Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a powerful Mantra dedicated to the Lord of the Universe, Lord Shiva. It is also referred to as Tryambakam Mantra. Mahamrityunjaya is an amalgamation of three words ‘Maha’ meaning great, ‘Mrityun’ meaning death and ‘Jaya’ meaning victory. In simple terms, the mantra is a prayer seeking blessings from Lord Shiva in the healing of the soul and the body. The mantra is in fact a verse taken from the Rig Veda and is also a part of the Yajur Veda.

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and its Meaning

|| Om tryambakam yajamahe

Sugandhim pushti vardhanam

Urvarukamiva bandhanat

Mrityor Mukshiya maamritat ||

|| ॐ त्रयंबकम यजमहे

सुगंधिम पुष्टि वर्धनम्

उर्वरुकामिव बंधननाति

मृत्युयोर मुक्षिया ममृतत ||

Here’s the literal meaning of the mantra

I surrender myself to Lord Shiva, who has three eyes, who is as pleasurable as a sweet-smelling incense, and who gives vitality to the devotee to perform devotional service. Just like a cucumber is freed from its stem naturally, be merciful upon me and release me from the shackles of death, not from immortality.

Chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra During Somvar Vrat for Fulfillment of All Wishes. 

Significance of Chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra for 108 Times 

Generally, it is auspicious to chant the Mantra for 108 times. Many devotees chant this mantra with a Rudraksha Mala which contains 108 beads. These beads are used to count how many times a person has chanted this powerful Mantra. The numbers ‘1’, ‘0’, and ‘8’ are very special and significant. They symbolize oneness, nothingness, and everything respectively. When brought together, they represent the ultimate reality of the universe, that is, the universe is one, empty, and infinite all at once. There is a Vedic explanation for the usage of the number ‘108’ too. As per Vedic cosmology, the number 108 is the basis of the creation of the universe and our very existence. 

According to Hinduism, there are 108 Upanishads. Upanishads are considered to be sacred texts of the ancient ages which are full of wisdom. Interestingly, another logic could be that there are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet system. Each letter symbolizes a masculine (Shiva) and a feminine (Shakti) quality. Here, 54 multiplied by 2 is 108.

There’s an astrological and mathematical significance to the number 108 too. It concerns the relationship between the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. Also, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. Similarly, the distance between the Moon and the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. Finally, we have 12 astrological houses and 9 planets. Therefore, 12 multiplied by 9 equals 108. These are some of the reasons why the number ‘108’ is considered very auspicious in Hinduism.

Benefits of Chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

Wards off Evil Eyes

There are a number of people who face obstacles in life due to certain negative energies. Chanting this mantra provides protection to the devotees from evil eyes and black magic. This mantra removes certain negative traits of the devotees such as including jealousy, greed, lust, ego, insecurity, etc. Thus it helps in creating a positive surrounding which gives mental peace to the individual.

Brings Health Benefits

Chanting the mantra every day helps to keep a lot of acute and chronic diseases at the bay in general. If a person in the family is suffering from a deadly disease, then chanting the Mahamrityunajaya Mantra by taking the name of that person can give great relief from the pain. It is also said that chanting this mantra also helps in keeping the heart healthy.

Removes the Fear of Untimely Death

Chanting the Mantra can give the devotees freedom from the fear of death. It offers protection to the individual and his/her family members from the threat of violent accidents, mishaps, or natural disasters. It also helps in making the person more strong and more confident if chanted every day.

Releases Anxiety and Restores Peace

The mantra is very helpful in reducing the anxiousness of an individual and calming him/her down to a large extent. The mantra eliminates anger if chanted every day, which helps in releasing anxiety. It helps in restoring peace by resolving disputes within the family, arguments between partners, and reducing poverty. Thus it brings harmony and peace to the mind, body, and soul of the individual.

Nullifies The Effect of Doshas and Malefic Planets 

This mantra is one such powerful tool that can eliminate the negative effects of inauspicious planets like Rahu, Ketu, Mangal, or Shani by reducing their fierceness. It can also help in nullifying the bad effects of Kaal Sarp Dosh.

Strengthens the Spiritual Journey  of a Devotee

According to astrology, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is one of the most effective means of achieving moksha or salvation. It helps the devotees in detaching themselves from earthly pleasures (Moh Maya) and moving ahead onto a divine spiritual journey.

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra for Sawan Somvar Vrat

Eliminates Bad Dreams

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra acts as a savior to those who frequently witness bad dreams and find it difficult to sleep properly at night. Chanting this mantra before going to sleep and after waking up helps greatly in reducing disturbance in sleep.

Legend Behind the Origin of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

There are various legends or stories associated with the origin of the most powerful Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. One such legend relating to this mantra is about Rishi Markandeya, the son of Rishi Mrikandu. An astrologer told Rishi Mrikandu about the premature death of his son Markandeya. The astrologer advised the child to worship Lord Shiva and chant this mantra regularly. Rishi Markandeya’s life was saved after persistently chanting this mantra and worshipping Lord Shiva with full devotion. Another legend says that Lord Shiva revealed this powerful Mantra to Shukracharya, the spiritual master of demons. Lord Shiva told about this mantra as a part of Sanjeevani Vidya or the art of resurrection. The third story is related to the part of Rigveda in which this mantra is found. That portion is believed to have been composed by Maharishi Vashishtha.

Precautions to Follow While Chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 

• Chant this mantra after taking a bath.
• Avoid eating non-vegetarian food or consuming alcohol before chanting this mantra. 
• Use a Rudraksha Mala containing 108 beads while chanting and avoid using a broken Mala since it’s considered inauspicious. 
• Do not wish the ill of others while chanting this mantra, otherwise, it can backfire. 
• Try to complete chanting the Mahamrityunajaya Mantra for 108 times, if you fail to do so then you can chant it for 11 or 51 times.

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