The pañcÃÂnana (), also called the ', are the five faces of Shiva corresponding to his five activities ('): creation (), preservation (), destruction (), concealing grace (), and revealing grace (). The names, qualities, and attributes of these five aspects of Shiva are described in the à Âaiva agamas and puranas.
Though bearing each a different name, form, and set of qualities, these are all aspects of à Âiva and are not to be looked upon as different deities.
SadyojÃÂta represents Icchàà Âaktë. This face of à Âiva gives both happiness and sadness to all creatures. The direction of this face is West. This face of à Âiva can potentially evoke curse and anger from à Âiva. It also represents the Jalandhara Pëá¹Âha. There are one billion mantras trying to describe this face of à Âiva. It is white in color. Ahaá¹ÂkÃÂra element representing perfected ego. The fearsome aspect. This aspect is attained by solitude and practices that transcend conventional structures.
VÃÂmadeva represents Citta rà «pa and Citta rà «piá¹Âi of à Âiva. This is Turëya, attained by getting acquainted with primordial energy of the sun. This face of à Âiva has special powers to heal both mentally and physically of any creature. This face represents ParÃÂliá¹ ga. There are two billion mantras trying to describe this face of à Âiva. It is blood red in color and it represents unmatched force that is capable of transforming all elements of the cosmos. Uplifts the element of Tejasa. The direction of this face is North. Predominates the energy of vital life force. It represents indescribable amount of brightness of light. Only those established in yoga can contain it within their physical forms, otherwise the mortal frame sheds itself immediately resulting in union with Vamadeva. The adepts contain energy of creation of elements within themselves.
Aghora represents JñÃÂna à Âaktë (Infinite Knowledge). It is the function of Praká¹Âti (nature, consort of Shiva) and Paràà Âaktë. This face of à Âiva is Buddhi rà «pa (Intellect) and it represents Pà «rá¹Âagiri Pëá¹Âha. Banaliá¹ gam. There are one billion mantras trying to describe this face of à Âiva. The direction of this face is South and it is smoky (Dhumra vará¹Âa) in color. It represents the balanced aspect of Ahaá¹ÂkÃÂra Tattva (our ego nature). It is a mixture of PrÃÂmaá¹Âa and Prameya. It represents the forces of Rudra.
Tatpuruá¹£a represents ÃÂnÃÂnda à Âaktë. The direction of this face is the East. KÃÂmagiri Pëá¹Âham. Manorà «pa. It represents structure of soul and how the individual merges with infinite. There are two billion mantras trying to describe this face of à Âiva. It is yellow in color. Svayambhuva liá¹ ga. If you have severe difficulty in focusing on any subject, you should meditate this face of à Âiva. à Âiva in this face meditates to the east.
êà ÂÃÂna represents the Citta à Âaktë of à Âiva. SÃÂmbàPëá¹Âham. This face represents Space. Starts from your Mà «lÃÂdhÃÂra to Anahata to Ajna to Sahasrara leading to Brahma Randra in your body. There are one billion mantras trying to describe this face of à Âiva. ÃÂkÃÂà Âa (Ether) Tattva. The individual is from very less to not at all receptive to social structures. Possesses excellent qualities of controlling mortal and divine beings with ease. The individual has reduced his ego to ashes signifying absolute love for the universe and has been freed from cosmic law. The direction of this face is upward (also called skyward).
Depending on one's RÃÂà Âi, Lagna, Daà ÂÃÂ, Antardaà ÂÃÂ, Janma Naká¹£atra, whichever is strong one should meditate that face of à Âiva.
For example, Aghora represents South. If one's resultant is south (i.e., rÃÂà Âi, lagna occupies south direction of Sun in your horoscope), they can mediate Southern face of à Âiva i.e., Aghora. Depending on the problematic area of life, Kendra, Koá¹Âa, Duá¹£á¹ÂhÃÂna, Trikoá¹Âa, ÃÂpoklima - one should meditate that face of à Âiva to get some relief in that problematic area.
For example, with somebody having Taurus (Vá¹Âá¹£abha) rÃÂà Âi as lagna, having Venus is in 11th bhÃÂva i.e., Pisces (Mëna). Running Daà Âàis Guru Daà Âàand Antardaà Âàis Saturn.
In another example in which Venus is strong in Pisces, but he is running Guru Daà Âi; if Guru is present in Dhanus, then we consider him as weak because he is occupying the 8th House. Since Guru is present in north east corner of the horoscope, he should start with Northern face of à Âiva mantra.