Five Forms of Shiva: Meaning, Mantras, and Importance (Panchanana)
According to Raurava Agama, “The birth of the world, its maintenance, its destruction, the soul’s obscuration, and liberation are the five acts of Mahadev’s dance.” The supreme being of this universe, who is often named Purusha or Rudra, is no one other than the most revered of all Hindu gods, Lord Shiva. Shiva is one of the most powerful and major gods in Hinduism.
Lord Shiva is the deity, who is not only the God of all the Gods but also the keeper, protector, and destroyer of this universe. This diverse nature of Mahadev is also showcased in his Panchamukha avatar. The five faces of Lord Shiva, known as Panchanana Shiva offer an insight into his unique significance, symbolism, and cosmic role. These four faces of Shiva represent four directions and types of panchanana.
Five Faces of Shiva (Panchanana)
As Shiva is sacredly connected with the number five, the universal fifth face faces toward the sky and stands as the symbol of purity and spiritual awakening. Each of the five faces of lord shiva represents five elements, five senses, five organs of perception, and five organs of action. The five heads of Shiva are connected with five sacred Shiva Mantra which are considered the feminine energy called Shiva and Shakti.
1. Sadyojata – The Creator
Sadyojata is the face that looks westward and embodies the energy that can create numerous forms and is the origin of everything. The translation of Sadyojata is “born at once”, and is symbolic of the natural process of creation. Sadasiva is also connected with the trinity of Hindu gods, Trimurti, symbolizing the power of creation that can bring anything in the universe into existence. This face of Lord Shiva is white in color, showcasing the cycle of creation that is constant in the universe as well as in the life of an individual.
Significance Of Sadyojata
Sada Siva is the face that represents the power that can create souls for bodies and can assume forms spontaneously, nurturing different aspects of life. Mostly associated with the element of earth, this face is the representation of the idea of formation, creation, birth, and emergence. Sadyojata is the representation of liberating knowledge, and innovation and is the cause of birth.
Appearance
This west-facing head is the source of instantaneous creation and is the manifestation of Sadasiva, a formless body. In this form, Shiva presents himself with a charming face of a boy, covered in sandalwood paste, with white flowers enhancing the visual appeal. This head is also known as the leader of delight and enjoyment. This face has a sacred mantra and its Panchakshara Mantra syllable is Na. One hand of this face holds the Varada mudra that grants wishes and the other holds the fear-not Abhaya mudra.
Sacred Mantra of Sadyojata
सद्योजातं प्रपद्यामि सद्योजाताय वै नमो नमः।
भवे भवे नाति भवे भवस्व मां भवोद्भवाय नमः॥
2. Tatpurusha – The Concealed One
This face stands for the concealment of true divine nature from the human ego. Known as the Lord of Preservation, it sustains all forms of being in this universe. Starting from human beings to celestial beings and even the asuras, animals, and birds all are preserved by this cosmic being of Mahadev. This form regulating the entire range of the world is Vishnu, the lord of Preservation. Tatpurusha is linked with the element of air and faces the east direction. This form guides inner wisdom and promotes enlightenment in all individuals.
Significance of Tatpurusha
Shiva’s face of tatpurusha symbolizes the journey towards the real self, uncovering hidden truths and unmasking all lies. He is the cosmic egg, spreading everywhere from the Bindu through which the Nada arises. Hiranyagarbha is the all-pervasive power that embodies meditation, cosmic sacrifice, and a journey that takes one to a deeper level of joy and nourishment. It is one of the 5 faces of lord shiva that encourages self-awareness, guiding us toward wisdom, to seek a connection with the higher self. It reminds us to look beyond the surface as it can be misleading, encouraging us to remove the veil that stands in the way of connecting with divine wisdom and spirituality.
Appearance
Tatpurusha, Lord of Maheshwara is the bringer of materialistic abundance, with three all-seeing eyes and four faces in yellow garments. Facing the direction of the east, his Panchakshara Mantra syllable is Va. He is mostly depicted in a golden hue, with his head decorated with a crescent moon and a crown. This face of lord shiva holds a string of beads in one hand, while the other is adorned with His trident staff.
Sacred Mantra of Tatpurusha
तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि।
तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
3. Aghora – The Dissolution
This face stands for destruction and is associated with the element of fire. Aghora is one of Shiva’s five faces those spreads supreme consciousness and is one of the Rudra Avatars of Lord Shiva. This face is not ruled by fear and teaches us to confront fears and fight obstacles with strength. Destruction is not always bad, but is a vital process in the cosmos that helps in regeneration and transformation. Aghora helps in relieving the burdens of attachments, urging their devotees to move forward with courage, and face their demons and fear.
Significance of Aghora
In this misunderstood form Shiva symbolizes that destruction is also a part of creation. Without destruction, there is no regeneration or transformation. Facing the south direction, He is mentioned in the Shiva stories of the Vedas as the father of war gods. This brave and battle-ready face of lord Shiva stands as a reminder that the destruction of the old is necessary to make way for the new. This face of Shiva embodies desire, and wish, and promotes destruction as the only source of renewal, which plays a vital role in the cycle of life. It encourages us to let go of any false identity and ego, paving the way for change, rebirth, and spiritual awakening. With the power of dissolution, he creates a new formation of life and ways to rebuild a creation. He is always associated with destruction while at the same time, he is the shiva symbolism of buddhi, the sense of hearing, and the organ of speech.
Appearance
He is personified as Dharma, and His Panchakshara Mantra syllable is Si. Aghora Deva is presented in the color of dark clouds, with a crescent studded crown and earrings beautifying his face. His expression is pleasant, and calm even though he appears to be fearsome with matted hair, long teeth, and tawny colored beard. His dreadful appearance is enhanced by the presence of snakes around his neck and scorpions all over him. He wears a garland of skulls, with four hands on the left side holding a fire, a staff with a skull at the top, a shield, and a noose. The four on the right side, however, are a trident, hatchet, sword, and stuff.
Sacred Mantra of Aghora Dev
अघोरेभ्योऽथ घोरेभ्यो अघोरघोरेतरेभ्यः।
सर्वतः शर्वः सर्वेभ्यो नमस्ते रुद्र रूपेभ्यः॥
4. Ishana – The Supreme Lord
The supreme ruler represents the highest form of grace and divine consciousness. The Ishana Murdha mantra marks the ultimate limit, constituting the heads of Sadasiva, representing the highest limit. He is often linked with the power of mind, representing the mystical aspects of Maheshwar. Ishana signifies the ultimate goal to give up the ego and seek profound spiritual awakening as well as enlightenment. He is the figure that represents supreme reality and the power of manifestation and is related to the sphere of Akasha Mandala.
Significance of Ishana Deva
This face looks in the upward direction and is the all-knowing governor of all the creations of the realm. It provides liberation from the cycle of birth and death, surpassing time and space. It is symbolic of the ultimate reality as the supreme Sadasiva wielding the power of enlightenment. The ultimate knowledge of the world and the seeker of spiritual strength lies in the core of this divine upward-looking deity. Ishana’s energy helps in bringing unity among all existence, promoting a deeper connection with the divine and a higher understanding of the cosmos.
Appearance
This is one of the Shiva 5 faces linked with the element of space and is depicted as the all-knowing powerful preserver of the realm. His Panchakshara Mantra syllable is Ya and encourages his devotees to seek moksha through purity. Ishana Deva is pure crustal in color with three eyes, wielding the power of revealment. In Shiva temples, you can find him holding a trident and a string of beads in each of his hands. His form showcases benevolence, with a crescent moon on the top of his Jata.
Sacred Mantra of Ishana Deva
ईशान सर्वविद्यानामीश्वरः सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मादिपति ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिर्।
ब्रह्मा शिवो मे अस्तु स एव सदाशिव ओम्॥
5. Vamadeva – The Preserver
This is one of the five faces of Shiva that emphasizes the preservation and sustenance of the creations of the universe. Vamadeva covers up Tatpurusha, different forms of lord shiva to cover up delusion and flaws. When doing the shiv aarti of this face, the mantra becomes Vamadeva Guhya. Mahadev’s head faces northward and is linked with the elements of water, representing beauty, love, and the arts of nature.
Significance of Vamadeva
Vamadeva is that form of Shiva that is the keeper of the balance in the realm and promotes harmony, which is much alike Lord Vishnu’s Preserver form in the Holy Trinity of Hinduism. He is the opposite of Tatpurusha and there is egoism that lies within him known as anava. Lord Shiva meaning lies in all the 5 faces of lord shiva, however, this face is symbolic of the Kriya-Shakti. By nature, Vama likes to be veiled and unseen, while at the same time, he is the ultimate energy of knowing and doing.
Appearance
Vama also stands for base or inferior but in Shiva’s form is represented in either red or lotus colour. Facing Northward he is related to the sphere of water/ jala mandala and His Panchakshara Mantra syllable is Ma. His is usually portrayed in red color, with a visually appealing outlook, decorated with rich, aristocratic bearings and garlands of flowers. In one hand he holds a sword, while the other hand is adorned with a shield.
Sacred Mantra of Vamadeva
वामदेवायनमो ज्येष्ठाय नमः श्रेष्ठाय
नमो रुद्राय नमः कालाय नमः।
कलविकरणाय नमो बलाय नमो
बलविकरणाय नमो बलप्रमथनाय नमः।
सर्वभूतदमनाय नमो मनोन्मनाय नमः॥
Spiritual Lessons to Learn from Shiva’s Panchamukha
The five faces of Shiva teach us some profound lessons along with their influence in the cosmos:
- The Ishana face looks upward and is of pure crystal colour, is the supreme being that fosters connection with the inner being.
- Tatpurusha faces east and is gold in color, standing for unveiling the truth and seeking a deeper sense of inner wisdom, that can lead you toward spiritual awakening.
- Aghora faces south and is blue-black in color, showcasing the importance of embracing change and looking forward to transformation and renewal. This is the avatar that stands for Shiv Rudrashtakam Stotram.
- Vamadeva is turned northward and is saffron in color, standing for preserving and keeping the love and peace in the realm as well as in the life of an individual.
- Sadyojata looks west and is white in color, stands for creativity and the power to accept the creative nature of the universe.
Lord Shiva, whichever form he takes is beautiful and mysterious in its way. As a devotee of Shiva, you can learn from the 5 faces of lord shiva, which gives us insight into the depths of creation, preservation, destruction, and introspection. If you are a Shiva worshipper you can also take part in Shiva Bhajan to learn more about different forms of Shiva like Nataraja Stuti and Rudra Avatars. The meaning of panchanana lies in the depth of Mahadev’s different avatars and He can be the only One to lead you towards that knowledge.
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