Mahamrityunjaya Mantra with Meaningमहामृत्युंजय मंत्र
The Rigveda’s prayer to the three-eyed Shiva: in place of fear, strength.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a verse of the Rigveda (7.59.12), seen by the rishi Vasishtha and recited in the Yajurveda as well. It is addressed to Tryambaka, the three-eyed one, Shiva.
Its name means the great victory over death. The image at its heart is gentle: a ripe cucumber that falls from its vine without struggle.
Families turn to it in illness and in fear, for a loved one or for themselves, and it is chanted through Sawan, on Mondays and on Maha Shivratri.
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्॥
Om tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam,
urvarukamiva bandhanan mrityor mukshiya mamritat.
We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant, who nourishes all life. As the ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may I be freed from death, and not from immortality.
The prayer is not to escape life but to be released from the fear and grip of death, as gently as ripe fruit leaves the vine, and never to be parted from what is deathless.
Word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| त्र्यम्बकम् | tryambakam | the three-eyed one, Shiva |
| यजामहे | yajamahe | we worship |
| सुगन्धिम् | sugandhim | fragrant, whose presence is like a fragrance |
| पुष्टिवर्धनम् | pushtivardhanam | who nourishes and makes strong |
| उर्वारुकम् | urvarukam | a cucumber, a ripe gourd |
| इव | iva | like |
| बन्धनात् | bandhanat | from its bond, the vine |
| मृत्योः | mrityoh | from death |
| मुक्षीय | mukshiya | may I be freed |
| मा | ma | not |
| अमृतात् | amritat | from immortality |
How and when to chant
Sit facing east or north, with a rudraksha mala if you have one. Chant it one hundred and eight times for a full mala, or eleven times a day through Sawan, slowly and with the meaning in mind. You can chant it for someone else: hold them in your mind as you say it. In illness it is a prayer for strength alongside medical care, never in place of it.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra come from?
It is verse 7.59.12 of the Rigveda, seen by the rishi Vasishtha, and is also recited in the Yajurveda. It is addressed to Tryambaka, Shiva.
What does the cucumber in the mantra mean?
A ripe cucumber leaves its vine on its own, at the right time and without struggle. The mantra asks to be released from death’s hold in that same natural way, and not to be separated from immortality.
Can I chant it for someone else?
Yes. Many families chant it for a loved one who is ill or afraid. Keep that person in mind as you chant.
When should it be chanted?
Mondays, Pradosh evenings, the month of Sawan and Maha Shivratri are traditional, and any time of illness or fear.
How many times should it be chanted?
One hundred and eight times for a full mala, or eleven times daily, for example through Sawan.
Keep the count in the app. The Bhakti Angan japa counter keeps your mala count with a tap for each repetition, alongside the daily Panchang and darshan.
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