About Panchmukhi Hanuman mandir
It is believed that the Hindu Lord Hanuman revealed his 5 sacred faces including that of the mythological Lord Garuda, Mythological Lord Narasimha, and Mythological Lord Hayagriva and others. The temple is famously called the Panchamukha Anjaneya which is surely a list-topper when it comes to the places to visit in Rameshwaram and a very significant pilgrim site in Rameshwaram Packages.
Sri Panchmukhi Hanuman mandir & floating stones
The Sacred Stones
Another attraction that becomes the prime highlight here is the magnificent set of sacred stones which can be seen floating here. The legend behind the stones goes like that the pious mythological bridge named the Sethu Bandhanam. The bridge was constructed to help in reaching the gifted demon Ravana's Lanka when he abducted the Hindu Goddess Sita and held her captive there. Lord Hanumana transformed himself and constructed a massive fortress around Lord Rama and Lord Lakshmana with his huge tail. This makes Lord Hanumana's stature quite significant.
More about the temple
It is also said that during the war between Lord Rama and demon Ravana who had abducted Goddess Sita, Ravana had sought the help of Mahiravana, who was the king of Patala Loka. However, Lord Hanuman, in order to protect Lord Rama and Lakshman, had built a huge fortress around them with his tail. The five forms of the lord are magnificently seen facing the North, the South, the East and the Sky. The mythological forms are respectively named as Varaha, Narasimha, Garuda, Hanumana and Hayagriva respectively. The complete avatar is collectively known as the sacred 'Panchamukhi Avtar'.
The legend of the 5 faces
The legend says that Mahiravana in disguise of his brother could only be killed in Patala Loka when all the five lamps lit by him in five different directions are extinguished together. In order to save Lord Rama and Lord Lakshmana, the beloved Lord whose respect for Lord Rama knew no bounds, Lord Hanumana transformed himself. He could be seen in five of his forms at the same time in order to extinguish the lighting lamps.
All these mythological attractions make the sacred site a very popular place to be visited by the devotees of Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama alike and is definitely a prime place when it comes to the places to visit in Rameshwaram.
How to reach
Distance in kilometers from - 2 kilometer from Sri Ramanathaswamy temple