Guest guest Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 --- " Veena A. Nair " <veeus18 wrote: > > Om Namo Narayanaya > > An article from the web on the Mritunjaya mantra. > Thanks to Sowparnika for sending out this mantra > regularly these past few days; I had heard that this > mantra is a powerful one as regards health and > death; the following article tells us the meaning > and the significance of it. > > ======================================================= > > Mrityunjaya Mantra, A Mantra for Healing & Comfort. > > > > Copyright & courtesy Yoga International Magazine. > > By Rolf Sovik > > " Where is that gracious hand of yours, O Rudra, the > hand that brings health and gives comfort " , Rig > Veda. > > The Scriptures of Ancient India are filled with > stories, myths, and legends in which philosophy is > entwined with devotion. Great person-ages appear in > these tales, among them the sage Markandeya, whose > teachings are found in the Markandeya Purana. His > texts is remembered especially for its account of > the glory of the Divine Mother. Markandeya is also > acclaimed for his vision of the cosmic deluge and in > the Mahabharata he is an honored guest at the forest > encampment of the heroic Pandava brothers. But his > story begins before his birth. > > > > Childless, the forest-dwelling sage Mrikandu and his > wife, Marudvati, undertook a long penance, hoping to > earn merit and the boon of a child. They were > rewarded with a vision of Lord Shiva, their > ishtadevata (the deity of their hearts). After > hearing their request, Lord Shiva told them they > could either parent a child who would be a brilliant > spiritual light but whose life would be a scant 16 > years, or they could raise a long-lived child who > would be witless and self-absorbed. > > > > They chose the child with spiritual virtue, and in > time Marudvati gave birth to a boy they named > Markandeya. The couple decided not to tell him that > he would have a short life, but as he approached his > 16th birthday, his parent's growing sadness betrayed > them. And when he asked them to explain their > downcast mood, they told him what Lord Shiva had > said. Already an accomplished yogi, Markandeya > rededicated himself to his practice. > > > > On the day of his 16th birthday, Markandeya took > refuge in a temple and next to a Shiva lingam (a > symbol of divine consciousness) to do his worship > and meditation. When the messengers of Lord Yama, > the lord of death, arrived to take him away, they > found him so absorbed in his prayers, they could not > complete their mission. > > > > Returning to Yama, they described their dilemma. So > Yama himself traveled to the temple to accomplish > the task. He urged Markandeya to follow the natural > laws of life and death, and to come willingly, but > Markandeya wrapped his arms around the shiva lingam > and surrendered himself to its protection. Yama > threw his noose to gather Markandeya in, but the > noose encircled the lingam as well, and immediately > Shiva, dwelling in the image, split the lingam open > and emerged in a rage. Yama had thrown his noose too > far, for he had no authority to encircle Shiva > himself. > > > > Yama was killed with a blow from Shiva's foot as the > other gods looked on in dismay. Fearing that Yama's > death would upset the order of the universe, they > implored Shiva to bring him back to life and in the > end, Shiva complied. But he pointed out that > Markandeya's devotion had protected him, and he was > therefore blessed to remain a 16-year-old sage > eternally. The ancient belief is that the realized > soul of Markandeya is still moving in the universe. > > > > The Death Conqueror > > > > The story of Markandeya opens doors to a vast > spiritual heritage with the mysterious figure of > Shiva at its core. 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 compassion 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 relieves > the suffering that exists in the universe. > > > > 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 the 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 16th 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 MAHA MRITYUNJAYA Mantra > > The great mantra dedicated to Shiva as Mrityunjaya > is found in the Rig Veda (Mandala VII, Hymn 59), > where it is attributed to the sage Vasistha. The > hymn in which it is found begins with eleven stanzas > honoring the forces of nature (the maruts) said to > be the children of Rudra/Shiva. The maruts control > the energies of storms, winds, cyclones, and clouds > (and thus the nurturing light of the sky). They > possess destructive energy, but they are also the > protectors of the household. When they act in > harmony, they create an environment of peace and > prosperity. > > > > Vasistha pays homage to these forces and then > continues with the final stanza, a mantra revered > throughout the scriptures. It is called the Maha > Mrityunjaya mantra, the Great Death-Conquering > mantra. It is a mantra that has many names and > forms. It is called the Rudra mantra, referring to > the furious aspect of Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, > alluding to Shiva's three eyes; and its is sometimes > known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra because it is a > component of the " life-restoring " practice given to > the primordial sage Shukra after he had completed an > exhausting period of austerity. The Maha Mrityunjaya > mantra is hailed by the sages as the heart of the > Veda. Along with the Gayatri mantra it holds the > highest place among the many mantras used for > contemplation and meditation. > > > > The Sanskrit text of the mantra reads: > > OM. Tryambakam yajamahe > > Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam > > Urvarukamiva bandhanan > > Mrityor mukshiya mamritat > > > > The mantra is divided into four lines, each > containing eight syllables. Translations vary > considerably. A bit of research, however (try > looking the mantra up on the Web, for example), will > make it clear that no single translation can ever do > justice to all its levels of meaning. The > multileveled nature of Sanskrit words makes this > impossible. > > > > But differences in translation also reflect the fact > that the sounds of the mantra are most important to > practitioners than its exact translation. Like > music, the resonance of these sounds attracts the > mind and leads it to an inner experience. The > literal meaning of the mantra is secondary. > > > > But even so, it is important to understand the > mantra in order to develop faith in it. The > individual words of the mantra convey its nourishing > quality and, even in English, they are life > sustaining. They fill us with the sense that a great > force of goodness is at work within us, supporting > our growth, lifting us up during times of trouble, > and helping us recall, even in the midst of our busy > lives, the higher aim of life itself. > > > > The MANTRA in Translation > > OM. Tryambakam yajamahe > > Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam > > Urvarukamiva bandhanan > > Mrityor mukshiya mamritat > > > > OM This sound is said to be the underlying kernel of > the manifest universe and vibrates eternally at the > heart of creation. It signifies all-pervading > consciousness. Although it is not found in the > actual text of the hymn, it is added to the body of > the mantra whenever the mantra is used for > meditation practice. > > > > tryambakam The prefix tri (pronounced with a short > " i " ) means " three. " When it is joined to ambakam, > the letter " i " becomes " y " , and the word reads > tryambakam. Ambaka means " eye. " Trymbakam is > " three-eyed, " an epithet for Shiva which alludes to > a well-known story in which Parvati, Shiva's wife, > playfully places her hands over his eyes. In > consequence, the whole universe is thrown into > blinding darkness. To save the universe, which in > truth exists only in his eyes, Shiva opens a third > eye at the center between his eyebrows, with which > he sees both within and without. > > > > The term three-eyed signifies the deep and pure > consciousness of the universe that pervades and > transcends time (past, present, future); perfectly > manifests the powers of will, knowledge, and action; > dwells as the witness within the three states of > consciousness (waking, dreaming, and sleeping); and > embodies the powers of the fires of heaven (the sun, > surya), skies (the moon, chandra), and earth (fire, > agni). Shiva is every spiritual trinity and dwells > everywhere. Some also say that the word amba found > here means " mother. " Shiva is manifested as the > child of three mothers, the three great principles: > mind, life force (prana), and matter. > > > > yajamahe We worship, adore, honor, revere. > > > > sugandhim Su means " good, sweet. " Gandha is a > fragrance. Shiva is the sweet fragrance, the joy > (ananda), which permeates life. > > > > pushti A well-nourished condition, thriving, > prosperous, full, and complete. > > > > vardhanam One who nourishes, strengthens, causes to > increase (in health, wealth, well-being); who > gladdens, exhilarates, and restores health; a good > gardener. > > > > urvarukam A cucumber-like plant that grows as a > creeper in India. It produces a gourd that is > attached to the vine by a strong, woody stem. The > vine itself easily entangles other plants, attaching > itself to them and becoming an obstacle for their > growth. Thus, more generally, the word stands for > disease, attachment, obstacles in life, and > resulting depression. > > > > iva Like, just as. > > bandhanan Stem (of the gourd); but more generally, > unhealthy attachment. > > mrityor From death. > > mukshiya Free us, liberate us. > > ma Not > > > > amritat Immortality, emancipation. (means to exist > in full awareness in the divine source from which > all-physical bodies - indeed all physical universe > arise. It is a resurrection of awareness). > > > > Translations: > > OM. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O > Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of > life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and > causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of > the cucumber weakens, and the gourd if freed from > the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and > do not withhold immortality. > > > > Dispeller of FEAR > > There was a time, it is said, when there was no > death. But the world became congested, and its > resources approached the point of exhaustion. So > Yama was given the role of bringing death to beings > to restore nature's balance and relieve the > suffering of the planet. > > > > Death needed servants to accomplish its task. > Disease, famine, accidents, and old age played this > role and acted as death's messengers. But, not > understanding its place in the order of the > universe, all beings feared death. They witnessed > premature death and worried lest they be taken > before their appropriate time. When that time did > come, fear of death led to even greater suffering. > > > > To overcome this fear, it is said that Lord Shiva > himself gave humanity the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. > Whenever there is listlessness, stress, grief, or > illness, or when fears of death intrude in > awareness, this great mantra can be used for > healings, for maintaining vitality, and for refuge. > > > > The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra restores health and > happiness and brings calmness in the face of death. > When courage or determination are blocked, it rises > up to overcome obstacles. It awakens a healing force > that reaches deep into the body and mind. > > > > Just as a plant patiently gathers nutrients from the > soil, so healing and nourishing forces enter the > human body through foods, medicines, supportive > emotions, and encouraging thoughts. The Maha > Mrityunjaya mantra attracts these forces and creates > an inner environment to enhance their effectiveness. > Thus the mantra can be used whenever any restorative > process is undertaken. > > > > 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 > fears associated with death arise, the Maha > Mrityunjaya mantra naturally surface as a remedy and > comfort. > > > > It is also said that those in the healing profession > will benefit from reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya > mantra regularly. Through it, they will draw from an > infinite reserve of energy, and thus prevent burnout > while opening a channel of healing from which life > can be nourished. > > > > The Power of Shiva's EYES > > Stories glorifying Shiva as Mrityunjaya and > extolling the practice of the Maha Mrityunjaya > mantra abound. Many of them are allegorical-infusing > characters and story line with symbolic meaning; > others are primarily inspirational; still others > reveal details about specific practices. > > > > 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, " Yours 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? " > > > > Excerpted from Netra Tantra by Pandit Rajmani > Tugunait - " Siva 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 walking, 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. > > > > " The light of this mantric shakti outshines millions > of suns. It is with this fire of radiant divine > energy that I destroy the world in a flash and > breathe life into it in no time. There is nothing > beyond this power-. With this mantra one is able to > conquer all one's enemies (anger, hatred, jealousy, > and greed). It is the source of longevity, health, > and well-being-. Assuming different forms and > shapes, the power of this light, the Mrityunjaya > mantra, pervades the whole universe. It is the > source of all protection physicals, mental and > spiritual. There is no mystery higher than this-the > mystery of my eyes, the fire residing in them, and > how that fire manifest in the form of Mrityunjaya > mantra. " Excerpted Ends. > > > > A Simple Practice > > Inspired by such words and instructed by teachers > who have preserved the traditions of practice, many > meditators have made the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra a > part of their daily routine. There are no > restrictions as to who may learn and practice the > mantra, not is it necessary to embrace the mythology > surrounding the mantra in order to use it. It is > enough to approach it with respect. > > > > The first step is to learn to recite the mantra > correctly. Although it may appear long, it has only > thirty-two syllables and it can be learned with a > modest effort. Slow repetition combined with a > review of the meaning of the individual words will > help in remembering them. > > > > Once the mantra is learned, bring it to mind as you > begin your daily meditation, as a kind of invocation > to your normal practice. After calming the body and > breath, do 3, 11, 21, or even 36 recitations, and > allow your mind to become absorbed in the sounds and > rhythm of each line. Let the mantra draw your > awareness to the heart center or the eyebrow center, > whichever feels most natural to you, and use that > center as the focal point of your awareness. If you > are reciting the mantra to help with a health > problem, focus your awareness at the navel center. > > > > At some point you may wish to do more repetitions in > a given period of time. There are many reasons for > wanting to do this. You may be going through a > period of poor health or low energy; you may be > seeking a deeper sense of security or confidence; > you may feel stressed or overwhelmed by events or > attachments in your life; your own death, or the > death of someone for whom you are dedicating your > practice, may be approaching. > > > > But often the sentiments that draw one to this > practice are prompted less by health issues than by > a deep urge to be part of the unfolding harmony of > life itself. The nurturing quality of the mantra > acts in the human mind and heart just as the forces > of light, water, and soil act in the life of a > plant. The mantra magnifies the qualities of > personality that give our lives purpose and meaning. > > > > Use a mala (a string of 108 beads) to keep track of > your practice. Treat one complete mala as 100 > repetitions of the mantra. A fulfilling practice is > to complete 8,000 repetitions in 40 days. This can > be accomplished by doing one mala in the morning and > one in the evening. > > > > Each day, before beginning, remember the seer of the > Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, Sage Vasishtha. Simply > bring his spirit to mind, paying respect to him. > Then begin your practice. In time, you may find that > the one or two malas you do each day have become a > regular element of your life. > > > > The Allegory of Markandeya's Devotion > > > > In the end, the many reasons for taking up the > practice of the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra fold into > one another. Whether to enhance your life or to > assist in the transition to death, this mantra is > ultimately a means for self-realization. The > consciousness it inspires none is none other than > the deep, unending consciousness of the indwelling > self. > > > > In this respect, Markandeya's story is allegorical, > a reminder to us that the temple of human life is > the body; that prayers and acts of worship culminate > in meditation; and that the inner lingam which > blesses us with immortality is the energy flowing > from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. > Awakening that energy was Markandeya's act of faith. > > > > Words of another of the ancient sages, Suta, point > us in a similar direction and inspire us to begin > our own practice. They make a good closing to this > article: > > > > O sages of good and holy rites, there is no other > lord so merciful as Tryambaka. He is propitiated and > delighted easily. Truly, it is just so with the Maha > Mrityunjaya mantra. One who is united with it, > whatever may be his plight, shall undoubtedly be > liberated from attachment, and by meditation he > shall become one with the infinite itself. > > > > Birthdays - early & late > > > > In India, when an infant reaches its first birthday, > the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is often recited as a > form of spiritual well being. It is the equivalent > of wishing the child a long & healthy life - one > that, like Makandeya's, has a spiritual direction. > Some people remember that the Maha Mrityunjaya > mantra on each of their birthdays to instill the > event with sanctity. And on their 60th or 80th > birthdays, both of which are considered special > times of transition, many meditators make a special > effort to recite this mantra. > > > > To hear this mantra recited aloud, log on to > www.yiextra.org and click on " The > > Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra " . > > =================================================== > > http://www.esamskriti.com/html/new_inside.asp?cat_name=prabuddha & cid=1060 & sid=17\ 2 > > > sowparnika999 <sowparnika999 wrote: > > Prasannedathikkaayi > Om! Tryambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtee Vardhanam > > Urva ruka meva Bandhanaat > Mrityor Muksheeya Ma amrutaat > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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