Hanuman ji Temple at Bhatli, Bargarh, Odisha

The Five-faced Monkey God or Panchamukhi Hanuman is a form of Lord Hanuman, the Hindu God, who is believed to have been present even today as He is immortal. 

Lord Hanuman assumed this form to kill Ahi-Ravana, a powerful demon black-magician and practitioner of the dark arts during the Ramayana war. Ahi-Ravana had taken Lord Rama and Lakshmana in his captivity. There was no clue and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same time. Hanuman assumed His Panchamukha form and accomplished the task, thus killing the rakshasa, and freeing Rama and Lakshmana.

The five faces of Panchamukha Hanuman are those of Sri Hayagriva, Sri Narasimha, Sri Garuda, Sri Varaha and Hanuman Himself.

The statue in the picture is of Hanuman ji at the outskirt of Bhatli in the Bargarh District of Odisha, India. (Photo by Himanshu)

The details of Panchamukhi Hanuman are:-

1. East facing Hanuman to grant humanity isthta siddhi.

2. South facing Narasimha to grant humanity abhista siddhi.

3. West facing Garuda to grant humanity sakalla sowbhagya

4. North facing Varaha to grant humanity dhana prapthi, and

5. Hayagriva on top to grant humanity sarva vidya jaya prapthi.

This form of Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukhi Anjaneya and Panchamukhi Anjaneya. (Anjaneya, which means "son of Anjana", is another name of Hanuman).

Durga Maa at Patnagarh for Baishno Mela 2010

Baishno Mela 2010 was organised by Jay Mata Di Group, Patnagarh and Central Jay Mata Di Group. This idol of Sherawali Maa had been worshiped there in a massive grand Festival for long three days with daily Prabachan by Shree Satyanarayanan Pandey ji who is also the President of Jay Mata Di Group, India, Hawan by learned Pandits from Banaras lead by Anil Sharma of Jay Mata Di Group and Bhajan by Jay Mata Di Group members from all over India. Maa Sherawali was being decorated by different celebration outfits in this function. Dhyanu and Amit from Kolkata were in charge of Maa's Shringar.

Durgaa Maa with Hanuman ji at Patnagarh (by Himanshu)

Durga Maa at Patnagarh with Harishankar and Patneshwari Temple in background ( Photo by  Himanshu)

Durga Maa at Patnagarh for Baishno Mela 2010 ( Photo by Himanshu)

Durga Maa at Patnagarh on Baishno Mela 2010 ( Photo by Himanshu Guru)

Mata Sherawali

Jay Mata Di.........

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is the life saving divine blessings from Lord Shiva.

Human being is the most powerful creation of God. There are 84 lakh yonis where a soul (atma) is made to take birth. But there are only some fortunate souls who get the opportunity to take birth as human beings. Why obtaining a life as a human being is important is - in this yoni one can save himself from the circle of birth and finally get mokshya through his work (Karma). Mokshya is a state where the atma gets assembled with the Paramatma, the God which is the ultimate destination of every soul.

Human being enjoys the fruit of his last work done. Hence, if his Karma is good he gets good result and vice versa. In this way his death time is also pre-decided. But he can change or extend it with the blessings of God. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is the blessings to conquer death. If this pious Mantra is chanted or recited or even listened or worshipped according to the rules he can defeat death. However the most important point here is that he must have devotion and belief in the God and Mantra.

Maha means big or more result providing. Mrityu means death. Mrityunjaya means to win over the death. Hence Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra means the chanting by which one can win over death.

Reciting the Mantra for either 108 times or its multiple is the process to achieve the target of avoiding death.

त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

Aum

Tryambhakam Yajamahe, 

Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, 

Urvarukamiva Bandhanan, 

Mrityor Mokshiya Maamritat

Its meaning is - Om (Pranab) I worship the three-eyed God (that is Lord Shiva)(Tryambhakam Yajamahe), to extend fragrance and completeness of life (Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam), and also to make me free from the shackles of life (Urvarukamiva Bandhanan) to liberate me and bestow me immortality(Mrityor Mokshiya Maamritat).

Aum is 'Pranab'. The rule is to recite it in the beginning with the mantra. This mantra is from Rig Veda and has amazing effects in all the four yugas, named Satya, Tretaya, Dwapara and Kali.

Duty of the three major Gods has been devided. Brahma creates the world, Vishnu brings up it and Shiva destructs. In other words Generation, Operation and Destruction (hence the term GOD) is the three sole works of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar respectively. Hence it is obvious that the Lord who is there to provide death can save us from the jaws of death.