Sri Raghavendra Thirtharu performed an intense penance for over 8 years in a cave near Mantralaya currently known as Panchamukhi. The penance was made to attain siddhi of Panchamukhi Anjaneya signifying the 5 Pranas – prana, vyana, apana, udana, samana, manifested by monkey, horse, boar, eagle, lion faces respectively. It is said that the control of the PanchaPranas was necessary to get into Jeeva Samadhi.  

The Yoga vashistha on pranamaya kosha says that this divine vital air, Prana does everything in the body: Apana: the downward flowing Vayu which located from the navel to the mooladhara- the base plexus. This is responsible for all excretory functions. Samana– the sideways flowing Vayu from the navel to the diaphragm. It is responsible for all digestive and metabolic functions. Prana: Prana Vayu is upward flowing from the chest to the thorax and governs the respiratory functions. Udana: governs the area above the neck and is responsible for all the sense organs. Vyana: pervades the whole body, regulates and controls all movement and co ordinations

The saint had the Darshana of Panchamukhi Anjaneya in the cave at the end of his penance. The location of the cave is approximately 19 KMS from Mantralaya – a 30 min drive on the Karnataka side of the state border. Interesting rock marvels can be found here. This is a must visit Kshetra for all devotees who come to Mantralaya. 

The legend of Panchamukhi Anjaneya can be traced to the epic Ramayana where Lord Hanuman takes this form to destroy the demon Ahiravana to protect Rama and Lakshmana.