The Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach, five-faced form of Lord Hanuman is not merely a prayer but a potent armor of divine energy, drawn from ancient scriptures like the Ramayana. This guide explores deep into its essence, its origins, profound significance, time-honored rituals, transformative benefits, and answers to common queries. Whether you’re seeking protection from life’s storms or spiritual elevation, this Kavach offers timeless wisdom for modern devotees.
What is Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach?
Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach, also known as Panchamukhi (Five-faced) Hanuman Kavach, is a sacred protective hymn, mantra, or yantra (mystical diagram) invoking the five-faced form of Lord Hanuman, a devoted follower of Lord Rama in Hindu mythology. The term “Panchmukhi” means “five-faced,” and “Kavach” translates to “armor” or “shield,” symbolizing all-round divine protection. It combines the energies of Hanuman with aspects of Lord Vishnu’s avatars (Narasimha, Varaha, Hayagriva) and Garuda, guarding against physical, emotional, and spiritual threats. The Kavach can be recited as a stotra (hymn), worn as a locket, or installed as an energized idol/photo in homes or temples. Learn its significance below.
Navigate: What is | Significance | Stories | Lyrics | Rituals | Benefits | FAQs
Significance
The Panchmukhi form of Hanuman is one of his most powerful manifestations, embodying a cosmic shield that protects all five directions (east, south, west, north, and upward). Each face represents a unique divine attribute, blending Hanuman’s devotion with tantric and protective energies to destroy negativity, fears, and obstacles. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, spiritual evolution, and the integration of strength, wisdom, and righteousness. Worshipping it rectifies Vastu doshas (architectural flaws), pacifies malefic planetary influences (e.g., Sun, Mars, Saturn), and fosters inner peace, making it a potent tool for devotees facing challenges. For more on rituals, see the dedicated section below.
| Face | Direction | Deity/Aspect | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanuman (Monkey) | East | Courage and Devotion | Strength, unwavering loyalty to Rama, fulfillment of desires, and happiness. |
| Narasimha (Lion-Man) | South | Fearlessness | Destruction of fears, sins, evil forces; grants victory and liberation. |
| Garuda (Eagle) or Vakratunda (Elephant) | West | Negativity Removal | Wards off black magic, poisons, ailments, and negative energies. |
| Varaha (Boar) | North | Prosperity | Brings wealth, stability, and rescue from earthly troubles. |
| Hayagriva (Horse) or Rudra | Upward | Knowledge | Bestows wisdom, goodwill, progeny, zeal for achievement, and salvation. |
Explore the origin story for deeper context.
Origins and Stories
The origin of Panchmukhi Hanuman stems from the Ramayana epic, specifically during the Lanka war between Lord Rama and Ravana. Ravana’s brother, Mahiravana (or Ahiravana), a sorcerer and king of Patala Loka (underworld), was a devotee of Goddess Mahamaya. To turn the tide, he abducted Rama and Lakshmana while they slept, disguising himself as Vibhishana and shrinking them into a betel leaf box. He hid their life force in five lamps placed in five directions (guarding his immortality), planning to sacrifice them in dark rituals.
Alerted by Vibhishana, Hanuman pursued them to Patala Loka. He created a fortress with his tail to protect the brothers but was tricked. In the underworld, Hanuman battled Mahiravana’s illusions and armies. To extinguish the five lamps simultaneously (impossible for a single being), Hanuman assumed the Panchmukhi form—sprouting four additional faces from his body. He blew out the lamps in one breath, slayed Mahiravana, and rescued Rama and Lakshmana. This story, detailed in the Bengali Krittivasi Ramayana, highlights Hanuman’s ingenuity, devotion, and supreme power as the ultimate protector. Learn about its benefits in practice.
Rituals
Rituals for Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach emphasize purity, devotion, and regularity. Key practices include:
- Recitation (Path or Japa): Begin with “Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah” and the Rishi-Chhanda invocation (e.g., “Om Asya Shri Panchamukha Hanuman Mantrasya Brahma Rishih…”). Chant the full Kavach stotra daily, ideally 108 times using a rudraksha mala, facing east or north. Meditate on each face while visualizing protective armor forming around the body. Best times: Tuesdays, Saturdays, or Hanuman Jayanti.
- Installation and Worship: Energize the yantra/idol with a priest via prana pratishtha (infusing life force). Place it at the home’s main entrance (facing south-west) or puja altar in the north-east direction. Offer red flowers, sindoor, betel leaves, fruits, and incense daily. Light a ghee lamp and recite the Beej Mantra: “Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche Namah” or “Om Shree Hanumate Namah.”
- Special Observances: During travel, court cases, or crises, recite before starting. For tantric use, combine with Hanuman Bahuk (for healing) or Keelak stotra (to unlock barriers). Avoid during menstruation or impure states; fast on Tuesdays for enhanced potency.
For FAQs on common queries, scroll to the bottom.
Read more on: Hanuman Chalisa | Rama Raksha Stotra | Neuroscience of Hanuman Chalisa
Benefits
Worshipping or reciting Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach yields multifaceted benefits, acting as a divine armor:
- Protection: Shields from evil spirits, black magic, evil eye, accidents, enemies, and unseen threats; ensures safe travels and guards homes from negativity.
- Health and Healing: Cures diseases, removes chronic ailments, and alleviates planetary doshas (e.g., Saturn’s Sade Sati).
- Prosperity and Success: Removes obstacles, fulfills desires, brings wealth, career growth, and victory in endeavors.
- Spiritual Growth: Instills courage, fearlessness, wisdom, devotion, and inner strength; aids meditation, purifies karma, and leads to moksha (liberation).
- Emotional Well-Being: Destroys fears, anxiety, and sins; promotes happiness, family harmony, and progeny blessings.
Regular practice is said to transform life by invoking Hanuman’s boundless energy. Refer back to the significance table for symbolic insights.
Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach in Hindi
ॐ श्री पञ्चवदनायाञ्जनेयाय नमः ।
ॐ अस्य श्री पञ्चमुखहनुमन्मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्मा ऋषिः ।
गायत्रीछन्दः । पञ्चमुखविराट् हनुमान्देवता । ह्रीं बीजं ।
श्रीं शक्तिः । क्रौं कीलकं । क्रूं कवचं । क्रैं अस्त्राय फट् ।
इति दिग्बन्धः ।
श्री गरुड उवाच ।
यत्कृतं देवदेवेन ध्यानं हनुमतः प्रियम् ॥ १॥
पञ्चवक्त्रं महाभीमं त्रिपञ्चनयनैर्युतम् ।
बाहुभिर्दशभिर्युक्तं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम् ॥ २॥
पूर्वं तु वानरं वक्त्रं कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभम् ।
दन्ष्ट्राकरालवदनं भृकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम् ॥ ३॥
अस्यैव दक्षिणं वक्त्रं नारसिंहं महाद्भुतम् ।
अत्युग्रतेजोवपुषं भीषणं भयनाशनम् ॥ ४॥
पश्चिमं गारुडं वक्त्रं वक्रतुण्डं महाबलम् ॥
सर्वनागप्रशमनं विषभूतादिकृन्तनम् ॥ ५॥
उत्तरं सौकरं वक्त्रं कृष्णं दीप्तं नभोपमम् ।
पातालसिंहवेतालज्वररोगादिकृन्तनम् ॥ ६॥
ऊर्ध्वं हयाननं घोरं दानवान्तकरं परम् ।
येन वक्त्रेण विप्रेन्द्र तारकाख्यं महासुरम् ॥ ७॥
जघान शरणं तत्स्यात्सर्वशत्रुहरं परम् ।
ध्यात्वा पञ्चमुखं रुद्रं हनुमन्तं दयानिधिम् ॥ ८॥
खड्गं त्रिशूलं खट्वाङ्गं पाशमङ्कुशपर्वतम् ।
मुष्टिं कौमोदकीं वृक्षं धारयन्तं कमण्डलुम् ॥ ९॥
भिन्दिपालं ज्ञानमुद्रां दशभिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।
एतान्यायुधजालानि धारयन्तं भजाम्यहम् ॥ १०॥
प्रेतासनोपविष्टं तं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् ।
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् ॥ ११॥
सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवं हनुमद्विश्वतोमुखम् ।
पञ्चास्यमच्युतमनेकविचित्रवर्णवक्त्रं
शशाङ्कशिखरं कपिराजवर्यम ।
पीताम्बरादिमुकुटैरूपशोभिताङ्गं
पिङ्गाक्षमाद्यमनिशं मनसा स्मरामि ॥ १२॥
मर्कटेशं महोत्साहं सर्वशत्रुहरं परम् ।
शत्रु संहर मां रक्ष श्रीमन्नापदमुद्धर ॥ १३॥
ॐ हरिमर्कट मर्कट मन्त्रमिदं
परिलिख्यति लिख्यति वामतले ।
यदि नश्यति नश्यति शत्रुकुलं
यदि मुञ्चति मुञ्चति वामलता ॥ १४॥
ॐ हरिमर्कटाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ नमो भगवते पञ्चवदनाय पूर्वकपिमुखाय
सकलशत्रुसंहारकाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ नमो भगवते पञ्चवदनाय दक्षिणमुखाय करालवदनाय
नरसिंहाय सकलभूतप्रमथनाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ नमो भगवते पञ्चवदनाय पश्चिममुखाय गरुडाननाय
सकलविषहराय स्वाहा ।
ॐ नमो भगवते पञ्चवदनायोत्तरमुखायादिवराहाय
सकलसम्पत्कराय स्वाहा ।
ॐ नमो भगवते पञ्चवदनायोर्ध्वमुखाय हयग्रीवाय
सकलजनवशङ्कराय स्वाहा ।
ॐ अस्य श्री पञ्चमुखहनुमन्मन्त्रस्य श्रीरामचन्द्र
ऋषिः । अनुष्टुप्छन्दः । पञ्चमुखवीरहनुमान् देवता ।
हनुमानिति बीजम् । वायुपुत्र इति शक्तिः । अञ्जनीसुत इति कीलकम् ।
श्रीरामदूतहनुमत्प्रसादसिद्ध्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ।
इति ऋष्यादिकं विन्यसेत् ।
ॐ अञ्जनीसुताय अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ रुद्रमूर्तये तर्जनीभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ वायुपुत्राय मध्यमाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ अग्निगर्भाय अनामिकाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ रामदूताय कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ पञ्चमुखहनुमते करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः ।
इति करन्यासः ।
ॐ अञ्जनीसुताय हृदयाय नमः ।
ॐ रुद्रमूर्तये शिरसे स्वाहा ।
ॐ वायुपुत्राय शिखायै वषट् ।
ॐ अग्निगर्भाय कवचाय हुम् ।
ॐ रामदूताय नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् ।
ॐ पञ्चमुखहनुमते अस्त्राय फट् ।
पञ्चमुखहनुमते स्वाहा ।
इति दिग्बन्धः ।
अथ मन्त्रः ।
दिव्यालङ्करणं त्रिपञ्चनयनं देदीप्यमानं रुचा ।
हस्ताब्जैरसिखेटपुस्तकसुधाकुम्भाङ्कुशाद्रिं हलं
खट्वाङ्गं फणिभूरुहं दशभुजं सर्वारिवीरापहम् ।
ॐ श्रीरामदूतायाञ्जनेयाय वायुपुत्राय महाबलपराक्रमाय
सीतादुःखनिवारणाय लङ्कादहनकारणाय महाबलप्रचण्डाय
फाल्गुनसखाय कोलाहलसकलब्रह्माण्डविश्वरूपाय
सप्तसमुद्रनिर्लङ्घनाय पिङ्गलनयनायामितविक्रमाय
सूर्यबिम्बफलसेवनाय दुष्टनिवारणाय दृष्टिनिरालङ्कृताय
सञ्जीविनीसञ्जीविताङ्गदलक्ष्मणमहाकपिसैन्यप्राणदाय
दशकण्ठविध्वंसनाय रामेष्टाय महाफाल्गुनसखाय सीतासहित-
रामवरप्रदाय षट्प्रयोगागमपञ्चमुखवीरहनुमन्मन्त्रजपे विनियोगः ।
ॐ हरिमर्कटमर्कटाय बंबंबंबंबं वौषट् स्वाहा ।
ॐ हरिमर्कटमर्कटाय फंफंफंफंफं फट् स्वाहा ।
ॐ हरिमर्कटमर्कटाय खेंखेंखेंखेंखें मारणाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ हरिमर्कटमर्कटाय लुंलुंलुंलुंलुं आकर्षितसकलसम्पत्कराय स्वाहा ।
ॐ हरिमर्कटमर्कटाय धंधंधंधंधं शत्रुस्तम्भनाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ टंटंटंटंटं कूर्ममूर्तये पञ्चमुखवीरहनुमते
परयन्त्रपरतन्त्रोच्चाटनाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ कंखंगंघंङं चंछंजंझंञं टंठंडंढंणं
तंथंदंधंनं पंफंबंभंमं यंरंलंवं शंषंसंहं
ळंक्षं स्वाहा ।
इति दिग्बन्धः ।
ॐ पूर्वकपिमुखाय पञ्चमुखहनुमते टंटंटंटंटं
सकलशत्रुसंहरणाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ दक्षिणमुखाय पञ्चमुखहनुमते करालवदनाय नरसिंहाय
ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रूं ह्रैं ह्रौं ह्रः सकलभूतप्रेतदमनाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ पश्चिममुखाय गरुडाननाय पञ्चमुखहनुमते मंमंमंमंमं
सकलविषहराय स्वाहा ।
ॐ उत्तरमुखायादिवराहाय लंलंलंलंलं नृसिंहाय नीलकण्ठमूर्तये
पञ्चमुखहनुमते स्वाहा ।
ॐ उर्ध्वमुखाय हयग्रीवाय रुंरुंरुंरुंरुं रुद्रमूर्तये
सकलप्रयोजननिर्वाहकाय स्वाहा ।
ॐ अञ्जनीसुताय वायुपुत्राय महाबलाय सीताशोकनिवारणाय
श्रीरामचन्द्रकृपापादुकाय महावीर्यप्रमथनाय ब्रह्माण्डनाथाय
कामदाय पञ्चमुखवीरहनुमते स्वाहा ।
भूतप्रेतपिशाचब्रह्मराक्षसशाकिनीडाकिन्यन्तरिक्षग्रह-
परयन्त्रपरतन्त्रोच्चटनाय स्वाहा ।
सकलप्रयोजननिर्वाहकाय पञ्चमुखवीरहनुमते
श्रीरामचन्द्रवरप्रसादाय जंजंजंजंजं स्वाहा ।
इदं कवचं पठित्वा तु महाकवचं पठेन्नरः ।
एकवारं जपेत्स्तोत्रं सर्वशत्रुनिवारणम् ॥ १५॥
द्विवारं तु पठेन्नित्यं पुत्रपौत्रप्रवर्धनम् ।
त्रिवारं च पठेन्नित्यं सर्वसम्पत्करं शुभम् ॥ १६॥
चतुर्वारं पठेन्नित्यं सर्वरोगनिवारणम् ।
पञ्चवारं पठेन्नित्यं सर्वलोकवशङ्करम् ॥ १७॥
षड्वारं च पठेन्नित्यं सर्वदेववशङ्करम् ।
सप्तवारं पठेन्नित्यं सर्वसौभाग्यदायकम् ॥ १८॥
अष्टवारं पठेन्नित्यमिष्टकामार्थसिद्धिदम् ।
नववारं पठेन्नित्यं राजभोगमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १९॥
दशवारं पठेन्नित्यं त्रैलोक्यज्ञानदर्शनम् ।
रुद्रावृत्तिं पठेन्नित्यं सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेद्ध्रुवम् ॥ २०॥
निर्बलो रोगयुक्तश्च महाव्याध्यादिपीडितः ।
कवचस्मरणेनैव महाबलमवाप्नुयात् ॥ २१॥
॥ इति श्रीसुदर्शनसंहितायां श्रीरामचन्द्रसीताप्रोक्तं
श्रीपञ्चमुखहनुमत्कवचं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
FAQs
- Q1: Can I keep a Panchmukhi Hanuman idol or photo at home?
- Yes, it’s highly auspicious. Place it at the main entrance or south-west corner to ward off evil and correct Vastu issues. Both standing (for action and protection) and sitting (for meditation and stability) forms are beneficial. See installation rituals.
- Q2: Is Panchmukhi Hanuman suitable for beginners?
- It’s powerful and tantric in nature, so start with milder Hanuman forms if new. Consult a guru for recitation to avoid mishandling its intense energy.
- Q3: How often should I chant the Kavach?
- Daily for ongoing protection, or 108 times during challenges. Tuesdays and Saturdays amplify effects. Details in rituals.
- Q4: What if I’m facing planetary afflictions like Shani Dosha?
- It pacifies malefic Sun, Mars, and Saturn; recite during their dashas for relief from obstacles and misfortunes. Related to planetary influences.
- Q5: Are there any restrictions on worshipping Panchmukhi Hanuman?
- Avoid impure states (e.g., menstruation). It’s not for casual use—approach with devotion to harness its full protective power. Unlock full benefits.
Conclusion
The Panchmukhi Hanuman Kavach transcends time, offering a beacon of hope and resilience in an unpredictable world. Rooted in the heroic tales of the Ramayana, its rituals and benefits empower devotees to navigate life’s challenges with faith and fortitude. By embracing this divine armor, one invites not just protection but profound personal growth, prosperity, and harmony. As Hanuman’s boundless energy reminds us, true strength lies in devotion and surrender. Begin your journey today—chant, worship, and let the five faces illuminate your path to enlightenment.