Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (, ), also called the Tryambakam Mantra, is a verse of the Yajurveda (TS 1.8.6.i; VS 3.60) addressed to Tryambakam "the three-eyed", identified with the Hindu deity Shiva. Its literal translation is the Great Death-Conquering mantra. It is a mantra that has many names and forms.http://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/mahamantra.php
It is called the Rudra mantra, referring to the furious aspect of Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, alluding to Shiva's three eyes; and its is sometimes known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra because it is a component of the "life-restoring" practice given to the primordial sage Shukra after he had completed an exhausting period of austerity. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is hailed by the sages as the heart of the Veda. Along with the Gayatri mantra it holds the highest place among the many mantras used for contemplation and meditation.http://www.nandhi.com/mrityunjaya.htm
The mantra was originally given by Lord Shiva as a boon ( Mritasanjiviani Vidya) to Shukracharya after his penance. It was later known to brihaspati and devas who gave it to rishi vashistha for human welfare. 
File:mahadev.JPG
Rigveda Verse : mandala-7 sukt-59 mantra-12 | Rishi: Vashistha | Mantra Devata: Rudra
The mantra reads (IAST transliteration):
: 
: 
 
In the translation of Arthur Berriedale Keith, 1914):
:"OM. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality."
Literal rendering: 
three-eyed one / we praise / the fragrant / the beneficent
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like a cocumber / (drops off) from its stem / from death / liberate / not from immortality
Grammatical analysis:
* "the three-eyed-one" (accusative) 
* "we praise" (1st pl. middle)
* "the fragrant" (acc.) 
* "the prosperity-increaser" (acc.)
* "cocumber, musk melon" (acc.)
* "-like" 
* "from attachment Stem (of the gourd); but more generally, unhealthy attachment" ("from the stem", ablative)
* "from death" (ablative) 
* "may you liberate" 
* "not"
* from immortality (ablative) 
There is a parallel formation mṛtyor māmṛtaṃ gamayeti/gamaya iti "thus lead me from death to immortality" in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad 1.3.28 (se asato ma sad gamaya) with amrita (immortality) in the accusative; having amritat as ablative rather than accusative forces the interpretation of ma as "not" (and not "me") and leads to the translation by Keith given above.
==Meaning==
Om. We worship The Three-Eyed Lord Shiva who is fragrant and who increasingly nourishes 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. 
==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)
==Full Mantra==
Trayam-bakam yajaamahey sugandhim pushti vardhanam
Oorvaa-ruka-miva bandhanaan mrithyor mooksheeya maam-amrithaath
Aum rudhram pasupathim sthaanoom neelakanta umapaathim
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi
Kaala kantam kaala moorthim kaala-jngyam kaala naasanam
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Neela kantam viroopaaksham nirmalam vimala-prabham 
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Vaama devam maha devam lokanaatham jagath gurum
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Deva-devam jagan naatham devasham vrishabathvajam
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Gangadharam maha devam sarvaa-barana booshitham
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Anaatha param-aanandam kaivalya pada-dhayinam
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Swarga-bavarka-dha-dharam srishti-sthith-yantha-kaarinam
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Oothpathis-tithi-samhaara kaathaara-gneyshwaram gurum
Namaami sirasa dhevam kim no mrithyu karish-yathi.
Maarkandeya-kritham stothram ya-padeth siva sanithou
Thasya mrithyu bhayam naasthi naagni-sowra-bhayam kwachith.
Sadavartham prakarth-thavyam sangate kashta naasanam
soochir-bhoothva padeth stothram sarva sidhi pradhayagam.
Mrithyu-jeya mahadeva drahimaam saranaa-gatham
Janma mrithyu jaraa-rokai peeditham karma bhandhanai.
Thavakas-twath-gath-praanasth-vachith-dhoham sada mrita
Ithi vignaapya devesam triyambhaka-kyam manum jabeth.
Nama shivaya saambaya haraaya paramaathmane
Pranathak-lesa-naasaaya yoginaam pathaye namah.'''
==Significance of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra==
Devotees strongly believe that proper recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya rejuvenates, bestows health, wealth, long life, peace, prosperity and contentment. It is said that chanting of Shiva Mantra generates divine vibrations that ward off all the negative and evil forces and creates a powerful protective shield. Besides, it is said to protect the one who chants against accidents and misfortunes of every kind. Recitation of the mantra creates vibration that pulsates through every cell, every molecule of human body and tears away the veil of ignorance. Hindus believe that recitation of the mantra ignites a fire within that consumes all negativity and purifies entire system. It is also said to have a strong healing power and can cure diseases declared incurable even by the doctors. Many believe Maha Mrityunjay Mantra to be a mantra that can conquer death and connect human beings to their own inner divinity. 
==Best Time to Chant ==
Chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra with sincerity, faith and devotion in Bramha Muhurata is very beneficial. But one can also do Maha Mrityunjaya japa anytime in a pure environment with great benefit and discover the happiness that's already within.
==References==
==External links==
* http://www.trambakeshwar.com Information about Mahmritunjay Jaap Anustan
Category:Vedas
Category:Hindu mantras