Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is the spell to conquer death. It is also called the Tryambakam Mantra. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Mantra is associated with the “three eyed one” or Shiva. The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra was found by Rishi Markandeya. He was the only human on earth who knew this Mantra. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra stands equal in importance with the Gayatri Mantra in Hinduism. It was a secret Mantra and only Markandey knew it. The legend has it, that once the Moon was in trouble, being cursed by king Daksha. Then Markandey gave the Mrityunjaya Mantra to Sati, the daughter of Daksha, for Moon. In this manner, this Mantra came into the knowledge of common people.

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is:

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in Devanagari

ॐ त्र्यम्बकम् यजामहे सुगन्धिम् पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माम्रतात् ।।

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in English

Om tryambakam yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam
Urvārukam Iva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt

In certain Hindu religious texts, the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is mentioned along with the Beej mantra as:

"OM Hrom Om Joom Sah Bhurbhuvah Swh Om tryambakam yajāmahe sugandhim pushti-vardhanam urvā rukamiva bandhanān mrityormukshīya māmritāt Bhurbhuvah Swarom Joom Sah Hrom Om"

Meaning of the words in Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:

Om- sacred syllable
Tryambakam- three-eyed one
Yajāmahe- we revere and honor
Sugandhim- fragrant
Pushti- prosperous and full of life
Vardhanam- one who nourishes and strengthens
Urvā rukamiva- big and powerful
Bandhanān- from captivity
Mrityormukshīya- to liberate from death
Mā- me
Mritāt- [with] immortality

Meaning of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

"I meditate and pray the three-eyed one, Shiva, who increases the fragrance and nourishment. Free me from powerful diseases, bonds and death and grant me immortality."

The Mrityunjaya Mantra frees one from untimely death. It is a life giving mantra. This Mantra wards off uncertain death that is caused by snake bite, lightning, accidents by vehicles, accidents by fire, air- accidents and all other forms of accidents that result into untimely death. It has curative effects as well. When this Mantra is chanted with utmost devotion and faith, it can cure even those diseases that doctors fail to cure. Such is the power of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Chanting this Mantra with pure heart bestows healthy life, longevity, wealth, peace, prosperity and salvation (Moksha).

Reciting the Mantra just for once in the morning can save one from all possible threats and untimely death. If the Mantra is recited by prefixing and suffixing it with the Beej Mantra, it becomes even more powerful. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, along with the Beej Mantra is already mentioned above in the article.

Story associated with Mahamrityunjay Mantra

The legend of Markandey

Once there was a sage named Markandu. He and his wife pleased Lord Shiva through severe penance. When pleased, Shiva appeared before them and granted a boon saying, “Either you will have bad son who will live for 100 years or a divine and good son who will only live for 16 years. Now choose which son you desire to have?”

Sage Markandu and his wife opted for good son, though short-lived. Shiva blessed them with a divine son whom they named as Markandey. When Markandey was only eight years of age, he knew all the holy scriptures and every other thing that must be known for self actualization. He gained this knowledge from his father. However, he was unknown to the fact that he is short-lived and will only live for 16 years. His parents never revealed this to their son, but asked him to worship Lord Shiva regularly.

When the last day of the sixteenth year of his life came, Yama, the God of death appeared and stood before him. He threw his snare on the nose of Markandey, while he was sitting and worshipping Lord Shiva. Markandey’s breath was disturbed as Yama started to pull out life or soul out of his body. With immense devotion, Markandey embraced the holy ‘shivling’ (a divine form of Lord Shiva) and suddenly recognized the great Mantra known as Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.

When Markandey started reciting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Shiva appeared before him through the holy Shiva Linga and drove away Yama. The God of death then went back and Shiva blessed Markandey to be the master of Himalayas till eternity.

Why and How is Maha Mrityunjay Mantra Chanted?

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is one of the two important mantras explained in Vedas, the other being Gayatri mantra. It is chanted to evade untimely death and bring peace and tranquility to the mind of humans. The Mantra is also very powerful to heal the health problems that cannot be cured even by the doctors.

The Mantra should be chanted while facing the east or north direction. Use a Rudraksha rosary and use the thumb and ring finger in order to rotate the beads. Keep a copper vessel full of water in front. Chant the Mantra for 108 times. When you finish chanting the Mantra for the aforementioned times, drink the water. Starting this practice on Monday is very beneficial as Monday is the day of Lord Shiva. You should also sprinkle some water in and around your house while chanting the Mantra to keep negative energies at bay. This will bring a lot of calm and peace to you by destroying the negative energy around you.

The Mantra is known to emit positive vibrations and create a divine armor around the person who chants this Mantra with pure heart and devotion. This saves you from every kind of disease and negative forces.