Maha Mantunjaya Mantra

Spiritual Essence of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (महामृत्युंजय मंत्र)

ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।

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. 

#Longthread