Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is also known as Death Conquering Mantra, or the Tryambakam Mantra is a verse of the Rigveda. This mantra literally works wonders – stops the development of serious illnesses, rejuvenates the aging body, relieves depression, and anxiety. Mahamrityunjaya Mantra helps in the most hopeless cases when nothing else could help.
During the uncertain times of 2020 we all are looking for hope, relief, and protection. That’s why I decided to write this article! It comes time when we all are looking for a miracle. And this powerful mantra can help you with this!
In this article, I will share with you what Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is, its meaning, benefits, and give you very important recommendations on how to practice it.
The Origin
According to one of the Indian legends, the Mrityunjaya mantra is associated with the name of Markandeya, a sage who wrote the Markandeya Purana. Markandeya was destined to die when he reached the age of 16, but thanks to his sincere love and devotion to Lord Shiva, he received this incredibly powerful mantra and was able to avoid his death.
Now let me share with you this beautiful story.
In ancient times, when people had a strong connection with the gods and they could appear to them in the flesh, a righteous couple lived in the forest: Mrikandu Rishi and his wife Marudmati. They had no children and performed long austerities in the hope of gaining virtue and giving birth to a child.
One day their prayers were so strong that Lord Shiva himself stood before them. After listening to the request of the couple, he gave them a choice of either a righteous son, but with a short life on Earth or a child of low intelligence but with a long life. Mrikandu Rishi chose the former and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of sixteen years old.
Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva and on the day of his destined death, he continued his worship of Shiva in his aniconic form of Shivalingam. The messengers of Yama, the god of death, were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva.
Then Yama himself came in person to take away Markandeya’s life and sprung his noose around the young sage’s neck. By accident or fate, the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression.
After defeating Yama in the battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever. For this act, Shiva was thereafter also known as Kalantaka (“Ender of Death”).
The other Gods were worried that Yama’s death would disrupt the order of the Universe, and they begged Shiva to restore their underground ruler to life. Shiva agreed but said that it was Markandeya’s devotion that protected him, and therefore he blesses Him with eternal youth and gave this young yogi a healing mantra.
So Markandeya remained a 16-year-old Saint forever, and the Mahamrityunjaya mantra became a magical elixir for those who are devoted to God and crave spiritual and physical healing.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is also known as the “Death Conquering Mantra”. It is one of the most ancient and powerful mantras of the Vedic era, which has come down to us through the millennia.
The power of this mantra is very great, life-giving, and healing. It can protect against incurable diseases, accidents of all kinds, various influences, both from outside and from within, helps to purify the subtle and physical body if it is chanted with sincerity and faith.
It is called the Great mantra that grants long life, peace, stability, well-being, satisfaction, and even immortality.
Shukracharya received this mantra from Lord Shiva as a reward for austerity. Its great power made him even able to revive the dead.
The Effect Of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
In India, the Mahamrityunjaya mantra is considered one of the most powerful and important mantras.
It is recommended to chant these sacred words in the following cases:
- severe illness;
- difficult life circumstances;
- in the face of danger;
- in other situations that require the intervention of the Higher powers.
But the main effect of this mantra is a huge internal change that a person experiences. The Sacred words chanted repeatedly in order to get healing or get rid of physical problems, actively affect the soul. It leads to a big boost in spiritual development and the evolution of the soul.
The regular practice of Mahamrityunjaya mantra will help you to realize your true purpose in this life — the elevation of the spiritual principle.
Having come into contact with death, a person begins to realize the meaning of Eternity. Things that he hadn’t thought about before will come to the forefront of his thoughts and reflections. This is the kind of awareness and self-realization Mahamrityunjaya mantra practice brings.
It is recommended to chant this mantra when a child is born and it is chanted annually on the birthday. It is believed that the recitation of this sacred formula gives a person eternal life.
Swami Sivananda recommended that everyone devote a significant amount of time to practicing the Mahamrityunjaya mantra on their birthday. He said that such a practice brings:
- longevity;
- strengthening of immunity;
- physical and spiritual welfare;
- protection from negative energies.
To prevent diseases, the mantra should be practiced daily for 2-3 months. Chant or listen to the death conquering mantra 108 times in one session.
However, we should not forget that the Higher powers do not help a person who has impure intentions. You must purify your soul from any evil, forgive insults, correct your attitude to the world and people. Only in this case will the Mahamrityunjaya mantra bring the desired effect.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
Now let me share with you this powerful mantra:
OM. Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanan
Mrityor mukshiya mamritat
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra in Sanskrit:
ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मुक्षीय॒ मा ऽमृता॑त् ।
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Meaning
“We worship the three-eyed One, who is fragrant and who nourishes all.
Like the fruit falls off from the bondage of the stem, may we be liberated from death, from mortality.”
Translation
Word-by-word meaning of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is as follows:
ॐ – OM – represents a combination of the three pure sounds that signify the holy body, speech, and mind.
त्र्यम्बकम् – tryambakam – the three-eyed one (accusative case)
त्रि – tri – “three”
अम्बक – ambaka – “eye”
यजामहे – yajāmahe – “we worship, we sacrifice”
सुगन्धिम् – sugandhim – “the fragrant, the virtuous, the supreme being”
पुष्टिवर्धनम् – puṣṭi + vardhanam – “the bestower of nourishment, wealth, perfection”, literally “him who possesses the growth of nourishment”
पुष्टि – puṣṭi – “nourishment, increase, wealth, perfection”
वर्धन – vardhana = “increase, growth”
उर्वारुकम् – urvārukam – “fruit”
इव – iva = “as”
बन्धनान् bandhanān – “from bondage, from the stalk/stem”
मृत्यो – mṛtyoḥ – “from death”
मुक्षीय – mukṣīya – “may I be freed/released”
मा ऽमृतात् – mā ‘mṛtāt – “not (mā) from immortality (amṛtāt)”
How To Practice Mahamrityunjaya Mantra?
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra can be recited on three levels:
- physical;
- energetical;
- mental.
Physical Level
On the physical level, the mantra is pronounced in a loud voice so that the body starts vibrating. Internal vibrations are created by the chant activate every cell of the body. The vibration of the sacred words destroys the energy blocks in the body, neutralizing the negative energy stored in the memory of cells. The cells that have the disease recorded in their memory become clean and healthy again.
Most of the negative programs that cause internal diseases are recorded in the memory of cells from childhood. These programs affect the subconscious mind of the person, causing mental pain and blocks. Over time, the program of destruction takes the form of a disease. Mahamrityunjaya mantra destroys these pathological structures and literally frees the body from blocks, so healing occurs.
Energy Level
The energy level of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra practice is the repetition of sacred words in a whisper. This practice is called Japa.
Whispered words have an effect on the energy structure of a person, changing the energy background.
The energy structure of a person is organized by the chakras — 7 energy centers. Whispered words open the chakras, freeing them from blocks. As a result, the energy can function freely along the chakra column, creating a reserve of energy resources inside the body.
Mental Level
The mental level Mahamrityunjaya mantra practice acts on the subconscious mind of a person, in which the fixed mental blocks are stored. Scientists have long proven that diseases have roots in the human psyche. Mahamrityunjaya mantra removes mental blocks, thereby freeing the body from the cause of diseases. It helps a person to free himself from:
- obsessive stereotypes;
- destructive programs of the subconscious mind;
- psychological blocks and clamps.
By freeing itself from the causes of diseases, the body activates its defenses for self-healing and renewal.
It is recommended to start chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra with a loud recitation of the sacred words, and then switch to whispering and chanting in the mind. It should be chanted 108 times for maximum benefit.
The Bottom Line
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is an incredibly powerful mantra that is beneficial for mental, emotional, and physical health. This beautiful mantra bestows longevity and immortality. Swami Satyananda Saraswati recommended the Mahamrityunjay Mantra to everyone. If you do this with concentration, pure heart, and intentions, then health and well-being will be guaranteed!