Meaning of the words in Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:

Om- sacred syllable

Tryambakam- three-eyed one
Yajmahe- we revere and honor
Sugandhim- fragrant
Pushti- prosperous and full of life
Vardhanam- one who nourishes and strengthens
Urv rukamiva- big and powerful
Bandhann- from captivity
Mrityormukshya- to liberate from death
M- me
Mritt- [with] immortality

Meaning of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

"I meditate and pray the three-eyed one, Shiva, who increases the fragrance and
nourishment. Free me from powerful diseases, bonds and death and grant me immortality."
The Mrityunjaya Mantra frees one from untimely death. It is a life giving mantra. This
Mantra wards off uncertain death that is caused by snake bite, lightning, accidents by
vehicles, accidents by fire, air- accidents and all other forms of accidents that result into
untimely death. It has curative effects as well. When this Mantra is chanted with utmost
devotion and faith, it can cure even those diseases that doctors fail to cure. Such is the
power of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Chanting this Mantra with pure heart bestows healthy
life, longevity, wealth, peace, prosperity and salvation (Moksha).
Reciting the Mantra just for once in the morning can save one from all possible threats and
untimely death. If the Mantra is recited by prefixing and suffixing it with the Beej Mantra, it

becomes even more powerful. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, along with the Beej Mantra is
already mentioned above in the article.

Story associated with Mahamrityunjay Mantra

The legend of Markandey
Once there was a sage named Markandu. He and his wife pleased Lord Shiva through severe
penance. When pleased, Shiva appeared before them and granted a boon saying, Either you
will have bad son who will live for 100 years or a divine and good son who will only live for
16 years. Now choose which son you desire to have?
Sage Markandu and his wife opted for good son, though short-lived. Shiva blessed them
with a divine son whom they named as Markandey. When Markandey was only eight years
of age, he knew all the holy scriptures and every other thing that must be known for self
actualization. He gained this knowledge from his father. However, he was unknown to the
fact that he is short-lived and will only live for 16 years. His parents never revealed this to
their son, but asked him to worship Lord Shiva regularly.
When the last day of the sixteenth year of his life came, Yama, the God of death appeared
and stood before him. He threw his snare on the nose of Markandey, while he was sitting
and worshipping Lord Shiva. Markandeys breath was disturbed as Yama started to pull out
life or soul out of his body. With immense devotion, Markandey embraced the holy shivling
(a divine form of Lord Shiva) and suddenly recognized the great Mantra known as Maha
Mrityunjaya Mantra.
When Markandey started reciting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Shiva appeared before him
through the holy Shiva Linga and drove away Yama. The God of death then went back and
Shiva blessed Markandey to be the master of Himalayas till eternity.

Why and How is Maha Mrityunjay Mantra Chanted?

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is one of the two important mantras explained in Vedas, the
other being Gayatri mantra. It is chanted to evade untimely death and bring peace and
tranquility to the mind of humans. The Mantra is also very powerful to heal the health
problems that cannot be cured even by the doctors.

The Mantra should be chanted while facing the east or north direction. Use a Rudraksha
rosary and use the thumb and ring finger in order to rotate the beads. Keep a copper vessel
full of water in front. Chant the Mantra for 108 times. When you finish chanting the Mantra
for the aforementioned times, drink the water. Starting this practice on Monday is very
beneficial as Monday is the day of Lord Shiva. You should also sprinkle some water in and
around your house while chanting the Mantra to keep negative energies at bay. This will
bring a lot of calm and peace to you by destroying the negative energy around you.
The Mantra is known to emit positive vibrations and create a divine armor around the
person who chants this Mantra with pure heart and devotion. This saves you from every
kind of disease and negative forces.