About this mantra
The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is a Rig Vedic prayer to Shiva as Tryambaka, the three-eyed one, for health, long life and freedom from the fear of death. It is chanted for the sick, during Maha Mrityunjaya homams and on Mondays.
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्॥తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం త్ర్యమ్బకం యజామహే సుగన్ధిం పుష్టివర్ధనమ్।
ఉర్వారుకమివ బన్ధనాన్మృత్యోర్ముక్షీయ మాఽమృతాత్॥oṃ tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam|
urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyormukṣīya mā’mṛtāt||We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant, who nourishes all beings. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may he free us from death — and not from immortality.
When to recite
Mondays, Pradosh, Shivaratri, and whenever someone is unwell — 108 times, or 1,25,000 times in a full anushthana.
Traditionally recited for
- Health and healing
- Long life
- Freedom from fear
Sources
- Rig Veda, Mandala 7, Sukta 59, verse 12; also in the Yajur Veda.