Wishing all an auspicious #HanumanJayanti. I take a look at the Hanuman temples in AP, TG and Panchamukha Hanuman form in this thread today.

Common sight in most towns of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the Hanuman statues at every place and corner. In fact it is common to see large Hanuman statues on all highways, it's believed he protects travellers from harm. #HanumanJayanti

One of the very famous Hanuman Temples in AP, is Netti Kanti Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Kasapuram near Guntakal in Anantapur district. The temple dates back to Vijayanagar era, and the murthi is believed to be installed by Sri Vyasaraya #HanumanJayanti

Another well known Anjaneya Temple in Anantapur dt is at Singanamala, Durga Anjaneya Temple, built during VIjayanagara Era, the murthi was installed by Vyasaraya Teertha #HanumanJayanti

Another one is Ardhagiri Veeranjaneya Swamy Tempe in Chittor dt, around 15 km away from Kanipakam. It's believed when Hanuman was carrying Sanjeevani, half of it fell here, giving rise to name( Ardha means half). The Sanjeevaraya Pushkarni here never gets dry #HanumanJayanti

Another well known Hanuman Temple is at Ponnur in Guntur dt, Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple has a 24' murthi of Hanuman, carved out of a single black stone. Many devotees visit the temple, as it's believed that whatever you wish for comes true here #HanumanJayanti

Another Hanuman temple at Vellala in Kadapa dt, the Sanjeevaraya Swami temple. It's believed Hanuman stopped here to do Sandhya Vandanam, when he was bringing back the Sanjeevani. The rishis here requested him to stay, but he said he had to go on the mission #HanumanJayanti

Hanuman Junction in Krishna dt is so called at it is at the junction of 3 roads- Vijayawada to Machilipatnam, NH5 towards Eluru and road to Nuzvid. It is right on the border between Krishna and West Godavari district, and Hanuman here is a more benign form. #HanumanJayanti

Hanuman Junction lies right at the border of the Krishna- West Godavari districts, in fact the feet of the Murthi here separate the 2 districts. He is believed to be the town's protector and also to many travelling on the highway. #HanumanJayanti

Ramadri Temple on the Vizag-Bhimili route, has a very large Hanuman statue, lovely location, hills on one side, the Bay of Bengal on other side, if ur visiting Vizag do make sure you visit this. #HanumanJayanti

Hyderabad has many famous Hanuman temples, one of the more well known one is Karmanghat on Sagar Ring Road, built by a Kakatiya ruler. Not even Aurangzeb or the Mughal Army could destroy this temple, so powerful was it's influence. #HanumanJayanti

When Aurangzeb invaded Golkonda, he went about destroying all temples there, but neither he nor his army cud even touch Karmanghat Temple. It's believed that when he tried doing so, a voice boomed "Mandir todna hai, to Kar Man Ghat", #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Another well known Hanuman Temple in Twin Cities is at Tadbund in Secunderabad, near to Bowenpally. The murthi here is a Swayambhu one, manifested on a rock. Large crowds attend this temple #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Karimnagar dt, believed to be built by a cowherd, very scenic surrounded by hills and springs. It was renovated later by a Deshmukh landlord. Women seeking children visit this temple #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Beechupally Hanuman Temple at Jurala in Mahboobnagar dt, of Telangana, located on the banks of the Krishna river. A very famous temple, also a major site during the Pushkarams. #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Hanuman right at the foothills of Tirumala, where one begins the journey by road #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Paritala Anjaneya Swamy Temple near Vijayawada, one of the tallest #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti2019

Hanuman at Ramnarayan Temple near Vizianagaram, as u can see the temple is shaped like a bow and arrow, and Hanuman stands right at tip of arrow #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

One of my favorite Hanuman tales is that of Panchamukha Hanuman, his mightiest form to date, in fact 5 has a very close connection with Hanuman in many ways #HanumanJayanti

Kamba Ramayana beautifully explains the significance of 5 in Hanuman's life, as a yogi he transcended the 5 senses( Pancha Indriya), Sundara Kanda is the 5th canto in Ramayana, and it's considered auspicous to go around him 5 times #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

And the significance of the Pancha Bhutas in Hanuman's life
Son of Vayu( Wind)
Crossed the Ocean( Water) via the Sky.
Met Sita, the daughter of Bhoodevi( Earth)
Burnt down Lanka( Fire).
This is beautifully explained in Kamba Ramayana #BajrangiTwitter

Panchamukha Hanuman comes from the story of Ahiravana in Ramayan, who was the son of Ravana and ruler of Patal. Ahiravana was skilled at magic and a master of disguises, Vibhishan warned Hanuman to look out for him #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Hanuman built a huge enclosure with his tail, around Rama and Lakshmana, to ensure no one coud reach there. However Ahiravana managed to trick Hanuman disguising himself as Vibhishana, and entering the enclosure. #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Ahiravana carried away Rama and Lakshmana to Pataala , when Hanuman realized his mistake, he was distraught, and vowed to bring them back. He travelled all the way to Paatala, and reached Ahiravan's city. #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Turning himself to a fly, Hanuman managed to sneak into the prison, where Rama and Lakshmana were held in captivity by Ahiravana. He found out that to kill him, he had to extinguish 5 lamps burning in 5 different directions. #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Also Ahiravana's life was in a box of bees, that had to be killed without their blood being spilled. Next day Ahiravana bought Rama and Lakshmana to sacrifice, and asked them to bow before the Devi #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

However Rama replied that as Prince of Ayodhya, he never bowed before any one and he did not know how to. This was on advice of Hanuman. Ahiravana then bowed before Devi, and this was the time for Hanuman to strike #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Assuming the Panchamukhi Hanuman form, he swiftly cut off Ahiravana''s head, and then with 5 different faces, he blew out the 5 lamps in different directions. Finally he killed the bees and smeared their blood on his body #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Panchamukha Hanuman has 5 faces
Anjaneya, facing east, grants Ishta Siddhi
Narasimha facing south, Abhishta Siddhi
Garuda facing west, Sakala Soubhagya
Varaha facing North, Dhana Prapthi
Hayagriva facing upwards, Sarva Vidya #BajrangiTwitter

There are other interpretations of Panchamukha Hanuman , the 5 faces represent 5 ways of prayer- Naman, Smaranam, Keerthanam, Yachanam and Arpanam. Hanuman would always be in worship of Rama with the first 3, totally surrendered to him( Arpanam) #HanumanJayanti

"He who acts for me, who is engrossed in me, who is my devotee, who is free from attachment, he reaches me"- Krishna in the Geeta to Arjuna. And all these 5 qualities are found in Hanuman, which is what the Panchamukha form of his depicts too #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti

Panchamukha Hanuman also came in darshan to Guru Raghavendra Swamy, when he did 12 years of rigorous penace at Mantralayam. Raghavendra was a devout Hanuman bhakta, and he was blessed with this form of the Lord #BajrangiTwitter

This is the Panchamukha Anjaneya Temple at Mantralayam, where it's believed Guru Raghavendra Swamy got the darshan of Panchamukha Hanuman after rigorous penace. If ur visiting Mantralayam do visit this too. #HanumanJayanti

At Madya Kailas Temple in Adyar, Chennai, you see Hanuman in Adyanta Maha Prabhu form, where one half is Anjaneya, another half is Ganesha, and it's believed one of the faces of Panchamukha Hanuman is that of Ganesha #BajrangiTwitter #HanumanJayanti