There are a series of Hanuman shrines located in the different parts of Jagannath Puri. To the western side of Gundicha temple and on the bank of sacred Indradyumna tank there is a temple known as the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple. Devotees can approach the temple on the right side of the road leading from Gundicha temple towards Indradyumna tank. Local people also called this temple as Siddha Hanuman Temple and Panchamukhi Mahavir Temple.
The presiding deity is Panchamukhi Hanuman. Panchamukhi is a combination of two words 'Pancha' and 'Mukha'. In local langugae 'Pancha' means 'Five' and 'Mukha' means 'Face'. The image has five faces; Varaha in north, Narasimha in south, Hanuman in east, Garuda in west and Hayagriba in top. The image has ten hands, holding sankha, trident, khatwanga, pasa, ankusa, hillock, dhuma, musthi, mace and snake. He is standing over the demon.
Each of the five faces has a different significance and meaning :
Hanuman Mukha - Facing the East is Anjaneya Mukha in its original form, removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of Mind.
Narasimha Mukha - Facing the South, removes fear of enemies and confers victory.
Garuda Mukha - Facing the west, drives away evil spells, black magic influences etc. and removes all poisonous effects in one's body.
Varaha Mukha - Facing the North, removes problems caused by bad influences of the planets and confers all prosperity.
Hayagriba Mukha - Facing upwards, confers knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny.
It is believed that devotees will earn more punya if they make a darsana of Sri Nilakantheswar, Yagna Narasimha and Panchamukhi Mahavir after a sacred bath in Indradyumna Tank. Huge crowd gather at Panchamukhi Mahavir temple on festiv occassions like Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, Pana sankranti etc.
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