The Five-Faced Hanuman Temple, Rameshwaram, is one of the major tourist attractions in Rameshwaram which is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site. It is also known as the Panch-Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, which translates into the shrine which is dedicated to Lord Hanuman with five faces.
The five faces of Lord Hanuman depicted in this idol are of Lord Hanuman in the middle along with faces of Lord Narasimha, Lord Adi Varaha, Lord Garuda and Lord Hayagriva on the sides. It is believed that the form of Hanuman with five faces represent Hanuman's mastery over five senses. Each face signifies a particular trait - Hanuman denotes courage and strength, Narasimha fearlessness, Garuda magical skills and the power to cure snake bites, Varaha health, and exorcism and Hayagriva victory over enemies.
Structure
This temple also has the floating stones that were used in the formation of the Rama Setu, the bridge that connected Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka. These stones are believed to be a part of the bridge, which was built by Hanuman and his monkey army to reach Sri Lanka to rescue Sita from the clutches of Ravana. It is quite fascinating to see the heavy stones floating in the water. These stones are oval and are covered with tiny craters, like the coral which stays afloat in water.
Legends and Mythologies
In the battle between Ram and Ravana, Ravana being the vile rakshas gains the help of Mahiravana who is the ruler of the underworld. Mahiravan tricks Ram and Lakshman with his deceiving appearances and holds them captive in his underworld prison. Lord Hanuman took this form to kill Mahiravana, the king of Pathala and Ravan's brother. Lord Hanuman blew five lamps lit in 5 directions and killed the demon Mahiravana who abducted Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman. He rescues Ram, who is about to be sacrificed to the goddess Kali. It is said that Lord Hanuman had revealed his five faces at this place beneath the earth. It is believed that he was adorned with senthooram (vermillion) by the saints post revelation. The effigy of Hanuman has been carved in pure black stone and the statue stands to a remarkable height. The idols of Lord Rama and Sita were also placed here in 1964 after they had been brought from Dhanushkodi.
How to reach the Five Faced Hanuman Temple
Five Faced Hanuman Temple is located at 1 km from the Rameshwaram railway station. One can walk till there or can hire the cab or auto-rickshaw. The temple is easily accessible from the city and is located 2 km from the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple. One can check the Rameshwaram travel guide to get more information about how to reach Rameshwaram.
Best time to visit the Five Faced Hanuman Temple
Every day, this temple is visited by countless devotees and the footfall increases on every Tuesday and Saturday. One can plan their trip during the festivals of Ram Navami, Deepavali, and Hanuman Jayanti as they are some of the major festivals celebrated here with great enthusiasm. The best time to visit the temple is during the winter season when climatic conditions remain favorable for the Rameshwaram trip.
Places to visit near the Five Faced Hanuman Temple
Five Faced Hanuman Temple is one of the most famous temples in Rameshwaram and other places to visit near the temple are Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Pamban Bridge, Dhanushkodi Temple, Dhanushkodi Beach, Agni Teertham, and many more.
Five Faced Hanuman Temple Timings: 6:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M and 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Five Faced Hanuman Temple Entry Fees: Nil
