769. The amalgamation of the Five Vayu in Hanuman............!

When we inhale we take in the life vital breath called Prana Vayu and when we exhale we breathe out air expelling carbon dioxide and this is Apana Vayu. These two vayus are normally known to us but there are three more namely Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu and Samana Vayu. Vyana is in the blood which helps the blood circulation. Udana is the air which operates in the throat and helps us talk and swallow food. Samana is in stomach which takes care of digestion.

Prana vayu is the most important of the five and hence it is called “Mukhya Prana.” 

Hanuman is called Mukhya Prana in Dvaita Philosophy. He is termed “Jeevottama” the best among Jeevis. Why is he called Muhkya Prana? If contemplate deep there are Abhimana Devathas for all our organs. Sun is the devatha for sight, Ashwini twins for smell, Varuna for taste, Saraswathi for speech, Kubera for touch, Bruhaspathi for hearing, Maha Rudra for mind and so on. If either of the devathas leaves the body the physical body does exist but if Mukhya Prana leaves the body Sri Hari who is the Consciousness in us depart.

We have noticed the five faced Hanuman image. Is there any link to the five face and five pranas? Yes, the mention of the Panchamukha Hanuman can be found in Yuddha Kanda of Srimad Ramayana.

Mahiravana, the brother of mighty Ravana was expert in Mahendrajala, Indrajala, Vashikarna and types of black magic. At the time of the Great War between Shri Rama and Ravana, Mahiravana tried to kidnap both Shri Rama and Lakshmana to Patala loka (Nether World) to offer them as sacrifice for his rituals. Vibhishana the other brother of Ravana who joined the Shri Rama sena gets to know about it and intimate Hanuman. Hanuman forms a fortress with his elongated tail and keeps guard. Mahiravana disguised as Vibhishana eneters the tail fortress takes away Shri Rama and Lakshmana who are in deep sleep to Patala Loka.

Hanuman goes to Patala Loka encounters Mahiravana and learns that the way to kill Mahiravana is to extinguish 5 flames glowing in five differnt lamps in different directions. It is here that Hanuman takes the form of Panchamukhi, the five faced amalgamation of Hanuman as prana vayu towards east, Narasimha as udana vayu to the south, Garuda as samana vayu to the west, Varaha as apana vayu to the north and Hayagriva as vyana vayu towards the upper side (central). By blowing of the five flames simultaneously Mahiravana is vanquished.    

It is said that adoration of Panchamukhi Anjaneya confers purity of mind and there by success by Hanuman, fearlessness and thereby victory by Narasimha, Garuda guards from negativity thereby positive attitude, Varaha takes care of prosperity thereby survival, and finally Hayagriva bestows wisdom and thereby perfect progeny.  

I bow to the amalgamation of the five vayu in Hanuman. 

kapi mukha purvam dakshine narasimham paschime garudancha uttare sukaracha urdvam hayanana