Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
The great death-conquering mantra, to Shiva as the three-eyed one: a verse of the Rig Veda chanted for healing, protection and peace. In English letters, with its meaning word by word.
Chant the whole mantra slowly, then read what each word means. Most people chant it 108 times on a rudraksha mala.
The mantra
- The mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥Om Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushtivardhanam,
Urvarukamiva bandhanan
Mrityor mukshiya mamritat.We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant, who nourishes all and makes them grow. As the ripe cucumber is freed from its stalk, may he free us from death, and not from immortality.
हम तीन नेत्रों वाले प्रभु की पूजा करते हैं, जो सुगंध से भरे हैं और सबको पोषण देकर बढ़ाते हैं। जैसे पका हुआ खीरा अपनी डंठल से छूट जाता है, वैसे ही वे हमें मृत्यु से छुड़ाएँ, अमरता से नहीं।
Word by word
- Word 1
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं
Om Tryambakam
Om; the three-eyed one, Shiva, whose eyes are the sun, the moon and fire.
ॐ; तीन नेत्रों वाले शिव, जिनकी आँखें सूर्य, चंद्रमा और अग्नि हैं।
- Word 2
यजामहे
Yajamahe
We worship.
हम पूजा करते हैं।
- Word 3
सुगन्धिं
Sugandhim
The fragrant one, whose presence is sweet as a fragrance.
सुगंध वाले प्रभु, जिनका साथ खुशबू की तरह मधुर है।
- Word 4
पुष्टिवर्धनम्
Pushtivardhanam
Who nourishes and increases strength and wellbeing.
जो पोषण देते हैं और बल व भलाई को बढ़ाते हैं।
- Word 5
उर्वारुकमिव
Urvarukamiva
Like the cucumber (urvaruka), which ripens on the vine.
खीरे (उर्वारुक) की तरह, जो बेल पर पकता है।
- Word 6
बन्धनान्
Bandhanan
From its bond, the stalk that holds it.
अपने बंधन से, यानी उस डंठल से जो उसे थामे रहती है।
- Word 7
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय
Mrityor mukshiya
From death, may he free us.
मृत्यु से वे हमें मुक्त करें।
- Word 8
मामृतात्
Mamritat
But not from immortality: may we be freed into it, not away from it.
पर अमरता से नहीं: हम उसकी ओर मुक्त हों, उससे दूर नहीं।
How to recite it
- When · At sunrise or in the evening, on Mondays, through the month of Shravan, on Maha Shivratri, and at any time of illness or fear.
- How · Sit facing east or north before an image of Shiva or a linga. Chant the mantra 108 times on a rudraksha mala, moving one bead with each recitation.
- Offering · Many offer water or milk to the linga while chanting, with bilva leaves, and end by sitting quietly for a minute.
- For someone else · Families chant it together for a person who is ill, keeping their name in mind as they chant.