Mahamrityunjay Mantra – Why, When & How to Chant It

Hailed by the rishis as the soul of the Vedas, the Mahamrityunjay mantra helps you tune into the healing force of the universe. This is present inside you and working for you constantly, lifting you in times of trouble, supporting your growth, and reminding you of the higher aims of life. In this article, I will unveil how powerful, effective, and nourishing the Mahamrityunjay mantra is. Let us dive deeper into its essence, meaning, importance, and must-follow guidelines for successful chanting. 

Mahamrityunjay Mantra  

“ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।  

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥”  

“Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti-Vardhanam  

Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityormukshiya Mamritat॥”  

Many centuries ago, in the texts of both Yajurveda and Rigveda, the Mahamrityunjay mantra was mentioned for its divine power to cure many diseases and live a fear-free life. Mahamrityunjay is considered one of the most powerful mantras that pleases Lord Shiva immensely. The Shiv Puran thoroughly explains how this specific mantra should be chanted to relieve one from their troubles and miseries and how chanting the Mahamrityunjay mantra results in freedom from hardships.  

Meaning of Mahamrityunjay Mantra  

The Mahamrityunjay mantra has four lines, containing eight syllables each. The mantra’s translations may vary, however, it is pretty obvious that no single translation ever can do justice to all the layers of its comprehensive meaning. Sanskrit words are constructed in a way that no matter how many layers one peels back, new ones will always appear. 

However, one important point remains – the different translations of the Mahamrityunjay mantra occur due to discrepancies that exist because this mantra’s sounds are more important to practitioners than what it translates to. Just like in music, these resonant chants attract the mind and lead it to an inner experience. The literal meaning behind translations doesn’t matter as much as how one hears or experiences them.  

But even so, it is important to understand the Mahamrityunjay mantra to develop faith in it. The individual words of the mantra convey what we love about it the most: its nourishing quality. And in English, they’re life-sustaining! They fill us with the sense that a great force of goodness is at work within us, supporting our growth and lifting our spirits when we feel down. Mahamrityunjay mantra means, 

“We worship the Trinetra, which is fragrant and nourishes us. Just as the fruit is liberated from the bondage of the tree, may we also be liberated from death and impermanence.”   

Word By Word Meaning Of Mahamrityunjay Mantra  

Om: The Om symbol is a representation of the highest forces, and is often used by yoga practitioners to focus on their day. Drawing on its connection with the Lord, Om can help you get in touch with your inner peace despite what chaos surrounds you. 

Trayambakam: Possessor of three eyes.  

Yajamahe: All together worship him.  

Sugandhim: As pleasurable as incense.  

Pushtivardhanam: The one which increases our vitality for a healthy spiritual life.  

Urvarukamiva: Like a cucumber.  

Bandhanaat: Means getting freed from.  

Mrityormukshiya: Freedom from death.  

Maamritat: Not from immortality.  

When Should One Chant The Mahamrityunjay Mantra?  

The Mahamrityunjay Mantra can be chanted at any time to bring a spiritual element into your life. People often like to chant the mantra at 4 am before they go on to their daily lives because it relieves stress and brings good luck into their workday. According to the Shiv Purana, by chanting this mantra 108 times a day, a person can have high levels of positivity in their life. 

Things to keep in mind while performing Maha Mrityunjay Mantra:  

As per scriptures, there are some rules to chant these mantras that are mentioned – below:  

• A person must take a bath before chanting  
• A person must sit on Asana of Kusha to recite this mantra  
• A person can chant the mantra on rudraksha beads for more benefits  
• Chanting it in Brahma Muhurta derives the best benefits  

Origin of Mahamrityunjay Mantra 

There are two interesting stories associated with the origin of this mantra. One story is of Rishi Markandeya, the son of a sage, and another story is of Shukracharya, the spiritual master of the demons.  

Mrikandu was a strong devotee of Lord Shiva. He and his wife were unable to bear a child and decided to pray to Mahadev as only he could change the course of their entire destiny. After a long penance, the couple was blessed with a son. Mrikandu named his son Markanday, and on his first birthday, a priest told the couple that Markanday has a short life of only 12 years. After hearing this, rishi Mrikandu’s pleasure of having a son changed into sadness, but he had a strong belief that Mahadev will save their son. Mrikandu strongly believed in the power of Mahadev to change destinies.  

Markanday grew up and saw his parents were sad. After knowing the reason behind the sadness of his parents, he decided to penance himself. He wrote and chanted Mahamrityunjay Mantra continuously. At the time of his death, the messengers of Lord Yamraj came down to earth to take Markanday with them. Seeing him deeply absorbed in his prayers, they decided to return without him. Then, Lord Yamraj himself came and asked Markanday to go with him. Markanday wrapped himself around a Shivling and asked Mahadev to save him. When Yamraj tried to pull Markanday away from Shivling, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed the boy with a long life.   

In the second story, this mantra was revealed by Lord Shiva to Sukra Dev, the lord of demons as Sanjeevani Vidya or the art of resurrection.  

What Are The Benefits Of Mahamrityunjay Mantra?  

During times of distress and failure, this Mantra is said to be the healing energy that works throughout the universe. It is a powerful mantra that helps people face their fears head-on by making a conscious effort to never give up, even in times of trial and tribulation. It is also known as Rudra Mantra or Tryambakam Mantra, and its purpose is to impart its reciter complete protection from evil forces. Regularly reciting this mantra allows reciters to attain eternal happiness and prosperity. In addition to this, chanting this mantra has the following benefits: 

• Awards spiritual merits  
• Releases anxiety and stress  
• Provides peace and relief to brain  
• Helps in the prevention of mishaps  
• Helps in removing bad planetary effects 
• Protects the person from disease and ailment  
• Helps in enhancing the concentration levels of the mind  

How To Use This Healing Of Mahamrityunjay Mantra?  

After learning the benefits of this mantra or being instructed by teachers who have preserved the traditions, many meditators have made the Mahamrityunjay mantra an important part of their daily routine. The mantra is regularly recited due to its purportedly numerous benefits including enlightenment, success in meditation, longevity, and well-being. There are no restrictions as to who may learn and recite this powerful mantra, nor should you feel guilty about doing so, as long as you approach it with respect for its traditional sources. 

The first step is to learn how to correctly recite the mantra. Although it may appear long, it just has thirty-two syllables, and you will be able to learn them with a modest effort. Slow repetition while also reviewing the meaning of the individual words will help you remember them.  

Begin the mantra’s recitation by first calming yourself and concentrating on your breath. This will allow you to focus on the meditation at hand and that process alone. Recite several mantras in sequence, start with three and build up at a gradual pace, doing as many as 36 if needed. Keep in mind to stay focused at either the heart centre or the brow chakra for best results. If you’re new to this, remember to start slow and listen to your body. You may have some conflicting feelings after meditating i.e. dizziness, nausea, confusion, etc. but remember that these are all normal sensations – just do your best not to be too alarmed with them! 

At some point, you may want to increase your practice by doing more repetitions in a given period. There are many reasons for this, and all of them tend to be very helpful for the long term with regular meditation practice. Perhaps you feel fatigued or weak, have low energy levels, are struggling with an injury or illness, or perhaps you want to make peace with something from your past. Even if it’s nothing like that, possibly there is just too much going on in your life causing stress and anxiety, affecting your ability to perform normal tasks in everyday life like driving a car or running errands. This practice is helpful in all aspects of life.   

A mala is a good way to keep track of how many times one repeats the mantra. As each mala contains 108 beads, it also denotes how many times the mantra has been repeated each day. A fulfilling practice is doing a total of 8,000 repetitions in 40 days, which can be accomplished by doing one mala in the morning and one in the evening.   

The sentiments that draw one to this practice are prompted less by health issues than by a deep urge to be part of the unfolding harmony of life itself. The nurturing quality of the Mahamrityunjay mantra affects a human mind, body and soul just as the light, air, and soil affect the life of a plant. The Mahamrityunjay mantra enhances the personality that gives purpose and meaning to our lives.  

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