The Maha Mrityuunjaya mantra is one of yoga’s most important
mantras. It restores health and
happiness and brings calmness in the face of death.
Hailed by the sages as the heart of the Vedas, the maha
mrityunjaya mantra can help you tune into the healing force that is always at
work within you, supporting your growth, lifting you up in times of trouble,
and reminding you of the higher aim of life. In this article, spiritual teacher
and author Rolf Sovik unveils one of yoga’s most powerful, nourishing mantras.
The scriptures of ancient India are filled with stories,
myths, and legends in which philosophy is entwined with devotion. Great
personages appear in these tales, among them the sage Markandeya, whose
teachings are found in the Markandeya Purana. His text is remembered especially
for its account of the glory of the Divine Mother. Markandeya is also acclaimed
for his vision of the cosmic deluge, and in the Mahabharata he is an honored
guest at the forest encampment of the heroic Pandava brothers. But his story
begins before his birth.
Childless, the forest-dwelling sage Mrikandu and his wife,
Marudvati, undertook a long penance, hoping to earn merit and the boon of a
child. They were rewarded with a vision of Lord Shiva, their Ishtadevata (the
deity of their hearts). After hearing their request, Lord Shiva told them they
could either parent a child who would be a brilliant spiritual light but whose
life would be a scant sixteen years, or they could raise a long-lived child who
would be witless and self-absorbed.
They chose the child with spiritual virtue, and in time
Marudvati gave birth to a boy they named Markandeya. The couple decided not to
tell him that he would have a short life span, but as he approached his
sixteenth birthday his parents’ growing sadness betrayed them. And when he
asked them to explain their downcast mood, they told him what Lord Shiva had
said. Already an accomplished yogi, Markandeya rededicated himself to his
practice.
On the day of his sixteenth birthday Markandeya took refuge
in a temple and sat next to a Shiva lingam (a symbol of divine consciousness)
to do his worship and meditation. When the messengers of Lord Yama, the lord of
death, arrived to take him away, they found him so absorbed in his prayers,
they could not complete their mission.
Returning to Yama, they described their dilemma. So Yama
himself traveled to the temple to accomplish the task. He urged Markandeya to
follow the natural laws of life and death, and to come willingly, but
Markandeya wrapped his arms around the shiva lingam and surrendered himself to
its protection. Yama threw his noose to gather Markandeya in, but the noose
encircled the lingam as well, and immediately, Shiva, dwelling in the image,
split the lingam open and emerged in a rage. Yama had thrown his noose too far,
for he had no authority to encircle Shiva himself.
Yama was killed with a blow from Shiva’s foot as the other
gods looked on in dismay. Fearing that Yama’s death would upset the order of
the universe, they implored Shiva to bring him back to life—and in the end,
Shiva complied. But he pointed out that Markandeya’s devotion had protected
him, and he was therefore blessed to remain a sixteen-year-old sage eternally.
The ancient belief is that the realized soul of Markandeya is still moving in
the universe.
Shiva: The Shelter of Kindness
The story of Markandeya opens doors to a vast spiritual
heritage with the mysterious figure of Shiva at its core. Shiva is
dual-natured. He guards the universal order with ferocious resolve, destroying
attachments and freeing his devotees from ignorance. He is the inner controller
and the dissolver, bringing compulsive pursuits of passion, and even life
itself, to its natural end. This aspect of Shiva is reflected in his ancient
name Rudra, “one who howls.” The more familiar name Shiva, on the other hand,
means “auspicious, gracious, or kind.” Here compasssion is Shiva’s nature. He
is a shelter of kindness and the giver of boons. With tenderness and a sure
hand, he guides those who aspire to self-realization and he relieves the
suffering that exists in the universe.
Shiva personifies pure consciousness. He manifests the
universe and exists in it like a net into which every particle and being is
woven. Yet he remains unaffected by the world’s charms and temptations as he
silently holds all that moves in an unmoving presence. He is the Lord of Yogis,
established in meditation.
He has many names. To Markandeya he is Mrityunjaya, the
Death Conqueror. And some say it is this aspect of Shiva’s being that Markandeya
was worshipping on his sixteenth birthday. But Shiva’s conquest over Yama does
not give us the complete picture of Mrityunjaya, for even in his aspect as the
ruler of death, Shiva is deeply nurturing as well as fearsome.
The Heart of the Vedas
The great mantra dedicated to Shiva as Mrityunjaya is found
in the Rig Veda (Mandala VII, Hymn 59), where it is attributed to the sage
Vasishtha. The hymn in which it is found begins with eleven stanzas honoring
the forces of nature (the maruts) said to be the children of Rudra/Shiva. The
maruts control the energies of storms, winds, cyclones, and clouds (and thus
the nurturing light of the sky). They possess destructive energy, but they are
also the protectors of the household. When they act in harmony, they create an
environment of peace and prosperity.
Vasishtha pays homage to these forces and then continues
with the final stanza, a mantra revered throughout the scriptures. It is called
the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, the Great Death-Conquering mantra. It is a mantra
that has many names and forms. It is called the Rudra mantra, referring to the
furious aspect of Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, alluding to Shiva’s three eyes;
and it 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 Vedas. Along with the Gayatri
mantra it holds the highest place among the many mantras used for contemplation
and meditation.
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
The Sanskrit text of the mantra reads:
OM. Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanan
Mrityor mukshiya mamritat
The mantra is divided into four lines, each containing eight
syllables. Translations vary considerably. A bit of research, however (try
looking the mantra up on the Web, for example), will make it clear that no single
translation can ever do justice to all its levels of meaning. The multi-leveled
nature of Sanskrit words makes this impossible.
But differences in translation also reflect the fact that
the sounds of the mantra are more important to practitioners than its exact
translation. Like music, the resonance of these sounds attracts the mind and
leads it to an inner experience. The literal meaning of the mantra is
secondary.
But even so, it is important to understand the mantra in
order to develop faith in it. The individual words of the mantra convey its
nourishing quality, and, even in English, they are life-sustaining. They fill
us with the sense that a great force of goodness is at work within us,
supporting our growth, lifting us up during times of trouble, and helping us
recall, even in the midst of our busy lives, the higher aim of life itself.
Conquering Fear
There was a time, it is said, when there was no death. But
the world became congested, and its resources approached the point of
exhaustion. So Yama was given the role of bringing death to beings to restore
nature’s balance and relieve the suffering of the planet.
Death needed servants to accomplish its task. Disease,
famine, accidents, and old age played this role and acted as death’s messengers.
But, not understanding its place in the order of the universe, all beings
feared death. They witnessed premature death and worried lest they be taken
before their appropriate time. When that time did come, fear of death led to
even greater suffering.
To overcome this fear, it is said that Lord Shiva himself
gave humanity the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. Whenever there is listlessness,
stress, grief, or illness, or when fear of death intrudes in awareness, this
great mantra can be used for healing, for maintaining vitality, and for refuge.
The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra restores health and happiness
and brings calmness in the face of death. When courage or determination are
blocked, it rises up to overcome obstacles. It awakens a healing force that
reaches deep into the body and mind.
Just as a plant patiently gathers nutrients from the soil,
so healing and nourishing forces enter the human body through foods, medicines,
supportive emotions, and encouraging thoughts. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra
attracts these forces and creates an inner environment to enhance their
effectiveness. Thus the mantra can be used whenever any restorative process is
undertaken.
The mantra can be recited when taking medicines, for it
prepares the body and mind to make the best use of them. In India, when ash
(bhasma) is applied to the body (as either a medicinal or a spiritual act) the
mantra is recited. And so, whenever matters of health, vitality, nurturance, or
freedom from the fear associated with death arise, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra
naturally surfaces as a remedy and comfort.
It is also said that those in the healing professions will
benefit from reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra regularly. Through it, they
will draw from an infinite reserve of energy, and thus prevent burnout while
opening a channel of healing from which life can be nourished.
Awakening the Healing Force
Stories glorifying Shiva as Mrityunjaya and extolling the
practice of the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra abound. Many of them are
allegorical—infusing characters and story line with symbolic meaning; others
are primarily inspirational; still others reveal details about specific
practices.
The power of the mantra has been explained by Shiva himself
in the Netra Tantra, a conversation recorded between Shiva and his wife,
Parvati. At the opening of the text Parvati asks, “Your eyes are so beautiful;
they are filled with the tears of compassion. How is it possible that from such
eyes flared forth the terrible fire capable of reducing death itself to ashes?”
Shiva said, “Be joined in yoga, O Parvati, for only then
will you be able to understand how the fire inherent in my eyes is the immortal
elixir. The light in my eyes is all-pervading. It faces every direction and it
resides in all states of waking, dreaming, and sleep. It is the source of life
for all living beings. It can be known only through the practice of yoga, and
can never be experienced by those who lack self-effort.
“The light in my eyes is the same as one’s own radiance. It
is self-evident. It is the highest form of inner strength. It is eternal and it
is ojas (the radiant energy that infuses matter with life). It is the power of
will—the indomitable will of the soul. In it lies the seed of omniscience, the
power to know, and the power to act. It is through this force, intrinsic to me,
that I destroy and I create.
“The whole universe is filled and sustained by this energy.
In fact the powers of will, knowledge, and action together are my eyes. They
are the source of immortality, the ultimate force of healing and nourishment.
They are the embodiment of my radiant vitality. The knowers of mantra science
call it Mrityunjaya, “the conqueror of death.” It enables one to attain freedom
from all forms of misery, for it is the destroyer of all diseases. Meditation
on this brilliant light manifesting in the form of Mrityunjaya mantra cools
down the scorching heat of worldly and spiritual poverty. It is pure, peaceful,
and unfailing.
“The light of this mantric shakti outshines millions of
suns. It is with this fire of radiant divine energy that I destroy the world in
a flash and breathe life into it in no time. There is nothing beyond this
power….
With this mantra one is able to conquer all one’s enemies
(anger, hatred, jealousy, and greed). It is the source of longevity, health,
and well-being…. Assuming different forms and shapes, the power of this light,
the Mrityunjaya mantra pervades the whole universe. It is the source of all
protection, physical, mental, and spiritual. There is no mystery higher than
this, the mystery of my eyes, the fire residing in them, and how that fire
manifests in the form of Mrityunjaya mantra.”
—Excerpted from the Netra Tantra, translated by Pandit
Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
How to Use this Mantra
Inspired by such words and instructed by teachers who have
preserved the traditions of practice, many meditators have made the Maha
Mrityunjaya mantra a part of their daily routine. There are no restrictions as
to who may learn and practice the mantra, nor is it necessary to embrace the
mythology surrounding the mantra in order to use it. It is enough to approach
it with respect.
The first step is to learn to recite the mantra correctly.
Although it may appear long, it has only thirty-two syllables and it can be
learned with a modest effort. Slow repetition combined with a review of the
meaning of the individual words will help in remembering them.
Once the mantra is learned, bring it to mind as you begin
your daily meditation, as a kind of invocation to your normal practice. After
calming the body and breath, do 3, 11, 21, or even 36 recitations, and allow
your mind to become absorbed in the sounds and rhythm of each line. Let the
mantra draw your awareness to the heart center or the eyebrow center, whichever
feels most natural to you, and use that center as the focal point of your
awareness. If you are reciting the mantra to help with a health problem, focus
your awareness at the navel center.
At some point you may wish to do more repetitions in a given
period of time. There are many reasons for wanting to do this. You may be going
through a period of poor health or low energy; you may be seeking a deeper
sense of security or confidence; you may feel stressed or overwhelmed by events
or attachments in your life; your own death, or the death of someone for whom
you are dedicating your practice, may be approaching.
But often the sentiments that draw one to this practice are
prompted less by health issues than by a deep urge to be part of the unfolding
harmony of life itself. The nurturing quality of the mantra acts in the human
mind and heart just as the forces of light, water, and soil act in the life of
a plant. The mantra magnifies the qualities of personality that give our lives
purpose and meaning.
Use a mala (a string of 108 beads) to keep track of your
practice. Treat one complete mala as 100 repetitions of the mantra. A
fulfilling practice is to complete 8,000 repetitions in 40 days. This can be
accomplished by doing one mala in the morning and one in the evening.
Each day, before beginning, remember the seer of the Maha
Mrityunjaya mantra, the sage Vasishtha. Simply bring his spirit to mind, paying
respect to him. Then begin your practice. In time, you may find that the one or
two malas you do each day have become a regular element of your life.
Radiant Vitality
In the end, the many reasons for taking up the practice of
the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra fold into one another. Whether to enhance your life
or to assist in the transition to death, this mantra is ultimately a means for
self-realization. The consciousness it inspires is none other than the deep,
unending consciousness of the indwelling Self.
In this respect, Markandeya’s story is allegorical, a
reminder to us that the temple of human life is the body; that prayers and acts
of worship culminate in meditation; and that the inner lingam which blesses us
with immortality is the energy flowing from the base of the spine to the crown
of the head. Awakening that energy was Markandeya’s act of faith.
Words of another of the ancient sages, Suta, point us in a
similar direction and inspire us to begin our own practice. They make a good
closing to this article.
O sages of good and holy rites, there is no other lord so
merciful as Tryambaka. He is propitiated and delighted easily. Truly, it is
just so with the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. One who is united with it, whatever
may be his plight, shall undoubtedly be liberated from attachment, and by
meditation he shall become one with the infinite itself.
ABOUT Rolf Sovik President and Spiritual Director of the
Himalayan Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice, Rolf Sovik
has studied yoga in the United States, India, and Nepal. He holds degrees in
philosophy, music, Eastern studies, and clinical psychology. Former Co-Director
of the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo, NY he began his practice of yoga in
1972, and was initiated as a pandit in the Himalayan tradition in 1987. He is
the author of Moving Inward, co-author of the award-winning Yoga: Mastering the
Basics, and a contributor to Yoga International.
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