Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

The Rudra Mantra or Mahamrityunjaya Mantra , "Great Death-conquering Mantra" and also known as the Tryambakam Mantra, is a verse of the Rigveda (RV 7.59.12). The sukta is addressed to Tryambaka, "the three-eyed one", an epithet of Rudra. It is identified with Shiva. The verse also recurs in the Yajurveda (TS 1.8.6.i; VS 3.60). According to Shiva Purana when you have fear of any unknown event this chant helps you to overcome the fear.

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra reads:

In Devanagari script:

ॐ त्र्यं॑बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।

उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर् मु॑क्षीय॒ माऽमृता॑त् ।

Om tryambakam yajāmahe sugandhim puṣṭivardhanam

urvārukamiva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya mā'mṛtāt

We offer our worship to the fragrant three-eyed Lord Shiva who confers ever increasing prosperity. Please liberate us from the hands of death as effortlessly as an Urvaruka fruit (watermelon) is separated from the vine; please do not let us turn away from liberation.

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Meaning

Word-by-word meaning of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

·      ॐ aum = is a sacred/mystical syllable in Hinduism

·      त्र्यम्बकं tryambakam = to three-eyed one (accusative case),

त्रि + अम्बकम् = tri + ambakam = three + eye

·        यजामहे yajāmahe = in yagya in worship, (locative case)

·        सुगन्धिम् sugandhim = to fragrance, (accusative case),

·        पुष्टि puṣṭi = nourishment, sustenance

·        वर्धनम् vardhanam = increasing, flourishing

·        पुष्टि-वर्धनम् = puṣṭi+vardhanam = nourishment-increasing ( compound word)

·        उर्वारुकमिव urvārukam-iva = cucumber as (in the accusative case); Note: uru: big, large; ārukam (in the accusative case): peach; iva: as

·        बन्धनान् bandhanān = "from bondage {i.e. from the stem of cucumber} (of the gourd); (the ending is actually long a, then -t, which changes to n/anusvara because of sandhi) Note: bandhanāt means from bondage Thus, read with urvārukam iva, it means 'as cucumber from bondage ( of vine) (to a vine)'

·        मृत्योर्मुक्षीय mṛtyormukṣīya = liberate from death

·        मृत्योः + मुक्षीय = mṛtyoḥ + mukṣīya= from death + free (Vedic usage)

·        माऽमृतात् अमृतात् = amṛtāt = by amrita, by immortality

Being a Secret Mantra, Rishi Markandeya was the only one on the earth who knew this mantra. The Moon was once in trouble, when cursed by King Daksha. Rishi Markandeya gave the Mahamritryunjaya Mantra to Sati, Daksha's daughter, for the Moon. According to another version this is the Bija mantra as revealed to Rishi Kahola that was given by Lord Shiva to sage Sukracharya, who taught it to Rishi Dadhichi, who gave it to King Kshuva, through whom it reached the Shiva Purana.

This mantra is also called the Rudra mantra, referring to the furious aspect of Lord Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, alluding to Shiva's three eyes; and it is sometimes known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra because it is a component of the "life-restoring" practice given to the primordial sage Sukracharya after he had completed an exhausting period of austerity. Its Devata is Rudra or Lord Shiva in his fiercest and most destructive roopa or aspect. In the Vedas it finds its place in three texts - a) the Rig veda VII.59.12, b) the Yajur Veda III.60, and c) the Atharva Veda XIV.1.17.

It is said to be beneficial for mental, emotional and physical health and to be a moksha mantra which bestows longevity and immortality.

According to some puranas, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra has been used by many Rishis as well as Sati during the time when Chandra suffered from the curse of Prajapati Daksha. By reciting this mantra, the effect of the curse of Daksha, which could make him die, slowed, and Shiva then took Chandra and placed it upon his head.

This mantra is addressed to Lord Shiva for warding off untimely death. It is also chanted while smearing Vibhuti over various parts of the Body and utilised in Japa or Homa (havan) to get desired results. While its energy protects and guides the initiates a mantra re-links consciousness to its deeper and more abiding nature and repetition of the mantra constitutes Japa, the practice of which develops concentration that leads to a transformation of awareness. Whereas the Gayatri Mantra is meant for purification and spiritual guidance, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is meant for healing rejuvenation and nurturance.