On the behest of the Ravana,
his younger brother Mahiravan, who was the king of subterranean, took Rama and
his brother Laxman to the netherworld while they were in deep sleep. In the search
of Rama and Laxman, Hanuman approached to the Mahiravan`s kingdom. Mahiravan
was about to sacrifice the duo in the front of the netherworld goddess. Hanuman
started fighting with Mahiravan to get released Rama and Laxman, but Mahiravan
was looking invincible due to one boon.
There, the five lamps were
placed in five directions. In order to kill Mahiravan, the five lamps should be
blown out at the same time. That was the boon, Mahiravan had. It was not
possible to blow out all the five lamps in five directions at the same time with
one mouth. To save the lives of Rama and Laxman, and to kill Mahiravan, Hanuman
took five headed form and blown out all the five lamps at the same time and
killed Mahiravan and rascued Rama and Laxman from his clamp.
Why five lamps…? These five
lamps signify the five senses (sight, smell, hear, taste and touch) of humans.
Only Hanuman had the capacity to do that, as he had conquered over five senses.
Also these five lamps signify the five elements of the body (earth, water,
ether, fire and air) and these five elements represent the five senses. Hanuman
transcends these five elements. He has wholly controls over these five
elements. How … ? He is the son of Vayu ( wind god), He crosses the ocean (water),
He uses the sky (ether) path for that, He meets with Sita (earth , Sita is
incarnation of Bhudevi), and He burns (fire) Lanka.
He has control over five elements;
that is why, he is considered one of the Chiranjivis in Hindu mythology. The
Panchmukhi Hanuman`s idols are kept south facing. It is believed that this form
of Hanuman saves the devotees from evil and untimely demise. Why south ….? South
is the direction of Yama ( the god of death) and Rakhasa ( Ravana was also
living is south). And, Hanuman conquered the both, hence his this form kept
south facing.
