Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (महा मृत्युंजय मंत्र) is one of the most powerful Hindu mantras. It is believed that it helps the practitioner to win over death. It is hailed as the soul of the Vedas by sages. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is mentioned in the Rig Veda and was written by Sage Vashishtha, but generally, Sage Markandeya is credited for composing the mantra. The mantra is associated with Lord Shiva (Rudra).
Meaning of the word “Maha Mrityunjaya”:
The Maha Mrityunjaya means “the great conqueror of death”. “Maha” means great, and “Mrityunjaya” means “the one who has conquered death”.
Different Names of the Mantra:
1. Rudra Mantra.
2. Tryambakam Mantra.
3. Mrit-Sanjeevani Mantra.
Where is the Rudra Mantra Found?
It occurs in the Vedas three times, viz. Rig Veda VII.59.12, Yajur Veda III.60, and Atharva Veda XIV.1.17. It is found in different Puranas and epics, including but not limited to Shiva Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam, Brahma Purana, and Mahabharata.
Deity of the Mantra:
The deity of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is Tryambakam, an epithet of Rudra. Lord Shiva is not mentioned in the Rig Veda, but Rudra is generally identified with Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Shiva is the deity of the mantra.
Stories About the Origin of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:
1. Sanjivani Vidya and Shukracharya:
Lord Shiva taught the Maha-Mṛityunjaya mantra to Shukracharya after he completed a severe penance of hanging upside down from a tree for 20 years with smoke blowing into him from a fire beneath.
With the help of the mantra, Shukracharya used to resurrect the Asuras from death. Hence, it had become impossible for gods to kill them. Therefore, the gods sent Kach, the son of Brihaspati, to Shukracharya in disguise as his disciple and tricked him into teaching him the mantra. Thus, the gods also got the mantra.
2. Lord Shiva saved Markandeya:
Sage Mrikanda performed penance to propitiate Lord Shiva for several years and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. The deity offered him the choice of either a virtuous and pious son with a short life, or a dull-witted or malicious child with a long life. Mrikanda chose the former and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at 16. Markandeya mastered the Vedas and the Shastras and grew up to be a great devotee of Lord Shiva.
Learning his fate from his distressed parents shortly before his 16th year, he started to engage in severe austerities. On the day of his destined death, he continued his worship of Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam. The messengers of Yama, the god of death, were unable to take away his life because the power of his devotion to Shiva shielded him against them. Yama came in person to take away Markandeya’s life, even as the sage embraced the lingam, crying for help.
Yama sprang his noose around the young sage’s neck, circling the lingam. Angered, Shiva emerged from the lingam, attacking Yama to save his devotee. After slaying Yama, Shiva revived him at the request of the devas, under the condition that Markandeya remain 16 years old forever. Shiva acquired the epithet Kalantaka (the destroyer of time and death) for this act.
(It is believed that Markandeya composed the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra when he learned about his fate and worshipped Lord Shiva.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markandeya
Who Wrote the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra?
From the stories mentioned above, you would understand that there are different claims about the composer of the mantra. In general, Sage Markandeya is credited with the mantra. Lord Shiva is also credited with the mantra, but these claims are from the Puranas. The first occurrence of the mantra is in the Rig Veda and is credited to Sage Vashishtha.
(Although it is believed that the mantra was revealed to the sage by Rudra, which in turn makes Lord Shiva the composer of the mantra.)
Hence, we can safely say that Sage Vashishtha is the composer of the mantra.
Maha Mritynjaya Mantra Lyrics with Meaning in Hindi and English:
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् |
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ||
Transliteration:
Om Tryambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam |
Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan-Mrityormuksheeya Maamritaat ||
Meaning in English:
Om, We worship Tryambaka (the one with three eyes) who is fragrant and nourishes us (both spiritually and physically),
As a ripened cucumber is detached from the stem, may we be liberated from death and immortality.
Meaning in Hindi:
ओम, हम त्र्यंबक (तीन आंखों वाली) की पूजा करते हैं जो सुगंधित है और हमें (आध्यात्मिक और शारीरिक रूप से) पोषण देता है,
जैसे पका हुआ खीरा तने से अलग हो जाता है, वैसे ही हम मृत्यु और नश्वरता से मुक्त हो जाएं।
How to Chant Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:
The mantra must be learned from an able guru because it must be chanted with correct intonation; otherwise, the practitioner won’t benefit fully.
If you can’t find a good teacher, the following video might help.
Benefits of Chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:
1. Reduces anxiety and stress.
2. Prevention of mishaps/untimely death.
3. Relieves of diseases.
4. Longevity.
5. Healthy life.
Science:
Different studies have found that regular chanting of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra improves concentration, reduces stress, and improves sleep.
Ref: ScienceDirect
FAQs:
1. What is the best time to chant the mantra?
Ans: Brahma muhurta is the best time to chant the mantra.
Can women chant the mantra?
Ans: Yes. Women can also chant the mantra during periods, but should avoid using prayer beads. It can be chanted during pregnancy also.
How many times should one chant the mantra?
Ans: To get full benefits, one should chant the mantra 1.25 million times. If you chant it 1000 times daily, you can complete it within 1250 days. You can chant 11 or 108 times daily if you don’t have enough time.
Laghu Mrityunjaya Mantra:
Most people know about the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, but very few know about the Laghu Mrityunjaya Mantra. It is as follows:
ॐ जूं स: माम् पालय पालय स: जूं ॐ|
Transliteration:
Om Joom Sah Maam Paalaya Paalaya Sah Joom Om.
If you want to chant the mantra for another person, replace “Maam” with the person’s name.
The devotee gets the same benefits as chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, but it needs to be chanted 11 lakh times, while the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra needs to be chanted 1.25 lakh times to get the maximum benefits.