The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a popular mantra dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv and is found in the Rigveda and the Yajurveda. It asks Bhagwan Shiv to detach us from the world and help us towards salvation.
Table of Contents
Related Reading: Gayatri Mantra
Summary
- Deity: Bhagwan Shiv
- Veda: Rigveda, Mandala 7, Hymn 59, Verse 12
- Meaning: We pray to Bhagwan Shiv to detach us from the brink of death and lead us to Mokshya, or salvation.
- Benefits: Prolonged life, peace, mental calmness, and an obstacle remover.
The Mantra
This is the mantra as it appears in the Rigveda. Other notations in the web, often combine different meaning words into one, which confuses the meaning of the mantra.
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टि वर्ध॑नम् |
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ||
Meaning in Hindi
- ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे – हम त्रिनेत्रधारी भगवान शिव की उपासना करते हैं।
- सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् – जो सुगंधित हैं और हमारे जीवन की पुष्टि तथा पोषण बढ़ाने वाले हैं।
- उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् – जैसे पक्व ककड़ी बेल के बंधन से अपने आप मुक्त हो जाती है,
- मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् – उसी प्रकार हमें मृत्यु के बंधन से मुक्त करके अमरत्व की ओर ले जाएँ।
Meaning in English
- ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे (Om Trayambakam Yajamahe) – We worship the three-eyed one (trayambak)
- सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् (Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam) – Who is fragrant and nourishes us
- उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् (Urvaru Kamiv Bandhanan) – Just like a ripe cucumber (urvaru) detaches from its stem
- मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् (Mrityur-Mokshiya Mamritat) – May he detach us from death towards salvation (moksha)
Origin of the Mantra
The mantra originates from the Rigveda and is found again in the Yajurveda. The mantra is also found with a detailed explanation in the Shiv Puran.
Rigveda
The mantra is found in the Rigveda’s 7th Mandala, 59th Hymn, and 12th verse.
Yajurveda
In the Yajurveda, the mantra is found in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā 1.8.6 and again in the Vājasaneyi Mādhyandina 3.60, both in the same Veda.
Benefits
The mantra is among the most common among devotees of Bhagwan Shiv. Devotees often say they find peace as well as strength from the mantra.
In my personal opinion, the mantra is very effective in removing obstacles.
It is also a commonly held view that the mantra prolongs life. The opinion originates from the Markandeya Puran, where the 16-year-old Markandeya was saved from certain death after chanting the mantra vigorously. Bhagwan Shiv did not allow Yamaraj to take Markandeya’s life.
Japa Method
It is highly effective to do a japa of this mantra on Mondays.
Devotees can take a bath, light a diya, and use a 108-bead mala to do a japa every monday or if they find it difficult, they can do it whenever they want. It is best to do it at a regular pace.
It takes roughly 30 minutes for a beginner to complete the full 108 japa rounds.
Best Practices
- Mantras should be chanted gradually: start with one mantra japa, then 11, then 51, and gradually increase to 108.
- Purity of mind is essential. No thoughts should enter the mind while doing japa. However, it takes some time to attain this stage.
- Mantra japa should not be done with food in the mouth, in bed, or during any excretion, urine, or stool.
Here are other mantras for your daily recitation: Everyday Mantras
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra so powerful?
The mantra has been proven effective in my personal life and in the lives of several people I know to remove life’s obstacles. Therefore, it is very commonly known as a powerful mantra.
Can I listen to Mahamrityunajya Mantra?
Yes, you can listen to the mantra, and its 108 times recitation whenever you can. It is a suggested practice for beginners as well as advanced people.
What happens when you chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 5 lakh times?
In my personal practice and opinion, you will feel a distinct peace and calmness and will feel a strong connection with the mantra deity, i.e., Bhagwan Shiv.
Disclaimer: All information provided in Mantra Malika is to the best of my knowledge and has been sourced from the internet, religious books, and is therefore subject to inadvertent inaccuracies. Readers should still confirm with a Guru before initiating.
