The Story Of Panchamukhi Hanuman Panchamukha is a Sanskrit word meaning 'five-faced'. Sri Hanuman manifested himself in Panchmukha or Panchmukhi (five-faced) avatar to kill Ahiravana. The origin of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman can be traced to a story in the Adbhuta Ramayana, but it does not exist in the original Valmiki Ramayana. Ahiravana a powerful demon, was the brother of Ravana. During the Ramayana battle, when Laxmana killed Indrajit- the son of the Lanka Naresh, Ravana approached his brother Ahiravana for help. He was the king of the underworld or patala. When Vibhishana came to know about this, he rushed to warn Rama and Laxmana. Ahiravana decided to disguise himself in the form of Vibhishana. Hanuman couldn’t recognize him, and He let him enter the room where Ram and Laxman were. Once Ahiravana entered the room, he abducted Rama and Laxmana and took them to the underworld. Ahiravana was backed by a strong army. Chandrasena informed Him about the secret of killing Ahiravana that his life force is in five different candles which have been kept in five different directions. The only way to kill Ahiravan is to blow off all these five candles at the same time. Hanuman appeared in five faced form and extinguished the five candles and killed Ahiravana. He then rescued Lord Rama and Laxmana who were in unconscious state by a magic spell. Panchamukha can be interpreted as the five ways of praying to God in Hindu philosophy. These five ways are known as naman, smaran, keerthanam, yacham and arpanam. The five faces of Panchamuka are each a depiction of one of these five forms of worship.