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The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (Sanskrit: महामृत्युंजय मंत्र, Mahāmṛtyuṃjaya Mantra "great death-conquering mantra"), also called the Tryambakam Mantra, is a verse of the Rigveda (RV 7.59.12).It is addressed to Tryambaka, "the three-eyed one", an epithet of Rudra, later identified with Shiva. The verse also recurs in the Yajurveda (TS 1.8.6.i; VS 3.60)

 

Mantra text:

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra reads:

In Devanagari:

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

In (IAST transliteration):

Om tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam
urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt

In some Hindu Religious books the complete mantra has been mentioned 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"

which is its Tantric version.

 

Literal Meaning of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:

Word to Word meaning of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:-

• ॐ aum = is a sacred/mystical syllable in Sanatan Dharma or Indian religions, i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism,
• त्र्यम्बकम् tryambakam = the three-eyed one (accusative case),
• यजामहे yajāmahe = We worship, adore, honour, revere,
• सुगन्धिम् sugandhim = sweet smelling, fragrant (accusative case),
• पुष्टि puṣhṭi = A well-nourished condition, thriving, prosperous, fullness of life,
• वर्धनम् vardhanam = One who nourishes, strengthens, causes to increase (in health, wealth, well-being); who gladdens, exhilarates, and restores health; a good gardener,
• उर्वारुकमिव urvārukam iva = like the pumpkin (in the accusative case), ^[1]
• बन्धनान् bandhanān = "from captivity" {i.e. from the stem of the cucumber} (of the gourd); (the ending is actually long a then -d which changes to n/anusvara because of sandhi) ^[2]
• मृत्योर्मुक्षीय mrityor mukshīya = Free, liberate From death
• माम्रतात् mā amritāt = (give) me immortality, emancipationy

 

Simple Translation:

OM We worship Shiva, the Three-eyed Lord who is fragrant and who nourishes and nurtures all beings. As is the ripened cucumber (with the intervention of the gardener) freed from its bondage (to the creeper) May He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality. OM

 

Origin:

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra was found by Rishi Markandeya. It was a secret mantra, and Rishi Markandeya was the only one in the world who knew this mantra. The Moon was once in trouble, cursed by King Daksha. Rishi Markandeya gave the Mahamritryunjaya Mantra to Sati, Daksha's daughter, for the Moon. This is how this mantra became known which according to another version is the Bija mantra as revealed to Rishi Kahola that was given by Lord Shiva to sage Sukracharya who taught it to Rishi Dadicha who gave it to King Kshuva through whom it reached the Shiva Purana.

It 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.

 

Significance:

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is the great mantra for conquering death for it protects against all threats and at the time of death eases the process of release. It is one of the more potent of the ancient mantras, a call for enlightenment and a practice of purifying the karmas of the soul at a deep level. It is beneficial for mental, emotional and physical health. It is also 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, that 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 intiates 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.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

urvārukam: 'urva' means "vishal" or big and powerful or deadly. 'arukam' means 'disease'. Thus urvārukam means deadly and overpowering diseases. (The pumpkin interpretation given in various places is also correct for the word urvārukam, but not apt for this mantra). The diseases are also of three kinds caused by the influence (in the negative) of the three guṇas and are ignorance (avidyā), falsehood (asat, as even though Vishnu is everywhere, we fail to perceive Him and are guided by our sight and other senses) and weaknesses (ṣaḍripu, a constraint of this physical body and Shiva is all powerful).

[2]:

bandhanān: means bound down. Thus read with urvārukam iva, it means 'I am bound down just as by deadly and overpowering diseases'.