Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is considered one of the most powerful and auspicious mantras in Hinduism. The devotee recites this mantra to seek the blessings and protection of Lord Shiva, particularly for health, longevity, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Mantra
Om Tryambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam | Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan-mrityormuksheeya maamritaat ||
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् |
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ||
Word to Word Translation
| Sanskrit Word | English Meaning |
| Om | The Supreme Absolute |
| Tryambakam | The three-eyed one (Lord Shiva) |
| Yajamahe | We worship, adore, honor |
| Sugandhim | The fragrant one; as the Spiritual Essence |
| Pushtivardhanam | The nourisher (of our spiritual core) |
| Urvarukamiva | Like a cucumber tied to their creepers |
| Bandhanan | From bondage (of samsara) |
| Mrityor | From death (attachment to perishable things) |
| Mukshiya | May you liberate |
| Ma | Not |
| Amritat | Immortality |
The Core Meaning
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, beginning with the sacred syllable “Om,” is a reverent invocation directed towards Tryambaka, the three-eyed manifestation of Lord Shiva.
In this profound hymn, the worshiper extols the divine qualities of the deity, recognizing him as the fragrant essence and the sustainer of our spiritual core. The metaphor of a ripe cucumber bound to its creeper symbolizes the numerous bonds and entanglements of worldly existence, akin to the intricacies of samsara. The devotee fervently prays for liberation from these attachments, seeking release from the inevitable cycle of birth and death.
The ultimate aspiration is to transcend mortal limitations and attain a state where one is no longer separated from the perception of the eternal and immortal essence that pervades all existence.
This mantra is a powerful plea for spiritual emancipation and a profound connection with the divine, emphasizing the quest for the immortal amidst the transient.