Panchmukhi Ganesha is a representation of Lord Ganesh with five faces. “Panch” literally means “Five” and “Mukhi” means “Faced”. Each of the faces of Panchmukhi Ganesha faces a different direction and hence the name. Panchmukhi Ganesha is regarded as an embodiment of all potencies.Each head of Panchmukhi Ganesh symbolizes the Pancha Koshas or five sheaths in the subtle anatomy of human beings. They are the Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya, and Anandamaya.
1) Annamaya Kosha – This is the food sheath and corresponds roughly to the physical body.
2) Pranamaya Kosha – This is the vital energy and it represents the subtle body, nadis, chakras and kundalini.
3) Manomaya Kosha – This is the mental sheath which represents the mind and the organs of perception
4) Vijnanamaya Kosha– This is the wisdom sheath which represents vijnana, or intellect, the talent which discriminates, determines or wills
5) Anandamaya Kosha – This is the cosmic bless sheath and represents the eternal center of consciousness. Thus the fifth head of Ganesh symbolizes the highest level of yogic experience called Anandamaya kosha or Sat-Chit-Ananda the Pure Consciousness without qualification.
