When one walks along the outer giripradakshina path, about a hundred metres after the Kubera Lingam shrine, one can see on the right a curious shrine with five small Shiva Lingams on a raised pedestal circumscribed by a round stone platform. It is titled Arunachala Panchamukham in tamil old-fashioned script. If one looks at the mountain from this point there are distinctly five peaks visible with very beautiful contours. This is called Panchamukham – the five faces. The five peaks here represent the five aspects of Lord Shiva viz., Satyajotam, Vamadevam, Tatpurusham, Eesanyam and Aghoram. And a giripradakshina cannot be complete unless one has taken dharshan of the Panchamukham.

A devotee recalls, “Near the Panchamukham, at sunrise or sunset, especially during the winter months, the sun’s rays pierce the mist and spotlight the peaks. The interplay of light and shade creates patterns, highlighting the transcendental beauty of the outline of the hill. The successive peaks split the light into ribbons that trail off. The interspersing light re-emerges, exhibiting the majestic and imposing splendour of the Lord in all His glory…”

Today, unfortunately the view of the Panchamukham is marrred by the construction of an ugly modern concrete structure, supposedly a shrine for Goddess Durga. One wonders if She would at all be happy to have a temple that actually spoils the sacred beauty of this revered spot!

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