MAHA MRUTYUNJAYA MANTRA

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                                         MAHA MRUTYUNJAYA MANTRA                                                                ……….                       The two great mantras of Veda are  Gayatri Mantra and Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantra . Gayatri mantra , through creating powerful vibrations , eliminates the sorrow which is born out of ignorance . It is an universal prayer as it is the powerful and meaningful link between man enmeshed in mundane concerns and the Supreme being . Known as the Moksha mantra of Lord Shiva , Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra evokes the Shiva within and removes the fear of death , liberating one from the cycle of death and rebirth .It is the Victory over Death .                       Gayatri mantra is in the Gayatri chandah  ( metre ) and Mrutyunjaya mantra in Anushtubh chandah . Gayatri chandah  is for merging with God and is the form of God while Anushtubh chandah  is for following God . Anushtubh  means ‘ following ‘ and  the mantra is for the faithful followers .         The mantra ……                    Om Tryambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam /                  Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaath   Mrutyor Mukshiya Ma-Amritat //                       It means that “ Let us worship Shiva ( the Three-eyed One ) , who is sacred   ( fragrance ) and who nourishes all beings . Just as the ripe cucumber is automatically released from its attachment to the creeper , may we be liberated from ( total identification with ) death ( our mortal body and personality ) and be granted ( realization of ) our immortality nature . Explanation.                          Om , We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva , who is naturally fragrant , immensely merciful and who is the Protector of the devotees . Worshipping Him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk ie. By your Grace , let me be in the state of salvation (moksha) and be saved from the clutches of fearful death . Effects of the mantra .                           Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra is a mantra that is said to rejuvenate , bestow health , wealth , a long life , peace , prosperity and contentment . The mantra is a centuries old technique of connecting one to pure consciousness and bliss .                             The prayer is addressed to Lord Shiva . By chanting the mantra Divine vibrations are generated which ward off all the negative and evil forces and create a powerful protective shield . And it is said to protect the one who chants against accidents and misfortunes of every kind .It is a vibration that pulsates through every cell , every molecule of our body and tears away the veil of ignorance . It ignites a fire within us that consumes all our negativity and purifies our entire system . It is also said to have a powerful healing of diseases declared uncurable . It is a mantra to conquer death and connects us to our own inner divinity . Prayer to Lord Shiva .

                          The mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva 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 His 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 . Connection to Sukracharya .                        The Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra was taught by Lord Shiva to Sukracharya , the preceptor of the demons after he succeeded in the impossible  test of hanging upside down from a tree for twenty years ( vimsottari dasa  period ) with smoke  blowing into him from a  fire lit beneath . Even Brihaspati was shocked at the prospect of such a terrible penance and calmly settled to observe Sukracharya accept the challenge of Indra and succeeded .                          Since Sukracharya ( Venus in astrology ) passed the penance he was glorified as the Tapaswi Raja ( the king of the spiritual discipline and penance ) . The definition of Tapaswi Yoga comes from this penance as Saturn ( punishment , hard toil ) , Ketu (smoke blown into the nose and other forms of self inflicted torture ) and Venus ( desire and its renunciation ) must come together to define the personal ability of the Tapaswi..                          After the penance Lord Shiva taught the maha mantra to Sukracharya , who under very compelling circumstances had to teach this to the son of Brihaspati and that is how the devas also got the mantra . This mantra was given (sruti) to Vasistha Maharishi for the welfare of the world .The mantra and the explanation given by Sukracharya to Rishi Dadhicha when the latter ‘s body was cut and thrown by Raja Kshuva is recorded in the Shiva Purana .                         Sukracharya said ,” O! Dadhicha , I pray to Lord Shiva and give you the upadesa ( advice / wisdom / teaching ) of  the highest Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantra “ Chanting.                         The mantra is very much a protector for accidents , mishaps and daily calamities in the modern day busy life . Recitation of the mantra creates divine vibrations that heals . Chanting the maha mantra with sincerity , faith and devotion in Bramha Muhurta  is very beneficial . But one can also chant it anytime in a pure environment with great benefit and discover the happiness that ‘s already within .The mantra should ideally be repeated 108 times , twice daily , at dawn and at dusk . Shiva Prarthana .                      Om Namastestu Bhagavan                       Visvesvaraya Mahadevaya                      Trayambakaya Tripurantakaya                      Trikagni – Kalaya                     Kalagni – Rudraya Nil – Kanthaya Mrutyunjaya                    Sarvesvaraya Sadashivaya                     Sriman Mahadevaya Namah . Meaning .                                        Om , I bow down to Lord Shiva , who is the creator and protector of the universe , who is the greatest among gods , who has three eyes , who is the annihilator of all the three worlds , one whose throat is blue , who is the conqueror of death , who is the Lord of all , who is propitious , who is possessed of all marks of greatness and who is the greatest among Gods . To Him my prostration . Explanation .

              The mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva who is addressed as Sankara and Trayambaka .Sankara is Sana  ( blessings ) and  Kara ( the Giver ) , Trayambaka  is the three eyed one         ( where the third eye signifies the giver of knowledge , which destroys ignorance and releases us from the cycle of death and rebirth ) . Summary of the mantra .                        We worship Shiva – The Three Eyed Lord / Whose eyes are Sun , Moon and Fire / Who is fragrant and nourishes all beings / May He protect us from all disease , poverty and fear / And bless us with prosperity , longevity and health / May He liberate us from death /  For the sake of immortality / As the ripened cucumber is automatically liberated / From its bondage from the creeper when it fully ripens / . Maharishi Vasistha ‘s explanation .                          Maharishi Vasistha has the following explanation to offer about Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra :           TRAYAMBAKAM  - refers to the three eyes of Lord Shiva . ‘ Trya ‘ means ‘ three ‘ and AMBAKAM  means ‘ eyes ‘ . These three eyes or source of enlightenment are the TRIMURTI  or three primary deities , namely , Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva and the three AMBA  ( also meaning Mother or Shakti ) are Saraswathi , Lakshmi and Gouri . Thus in the world , we are referring to god as Omniscient ( Brahma ), Omnipresent ( Vishnu ) and Omnipotent (Shiva ). This is the wisdom of Brihaspati and is referred to as  Sri Dattatreya having three heads of Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva . Anushthubh chandah .                             The mantra is in Anushthubh Chandah  ( metre ) and accordingly , is divided into four padas comprised of eight syllables each … 4 x 8 = 32 syllables . First Pada . Trayambakam Yejamahe ………….    Trayambaka  - is the name of Lord Shiva as the father of the three worlds – bhu , bhuva  and svarga . He is the father and lord of the three mandalas -- Surya , Soma and Agni mandalas . He is Mahesvara , the lord of the three gunas –  Satva , Rajas  and Tamas. He is the Sadashiva , the teacher of the three tatvas – Atma tatva , Vidya tatva  and Shiva tatva . He is the father (cause and source) of the three energies ( agni ) – Arahaniya , Garhapatya  and Dakshinagni .He is the father of all physical creation through the three murti bhuta – Pritvi ( solid ) , Jala ( liquid ) and Tejas or agni ( energy ). He is the lord of the three heavens created by the dominance of the three gunas – Rajas ( Brahma ) , Satva ( Vishnu ) and Tamas  ( Shiva ) .Know Him to be the nirakara ( formless ) , Sadashiva  as He is above  this physical mode and is their Mahesvara . Second Pada .   Sugandhim pushtivardhanam ………….        Sugandhim  refers to the fragrance of the flower that spreads in all directions , and in a similar way Shiva is present in the entire creation , both animates and inanimates . In all the bhutas ( modes of existence ), in the three gunas ( nature of creation as being Satva , Rajas and Tamas ), in the ten indriyas ( five gnana-indriyas ) or senses and five karma-indriyas or organs of action ) ,in all the devas ( 33 devas are the source of all illumination and enlightenment ) and the ganas ( hosts of demi-gods ). Shiva exists and pervades as the illumine atma ( soul ) and is their essence .        Pushtivardhanam  ……… is explained as that inward dwelling spirit (atman ) , the Purusha Shiva  is the real sustainer of Prakrti .  Starting with the maha tatva ( primordial state of matter .. energy ) to the individual parts of creation , the entire sustenance of the physically created beings ( both animate and inanimate ) is done by the imperishable Purusha . You , I , Brahma , Vishnu , the munis and even Indra and devas are maintained / sustained  by the Atma and that is Him .

Since the Purusha ( atma  - Shiva ) is the granter of sustenance to prakrti (body / nature ) , He is Pushtivardhana . Third and Fourth Padas . Urvarukamiva bandhanat mrutyor mukshiya mamritat  …. Meaning : Prabhu ! just as the ripe cucumber is severed from the bondage of the creeper in the same manner may we be delivered from death for the sake of immortality ( moksha ) . Rudra deva is like amruta ( nectar of immortality ). Those who worship Him with good karma , penance and repentance , meditation , contemplation , prayer or praise will surely have renewed life and vigour . The strength of truth force ( in the mantra ) is such that Lord Shiva shall definitely free the worshipper from the bondage of death because Shiva alone is the giver of bondage and moksha . Various names for the mantra .                                 The Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra is taken from the Shukla Yajur Veda Samhita ( vs.3.60 ) and occurs in the Rig Veda ( 7th Book of Mandala , 59 chapter ) . This mantra is also called the Trayambaka mantra . It is addressed to Trayambaka , the three-eyed , identified with Shiva . Its literal translation is the ‘Great Death-conquering ‘ mantra . It is called the Rudra mantra , referring to the furious aspect of Shiva ; the Trayambaka mantra , alluding to Shiva’s three eyes ; and it is sometimes known as the Mrutya-Sanjivini mantra because it is a component of the life-restoring practice to the primordial sage Sukra after he had completed an exhaustive period of austerity . It has the power to give back life and rescue from death and great evils . Water sanctified with this mantra should be drunk all the time . Heart of   the Veda .                             This maha mantra is hailed by the sages as the heart of the Veda . Along with Gayatri mantra it holds the highest place among the many mantras used for contemplation and meditation . Anybody can recite  this mantra and attain good health , release from bondage and other problems . This is the greatest panacea for all evils . Lights on Veda Astrology .                            Shiva is said to have three eyes . –because He sees the past , present , and the future simultaneously . He is the lord of the three worlds – physical , astral , and casual . He is also beyond the three gunas , satva , rajas and tamas -- or creation , sustenance and destruction .As we chant the maha mantra we identify with Lord Shiva, develop His attributes , and receive His blessings .                              In the Buhat Parashara Hora Shastra , sage Parashara prescribes this maha mantra as an astrological remedial measure on at least 24 separate occasions . In Chp.55 vs.52 , he says , “ …..with the recitation ( japa ) of the maha mantra the evil effects will get mellowed down ( reduced ) with the blessings of Lord Shiva “ .                                                  Mrutyu  means Death and   Jaya means Victory . Mrutyunjaya  means Victory over Death . This is so called because , when chanted sincerely with reflection on its meaning it can convey realization of our Essential nature which is beyond birth and death , In this way , it gives us victory over unquestioned assumption and ignorance of what we are . For the living , death is certain and for the dead , birth is certain . Since death is definite for all embodied beings , the  Bhagavad Gita enjoins the seeker to aspire for that state of attainment , after which there is no return or rebirth .                             The Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra does not belong to any particular school or tradition though it is chanted in so many yoga centres in the world .There are many mantras for warding off evils like death and other sufferings given in the sacred literature of the Hindus . These mantras are of various types but the Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra has been extolled in sacred literature as being the best .

                              Lord Shiva is the pure and pristine God who can purify anything by mere utterence of His name . He is the mrutyunjaya  , the vanquisher of death and disease and the releaser from the cycle of birth and death .The term  shiva  is a confluence of  two syllables -- ' shi '  and  ' va ' , meaning the  ' redeemer of sins ' and ' liberator of sufferings ' . To Him  we  prostrate .

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    madhavajja