The Journey from the Ramayana War
The holy land of Sri Kshetra Hanumagiri, where Lord Hanuman’s divine presence is felt by every devotee, has deep roots in the Ramayana. During the great battle, Ravana’s son, Indrajit, used a powerful weapon against Lakshmana, leaving him unconscious and seriously injured. To save him, Hanuman was asked to bring special medicinal herbs from Mount Dronagiri (also known as Mahodaya) in the Himalayas.
When Hanuman reached the mountain, he became confused and could not identify the specific herbs. He requested the King of the mountain to let him take the entire hill. The King agreed but set a condition: "You may take it, but you must return the mountain exactly as it is." Giving his word, Hanuman lifted the mountain and rushed back to the battlefield. During this journey, a few small pieces of the mountain naturally fell to the ground, which Hanuman did not notice at the time.
The Search for the Missing Pieces
After the battle, when Hanuman returned the mountain to the Himalayas, he realized some parts were missing. To keep his promise to the King, he travelled south to find the fallen pieces. He discovered that a major portion had fallen in the Tapobhoomi of Sage Vasu.
Upon arriving there, Hanuman found that the area was being troubled by evil spirits . He defeated them, earning the blessings of Sage Vasu. At the Sage’s request and for the welfare of the world, Hanuman decided to stay there. This sacred place later became known as Hanumagiri.
How Hanuman Became 'Panchamukhi' (The Five-Faced Lord)
The story continues with Hanuman’s deep desire to find and reunite with Lord Rama. His journey took him through different realms.
The Power of Narasimha
The Power of Narasimha: Hanuman travelled to the Patala Loka , where he encountered King Bali and Lord Narasimha. After a divine struggle, the strength of Lord Narasimha merged into Hanuman. King Bali promised to visit Hanumagiri every year during Deepavali, which is why the Baliendra Pooja is still celebrated at the temple today.
The Power of Varaha
The Power of Varaha: Moving north toward the Himalayas, Hanuman met Lord Shweta Varaha. After a test of strength, Varaha Swami befriended Hanuman and merged his divine power into him.
The Power of Hayagriva
The Power of Hayagriva: While continuing his search, Hanuman met Lord Hayagriva. As they were about to clash, Lord Brahma intervened. He explained that Lord Rama would be waiting for Hanuman in the form of Sri Krishna in Dwarka during the Dvapara Yuga. Following Brahma's advice, the power of Lord Hayagriva also merged into Hanuman.
The Power of Garuda
The Power of Garuda: Finally, Hanuman reached Dwarka. To test him, Sri Krishna sent Garuda. After a battle where Garuda’s pride was humbled, Sri Krishna appeared to Hanuman in the form of Lord Rama. He then blessed Hanuman with the power of Garuda.
By gaining the energies of these four divine beings, Hanuman took the magnificent form of Panchamukhi Anjaneya (The Five-Faced Hanuman).
The Arrival of Lord Kodandaraama
After showing his Panchamukhi Vishwaroopa (universal form) to Lord Rama, Hanuman prayed for the Lord to come with him to Hanumagiri. Responding to his devotee’s love, Lord Rama came to stay at Hanumagiri in the form of Kodandaraama.
Today, Lord Panchamukhi Anjaneya resides here along with Bala Ganapathi and Sheshanaga, fulfilling the wishes of his devotees and removing their sorrows. Goddess Sita is said to reside here in the form of the beautiful surrounding nature. This temple is especially famous as a powerful center for removing the ill effects of Shani Dosha.