great friend of Arjuna and One who gives boons along with Rama and Sita,
Om Hari markata markataya bham bham bham bham bham Voushat swaha
Fire offering with the chant “Hari markata markataya bham bham bham bham bham Voushat”
Om Hari markata markataya pham pham pham pham pham phat swaha
Fire offering with the chant “Om Hari markata markataya pham pham pham pham pham phat”
Om Hari markata markataya lum lum lum lum lum Akarshitha sakala sampath karaya swaha
Fire offering with the chant “Hari markata markataya lum lum lum lum lum” with a prayer to attract all types of wealth.
Om Hari markata markataya Dham Dham Dham Dham Dham Shatru Sthmbanaya swaha
Fire offering with the chant “Hari markata markataya Dham Dham Dham Dham Dham” with a prayer to benumb all our enemies
Om tam tam tam tam tam Koorma moorthate Pancha mukha veera Hanumathe para yanthra para thanthrouchadanaya swaha
Fire offering with the chant “Om tam tam tam tam tam Koorma moorthaye (God in form of tortoise) Pancha mukha veera Hanumathe (five faced valorous Hanuman) “ protect me from others manthra as well as Thanthra
Om kam kham gam gham ngam cham cham jam jham gnam tam tham dam dham nam, tham ththam dham dhdham nam pam pham bam bham mam sam sham sam ham lam ksham swaha
Fire offering with all consonants of Deva nagari script
Ithi dig bhanda (Thus we tie all the directions)[edit]
Om Poorva kapi mukhaya Pancha mukhaya Pancha mukha hanumathe tam tam tam tam tam sakala shatru samharanaya swaha
Fire offering with”Om one who has monkey face in the east, one who has five faces, One who is five faced Hanuman tam tam tam tam tam tam” with a prayer to kill all ones enemies
Om Dakshina mukhaya Pancha mukha hanumathe karala vadanaya Narasimhaya Om hraam hreem hroom hraim hroum hrah Sakala bhootha pretha dhamanaya swaha
Fire offering with “Om one who has the south face as the very angry Narasimha among the five faces of Five faced Hanuman Om hraam hreem hroom hraim hroum hrah” with a prayer tocontrol all ghosts and spirits of dead people
Om paschima mukhaya garudasanaya Pancha mukha hanumathe mam mam mam mam mam sakala visha haraya swaha
Fire offering with “ Om the five faced Hanuman with the face of Garuda in the west mam mam mam mam mam” with a prayer to cure all poisons
Om Uthara mukhaya aadhi varahaya lam lam lam lam lam nrusimhaya neelakanta moorthaye Pancha mukha hanumathe swaha
Fire offering with “ Om God with face of boar on the north side, lam lam lam lam lam, God Narasimha, God shiva with the blue neck”
Om Urdhwa mukhaya haya greevaya rum rum rum rum rum Rudhra moorthaye sakala prayojana nirvahakaya swaha
Fire offering with “Om God with the face of Haya greeva at the top rum rum rum rum rum, God who is very angry” with a prayer to manage all useful acts
Om Anjani suthaya, Vayu puthraya, Maha balaya, Sita soka nivaranaya, Sri Ramachandra krupa padukaya Maha veerya pramadhanaya, Brahmanda nathaya Kamadhaya Pancha mukha veera hanumathe swaha
Fire offering with “Om son of Anjana, son of wind god, Greatly valorous one, He who removed the sorrow of Sita, He who is the vehicle of mercy of Lord Rama, He who is very valorous soldier of God, He who is the lord of the universe, He who is desirable, he who is the five faced Hanuman”
Bhootha pretha pisacha Brahma Rakshasa sakini dakinyanathareeksha graham para yanthra para thanthrochatanaya swaha
Fire offering with a prayer to keep away ghosts dead souls, devils, Brahma rakshas, Sakini, Dakini,and to prevent effects of the planets in the sky, evil created by thalismans, thanthra done by others and evil chants.
Sakala prayojana nirvahakaya Pancha veera hanumathe, Sri Ramachandra vara prasadaya jam jam jam jam jam swaha
Fire offering with prayer to the five faced hanuman who manages all useful acts jam jam jam jam jam, with a prayer for the blessings of Lord Ramachandra.
Idham kavacham padithwa maha kavacham paden nara, Yeka varam japeth stotram sarva shathru nivaranam., 15
After reading this followed by reading of the great armour,
For a period of one week would destroy all one’s enemies.
Dwivaram thu paden nithyam puthra poutharabhi vardhanam, Trivaram cha paden nithyam sarva sapath karam shubham., 16
Reading daily for two weeks would increase the number of children and grand children,
Reading daily for three weeks would bring all sorts of wealth.
Chathurvaram paden nithyam sarva roga nivaranam, Pancha varam paden nithyam srava loka vasam karam,., 17
Reading daily for four weeks would cure all diseases,
Reading daily for five weeks would make the entire world under our control,
Shadvaram cha paden nithyam Sarva deva vasam karam, Saptha varam cha paden nithyam sarva soubhahya dhayakam., 18
Reading daily for six weeks would put all gods under our control,
Reading daily for seven weeks would give us all the world’s luck.
Ashta varam paden nithyam ishta kamartha sidhidham, Nava varam cha paden nithyam raja bhogamavapnuyath., 19
Reading daily for eight weeks would fulfill all that we desire,
Reading daily for nine weeks would result in the pleasures of a king.
Dasa varam paden nihyam tri lokya jnana darsanam, Rudra vruthir paden nithya, sarva sidhir bhaved dhruvam., 20
Reading daily for ten weeks would get you all knowledge in all the three worlds,
Reading daily for eleven weeks would definitely get you all, occult powers
Nirbhalo roga yukthascha maha vyadheedhi peeditham, Kavacha smaranenaiva Maha balamapnuyath,., 21
But in case of person who is weak, diseased or in clutches of great diseases,
Even a thought of this armour will give him great strength.
Ithi Sudarsana samhithayam Sri Ramachandra Sita proktha Sri Pancha mukha Hanumath kavacham sampoornam.
Thus ends the “armour of the five faced Hanuman” which occurs in Sudarasana Samitha and has been told by Lord Rama at the request of Goddess Sita.