Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra: Meaning, Benefits & How to Chant
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra — Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat — is the great "victory over death" prayer of the Vedas, from the Rigveda (7.59.12), addressed to Shiva as Tryambaka, the three-eyed one. It asks that we be released from death as effortlessly as a ripe cucumber slips from its stem — and led to immortality. Here is the full Sanskrit text, its line-by-line and word-by-word meaning, its benefits, and exactly how to chant it 108 times.
You can also practise this mantra inside the Mantras App, which helps you chant 108 times with a japa counter and reminders.
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Lyrics in Sanskrit (Full Text)
उर्वारुकमिव बंधनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
A common English transliteration is:
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
Meaning of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
In essence, the mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva as the three-eyed one (Tryambaka), fragrant and nurturing, asking to be freed from the bondage of death and suffering, just as a ripe cucumber is effortlessly released from the vine, and to be led to immortality – a state beyond fear and limitation. It appears in the Rigveda (7.59.12) and the Yajurveda, making it one of the oldest healing prayers still in daily use.
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam — meaning
"We worship the three-eyed one (Shiva), who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings." Tryambakam is Shiva as the three-eyed lord; yajamahe means "we worship"; sugandhim, "the fragrant one" — a presence that pervades everything like fragrance; pushtivardhanam, "the increaser of nourishment and well-being".
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat — meaning
"As the ripe cucumber is released from its stem, may we be liberated from death — not from immortality." Urvarukam iva means "like the cucumber"; bandhanan, "from bondage"; mrityor mukshiya, "free us from death"; ma amritat, "not from the nectar of immortality". The image is of effortless release — ripeness, not struggle.
Word-by-word meaning
Where the mantra comes from
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra appears in the Rigveda (7.59.12), addressed to Rudra/Shiva as Tryambaka — the three-eyed one whose third eye is the eye of wisdom that sees beyond birth and death. It also appears in the Yajurveda, and is known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra, "the life-restoring one". Its central image is tender and precise: just as a ripe cucumber slips effortlessly from its stem when it is ready, may we be released from the grip of death — gently, naturally, and into immortality rather than away from it.
Maha Mrityunjaya jaap — the traditional japa practice
Jaap (japa) is the repeated chanting of the mantra, counted on a 108-bead mala. Daily practice is traditionally 108 repetitions — one full mala — and on special occasions, such as illness in the family or a difficult transition, the tradition prescribes longer sankalpa japa in larger multiples of 108. Beginners can start with 11 or 21 repetitions kept daily; in japa, consistency is valued above count.
How to Pronounce the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
- Break the mantra into small parts and repeat slowly: Tryam-ba-kam, Ya-ja-ma-he, Su-gan-dhim, Pushti-vardha-nam.
- Avoid merging words too quickly; keep each syllable clear and steady.
- Maintain a gentle, even tone instead of shouting or forcing the voice.
How to Chant Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 108 Times
- Sit with a straight spine, ideally facing east, and take a few calm breaths.
- Use a mala of 108 beads or a japa counter in the Mantras App to keep track.
- Chant at a steady pace; complete 108 repetitions without long breaks.
- End with a short moment of silence, offering the practice for healing and protection.
Benefits of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
- Traditionally chanted for protection from accidents, fears and difficult transitions.
- Traditionally chanted for health and recovery — a prayer for nourishment and healing.
- Brings calm around anxiety through steady, rhythmic repetition.
- Helps cultivate courage, surrender and trust — its whole subject is facing death without fear.
- Traditionally chanted for the wellbeing of loved ones, holding them in mind.
Best time & count
Early morning is the classic anchor for daily practice. The mantra is also traditionally chanted during illness — one's own or a loved one's — on Mondays (Shiva's day), and through the month of Shravan. Chant 108 times with a mala if you can; if you are starting out, 11 or 21 daily repetitions kept consistently beat 108 done occasionally. More in the best time to chant mantras.
