Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra - Its Meaning

[gokulkr]

 

 

MAHA MRITYUNJAYA MANTRA - ITS MEANING and AUDIO

 

 

Aum Trayambakam Yajamahe,

Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam;

Urva Rukamiva Bandhanaan,

Mrityor Mokshiye Maamritat.

 

 

OM triyambakam yajāmahe sugandhim pushTivardhanam,

urvārukamiva bandhanān mrrityormokshiya māmrritāt.

 

<!-- itransAUM triyambaka.n yajAmahesugandhi.n pushhTivardhana.n.urvaarukamiva bandhanaan.hmRRityormokshiy maamRRitaat.h..-->Summary of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

 

 

 

We worship Shiva - The Three-Eyed (tryambakam) Lord (yajamahe);

Who is fragrant (sugandhim) and nourishes (pushti) and grows (vardhanam) all beings.

As the ripened cucumber (urvarukamiva) is automatically liberated (bandhanaan) from its bondage from the creeper when it fully ripens;

May He liberate us (mokshiya) from death (mrityor), for the sake of immortality (maamritaat).

 

We pray to Lord Shiva whose eyes are the Sun, Moon and Fire

May He protect us from all disease, poverty and fear

And bless us with prosperity, longevity and good health.

 

 

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva (actually Lord Narasimha, the lord of destruction, penance and meditation) for help in overcoming "death". The seeker is more concerned with avoiding spiritual "death" rather than physical "death". The mantra is a request to Lord Shiva to lead us to the mountain of meditation, which is indeed Lord Shiva's abode. Legend has it that Lord Shiva appeared before his devotee Markandeya (who was destined to die at the age of sixteen) and stopped his aging process a few days before he was supposed to turn sixteen. Thus, death would never be able to claim him! Hence, this mantra is also referred to as the Markandeya mantra in classical hindu studies. The mantra should ideally be repeated 108 times, twice daily, at dawn and at dusk. It is particularly useful for meditation and yoga practice.

Spiritual Significance of the Shiva Mahamantra

 

Lord Shiva is referred to as tryambakam, the three-eyed one, because his third-eye has been "opened" by the powers of penance and meditation. The third eye is said to be located in the space between the eyebrows, and is "opened" when one experiences spiritual awakening. So, when we pray to Lord Shiva, we are in essence asking for his blessings and assistance in opening our third eye of spiritual knowledge. The natural consequence of this awakening is that we will be led towards spiritual liberation or moksha, and attain freedom from the cycles of death and rebirth. The goal of chanting this mantra is to spiritually "ripen" so that we can free ourselves from our bondage to all the material things that bind us!

 

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Actually This mantra is dedicated to Lord Narasimha - controller of Rudra. Lord Narasimha is the actual Shiva. So Shiva/Sadashiva actually refers to Lord Narasimha

[Deathless]

What makes you think this is a mantra to Sri Narasimha Deva? Is "Aum Namah Shivaya" a mantra to him as well?

 

And, Yajamahe means 'sacrifice'/'offer', not 'lord'.

[gokulkr]

Yes Even "Aum Namah Shivaya" is also directed to Lord Narasimha. Not only that All mantras and holy names are praising "Lord Narasimha" only.

 

Refer Narasimha Upanishad for this.

[Deathless]

 

Yes Even "Aum Namah Shivaya" is also directed to Lord Narasimha. Not only that All mantras and holy names are praising "Lord Narasimha" only.

 

Refer Narasimha Upanishad for this.

Praise Satan. Praise Satan. Praise Satan.

 

I guess I just performed Narasimha Japa, since all mantras and prayers are only to Narasimhadev.

 

Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?

[Harihar]

When Markandeya rishi did Maha Mrityunjaya japa, Lord Shiva (not lord Narasimha) came out from Shiva linga & kicked yama. Shiva means "auspicious" hence it relates to both Lord Shiva as well as to Lord Vishnu.The famous Maha Mrityunjaya stotra is there in Padma Purana.By the way Padma purana is Sattvik Purana.

[gokulkr]

Yes, Narasimha or Narayana only come if they are called directly. if they are called (using other gods names) for some other desires other than salvation, he sends appropriate gods appointed by him. just like by doing puja for varuna we get rain, even though varuna is specified its actually narayana giving rain thru varuna. Of course when you target narasimha only he will come out from linga, if you target rudra only he will come. Mantra is same, only whom we target they will come.

 

Also in the sthalam of "annan perumal koil", one king (i forgot name) did tapas using mrityunjaya mantra. Lord Srinivasa appeared and gave long life yo his son as desired by king. Since it occured before tirumala incident, this srinivasa is called elder brother of Venkateshwara. So srinivasa of this sthalam is called "annan perumal koil". THis clearly proves if we target narasimha or srinivasa using mritunjaya mantra he will surely come to give the effects. There are soo many mritunjaya stories related to narasimha & venkateswara.

 

read "eshwara- samhita" and "narasimha upanishad" for more clarity. also read narasimha purana where rudra and yama themselves tell mrityunjaya stotra is targeted to narashima.

 

Jai Sri Narasimhadeva

[sreeram]

Lord Narasimha was an avtar of mahavishnu.

Lord siva and mahavishnu are deferent as it mentioned several times, several places in puranas.

Maha mrityunjaya mantra is offerd to siva that is un questionable.

[gokulkr]

all mantras, yantras and tantras belong to narasimhadeva.

pls read narasimha purana for reference. Bhagavatham and vishnu purana doesnt tell much about narashimadeva. so pls read narasimha purana. He is the ultimate sada-shiva or maha-kaala. This is unquestionable. THere are also sastric proofs where Sri VedantaDesikar and Sri Madhvacharya furnished.

 

Jai Sri Narasimhadeva

[Amlesh]

Everything offered to any powerful Entity directly or indirectly goes to that very Sweet Lord... Lord Narsimha... that is unquestionable.