Panchamukhi or panchamukha shiva is an image or idol of lord shiva with five faces. As five is the sacred number for lord shiva, five mantras and syllables represent him. These five mantras also signify the five heads of shiva. Each head has a particular name and specific shakti (power) is associated with it. Puranas describe these five aspects of shiva as the five elements, the five senses, the five organs of perception, and the five organs of action. One should perform punchmukhi shiv lingam to attain long life.