The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra or “Great Death -conquering Mantra” is also known as Rudra Mantra or Tryambakam Mantra. It is a very known verse in Rigveda. This verse is dedicated to Lord Tryambaka who is also identified as Shiva. Rishi Markandeya was a powerful saint who created the mantra. Once, the moon was cursed by King Daksha and Markandeya gave this mantra to Sati (daughter of King Daksha), for the moon.
This mantra is also known as the Rudra mantra which explains furious aspects of Shiva. This verse in some way refers to Shiva’s three eyes. As it is a component of “life-restoring” practice it is also called the “Mrita – Sanjivini”.
Om tryambakam yajamahe sughandhim
Pustivardhanam
Urvarukam iva bandhanan mrtyor muksiya
Mamrtatv
Word by word meaning of the Mahamritiyunjaya Mantra
- Om = is a sacred/ mystical syllable
- Tryambakam = the three-eyed one
Tri = three
Ambaka =eye
- Yajamahe = “we worship, we sacrifice”
- Sugandhim = “the fragrant, the virtuous, the supreme big.
- Pusti + vardhana = the bestower of nourishment, wealth, perfection, literally “him who possesses the growth of nourishment.
Pusti = “nourishment, increase, wealth, perfection”.
Vardhana = “increase, growth”
- Urvarukam = “fruit, a kind of cucumber”
- Iva = “as”
- Bandhanan = “from bondage, from the stalk/stem”.
Bhandhanan here means “from the stem”
- Mrtyoh = “from death”
- Muksiya = “may I be freed/ released”
- Mrtat = “not mortal”
General meaning
We worship three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes all human beings. May he liberate me from the dead, for the sake of immortality, even if the cucumber is being served from its bondage.
Significance
This mantra is known to be beneficial for emotional, mental, and physical health. It is considered as the moksha mantra which is explained as longevity and immortality. Mahamrityunjaya Mantra has been used by many rishis. This mantra is addressed to Shiva for warding off untimely death. While chanting this mantra one should place Vibhuti over various parts of the body. This mantra is meant for healing, rejuvenation, and nurturance. By reciting the verse, will lead you towards the transformation of awareness and increases your concentration power. It is a great mantra for conquering death. It protects from all types of threats and eases the moksha process. Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is one of the most important and ancient mantras which is recited to purify one’s karma and soul.
Importance of “108”
How many times should we chant Mahamrityunjaya beej mantra?
It is prescribed to chant the mantra 108 times. Many people are used to chanting the mantra with Rudraksha which consists of 108 beads. Beads help the person to count how many times he has recited the mantra.
The number “108” describes oneness, nothingness, and everything respectively. They explain the reality of the universe that is empty and infinite.
In Vedas, the description of 108 numbers is associated with the distance between the sun and the earth and the earth and the moon. It sums up the diameter of the distance between them.
