उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मु॑क्षीय॒ माऽमृता॑॑त् ।। (Rigveda 7.59.12)
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, also known as the Rudra Mantra or Tryambakam Mantra in Rigveda is often chanted for protection and spiritual guidance. The worldly meaning of the mantra is that we are offering our devotion to Lord Shiva, who is known for his ability to grant liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
When halahaal (poison) came out during Samudramanthan, it was Bhagwan Shiva who agreed to drink it, in order to save the world from its poisonous effects. Hence his other names are Vishkantha and Neelkantha (the poison turned his throat blue). The literal translation of the mantra is as follows:
Aum - represents the divine and is often used to begin mantras.
Tryambakam - refers to the three-eyed Lord Shiva, who is the recipient of the mantra.
Yajamahe - means "we worship" or "we offer our devotion".
Sugandhim - means "fragrant" or "perfumed".
Pushtivardhanam - means "one who nourishes and strengthens".
Urvarukam - refers to a cucumber or gourd, which is often used as a metaphor for the human body and its impermanence.
Iva - means "like" or "as".
Bandhanan - refers to bondage or attachment.
Mrityor - means "from death or pain".
Mukshiya - means "liberate" or "free".
Ma - indicates a negation, meaning "not".
Amritat - refers to immortality or the state of being deathless.
More important, however, is the vibration you create. The combination of sounds in any mantra creates a specific vibration in the body. Our body has a vibratory dimension. All the cells and atoms are vibrating in harmony with each other. The moment this harmony is broken at the vibratory level, destruction of the body takes place and we start to die. In death the pulsations of the body stop, the animation of the cells ceases and the life-force leaves the body. The vibrations are the manifest symptoms of the life-force.
Disease and illness can be managed effectively with this mantra. The strong syllables of the Mahamrityunjaya, ‘Tryambakam yajamahe’ create a vibration which, according to tradition, removes the influences of tamas, stagnation, that static nature which is without any inspiration and motivation. Symbolically, these vibrations are represented in the various chakras or psychic centres. When we use a combination of mantras or sound syllables, we are activating and bringing forth the potential of these vibrations that are inherent in the body.
When we use a string of vibrations, as in the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, these vibrations realign the disturbances in the vibratory system. In yoga one becomes more aware of the energy field, the pranamaya kosha. Illness, according to the yogic theory, sets in when the body has lost its joy and will to live, so the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, by rearranging the frequencies and vibrations in our body, encourages health and healing.
Shiva is dual-natured. He guards the universal order with ferocious resolve, destroying attachments and freeing his devotees from ignorance. He is the inner controller and the dissolver, bringing compulsive pursuits of passion, and even life itself, to its natural end. This aspect of Shiva is reflected in his ancient name Rudra, “one who howls.” The more familiar name Shiva, on the other hand, means “auspicious, gracious, or kind.” Here compas-sion is Shiva’s nature. He is a shelter of kindness and the giver of boons.
With tenderness and a sure hand, he guides those who aspire to self-realization and he relieves the suffering that exists in the universe. Every morning when we chant the Mahamrityunjaya mantra 108 times, the sound vibrations and the frequencies are activating the solar plexus, manipura chakra, and the weak pranic energy in different parts of the body is again strengthened.
Once the debilitated energies are revitalized they work to release, to relieve the imbalances, illnesses and diseases from the physiological structure. Therefore, the Mahamrityunjaya mantra has been recognized since time immemorial as the mantra to awaken the prana shakti, the life-force, and attain health. It is a healing mantra.
The power of the mantra has been explained by Shiva himself in the Netra Tantra, a conversation recorded between Shiva and his wife, Parvati. At the opening of the text Parvati asks, Your eyes are so beautiful; they are filled with the tears of compassion. How is it possible that from such eyes flared forth the terrible fire capable of reducing death itself to ashes?
Shiva said, Be joined in yoga, O Parvati, for only then will you be able to understand how the fire inherent in my eyes is the immortal elixir. The light in my eyes is all-pervading. It faces every direction and it resides in all states of waking, dreaming, and sleep. It is the source of life for all living beings. It can be known only through the practice of yoga, and can never be experienced by those who lack self-effort.
The light in my eyes is the same as one’s own radiance. It is self-evident. It is the highest form of inner strength. It is eternal and it is ojas (the radiant energy that infuses matter with life). It is the power of will, the indomitable will of the soul. In it lies the seed of omniscience, the power to know, and the power to act. It is through this force, intrinsic to me, that I destroy and I create.
The whole universe is filled and sustained by this energy. In fact the powers of will, knowledge, and action together are my eyes. They are the source of immortality, the ultimate force of healing and nourishment. They are the embodiment of my radiant vitality. The knowers of mantra science call it Mrityunjaya, the conqueror of death. It enables one to attain freedom from all forms of misery, for it is the destroyer of all diseases. Meditation on this brilliant light manifesting in the form of Mrityunjaya mantra cools down the scorching heat of worldly and spiritual poverty. It is pure, peaceful, and unfailing.
Chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is beneficial for our mental, physical and emotional health. It promotes happiness and brings prosperity to life. It is also popularly known as a “lifesaving mantra”; it conquers death and bestows immortality. It is addressed to Lord Shiva for warding off untimely death. This mantra has amazing healing powers. Chanting this mantra creates positive and divine vibrations that help in healing.
Shiva personifies pure consciousness. He manifests the universe and exists in it like a net into which every particle and being is woven. Yet he remains unaffected by the world’s charms and temptations as he silently holds all that moves in an unmoving presence. He is the Lord of Yogis, established in meditation.
He has many names. To Markandeya he is Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror. And some say it is this aspect of Shiva’s being that Markandeya was worshipping on his sixteenth birthday. But Shiva’s conquest over Yama does not give us the complete picture of Mrityunjaya, for even in his aspect as the ruler of death, Shiva is deeply nurturing as well as fearsome.
The mantra can be recited when taking medicines, for it prepares the body and mind to make the best use of them. In India, when ash (bhasma) is applied to the body (as either a medicinal or a spiritual act) the mantra is recited. And so, whenever matters of health, vitality, nurturance, or freedom from the fear associated with death arise, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra naturally surfaces as a remedy and comfort.
By chanting the mantra, we are asking for protection from death and for the nourishment and strengthening of our physical and spiritual bodies. The metaphor of the cucumber or gourd represents our physical body, which is subject to decay and death, while the desire for liberation represents our yearning for spiritual freedom. It also helps in removing fear, anxiety and other negative emotions associated with death. Maha Mrityunjaya is also known as a moksha mantra that connects human beings to their own inner divinity. This Mantra evokes the Shiva within human beings and liberating one from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Hindi translation
महामृत्युंजय मंत्र भगवान शिव की स्तुति, साधना, जप ,तप और उन्हें प्रसन्न करने के अलावा गंभीर बीमारियों से निजात पाने, अकाल मृत्यु के डर से मुक्ति पाने में बहुत ही कारगर मंत्र माना जाता है।
महामृत्युंजय मंत्र: ॐ हौं जूं सः ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृ त्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ सः जूं हौं ॐ।
अर्थ : 'हम तीन नेत्रों वाले भगवान की पूजा करते हैं जो सुगंधित हैं और जो सभी प्राणियों का पोषण और पालन-पोषण करते हैं। जैसे पका हुआ ककड़ी अपने बंधन से मुक्त हो जाता है, वह हमें अमरता के लिए मृत्यु से मुक्त कर सकता है।
"We worship the three-eyed one (Lord Shiva) who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. May he liberate us from death for the sake of immortality, even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage to the creeper."
अगर इसको अलग अलग करो तो मृत्यु और जय यानि मृत्यु पर जीत शास्त्र कहते है कि मन्त्र ऐसा है अगर कोई इसे एकाग्रता से जपे या लीन हो जाए तो ये मन्त्र उसे शिवत्व का अनुभव करा देता है जो जन्म मरण से मुक्त करने वाला है | आज ये जाप हमे गुरु ने करवाया है, अपने स्वरूप का निश्चय देके, सत्य की बात बताके गुरु खुद हमारे साथ बैठकर ये जाप करता है और करवाता है, तू देह नहीं है, तू आत्मा है, तू ब्रह्म स्वरूप है, तू सच्चिदानंद स्वरूप है, तू शिवत्व है |
ओउम् - उस परम सत्य का एक चिन्ह है ओउम् | ओउम् एक short name दे दिया पर वास्तव में तो ये पूर्ण विराट सत्ता का सूचक है | ओउम् से साधना की शुरुआत है, ओउम् पर ही साधना का विराम है | गुरु ने बताया ओउम् को जानने के लिये तुम आते हो, बीच की सारी यात्रा तय करते हो चाहे वो वैराग है, त्याग है षटसम्पति है चाहे प्रारब्ध पर विश्वास है ओउम् तत्व से शुरुआत है, साधना – ओउम् तत्व का विचार है, सिद्धि – ओउम् तत्व का अनुभव है “ओउम् मैं हो जाऊं”
त्रयम्बकं - त्रि.नेत्रों वाला ; कर्मकारक। तीन नेत्र वाले भगवान शिव को जब प्रलय करनी होती है तब खोलते है सबको पता है | जब काम देव भस्म करना था तब तीजा नेत्र खोला | एक शिव पार्वती की कहानी आती है, पार्वती ने शिव की दोनों आँखे बंद की तो सृष्टि में अँधेरा होने लगा तब भगवान ने तीजा नेत्र खोला | हमे गुरु ने तीजा नेत्र से मतलब विवेक से बताया है जिसमे हमारी मनोमय सृष्टि की प्रलय होती है | पहले मैं मेरे में, स्वार्थ, इच्छओं में, कामनाओं में जी रहे थे | गुरु ने तीसरा नेत्र विवेक जगा कर सारी सृष्टि लय की है | दिव्य दृष्टि जो गुरु से मिलती है |
यजामहे- पूजते हैं, सम्मान करते हैं। हमारे श्रद्देय। माना वंदन करते है जब तक अपने स्वरूप में पहुंचते नहीं, आस्था रखते है, आस्था रखकर भक्ति करते है, श्रद्धा रखते है | एक तरह से वंदन करते है ‘मुझको मुझसे मिला दो मेरे ईश्वर'
सुगंधिम- मीठी महक वाला, सुगंधित।
पुष्टि- एक सुपोषित स्थिति, फलने वाला व्यक्ति। जीवन की परिपूर्णता
वर्धनम- वह जो पोषण करता है, शक्ति देता है।
उर्वारुक- ककड़ी।
इवत्र- जैसे, इस तरह।
बंधनात्र- वास्तव में समाप्ति से अधिक लंबी है।
मृत्यु- मृत्यु से
मुक्षिया, हमें स्वतंत्र करें, मुक्ति दें। मात्र न
अमृतात- अमरता, मोक्ष।
इस मंत्र का मतलब है कि हम भगवान शिव की पूजा करते हैं, जिनके तीन नेत्र हैं, जो हर श्वास में जीवन शक्ति का संचार करते हैं और पूरे जगत का पालन-पोषण करते हैं।
Authored by Anadi Sahoo
