The great death-conquering mantra of Lord Shiva - complete Sanskrit text with Roman transliteration, word-by-word meaning and English translation. Om Tryambakam Yajamahe.
We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva (Tryambakam) who is fragrant (Sugandhim) and who nourishes and sustains all beings (Pushtivardhanam). Just as a ripe cucumber is naturally freed from its vine (Urvaarukamiva Bandhanan), may he liberate us from the bondage of death (Mrityormukshiya) - and not separate us from immortality (Maamritat).
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ॐ | Om | The sacred primordial syllable - the sound of the universe and the name of the Supreme. |
| त्र्यम्बकम् | Tryambakam | "The three-eyed one" - Lord Shiva, whose three eyes represent the Sun, Moon, and Fire (or past, present, future). |
| यजामहे | Yajamahe | "We worship / we adore" - we offer our reverence and devotion. |
| सुगन्धिम् | Sugandhim | "The fragrant one" - who pervades creation with his divine fragrance, representing the quality of goodness (sattva). |
| पुष्टिवर्धनम् | Pushtivardhanam | "Who nourishes and increases" - who nourishes all beings and increases their prosperity, strength and spiritual merit. |
| उर्वारुकमिव | Urvaarukamiva | "Like a cucumber / gourd" - just as a ripe cucumber naturally separates from the vine without effort. |
| बन्धनात् | Bandhanan | "From bondage" - from the bondage of samsara (the cycle of birth and death) and all material attachments. |
| मृत्योः | Mrityoh | "From death" - from the grip of Mrityu (the god of death); from the cycle of mortality. |
| मुक्षीय | Mukshiya | "May I be liberated / freed" - may I attain moksha (liberation); may he release me. |
| मा | Ma | "Not" - the negative particle; do not (separate me from). |
| अमृतात् | Amritat | "From immortality" - from amrita (the nectar of immortality); from the deathless divine state. |
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, also known as the Tryambakam Mantra or the Great Death-Conquering Mantra, is one of the most powerful and ancient Vedic hymns, found in the Rigveda (7.59.12) and the Yajurveda. Dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Tryambaka - "the three-eyed one" - this 32-syllable mantra is believed to conquer fear, disease, and ultimately death itself. The sage Vasishtha is credited as the rishi of this mantra, which has been chanted continuously in Hindu temples and homes for over 3,000 years.
The mantra uses the metaphor of a ripe cucumber separating naturally from its vine - "urvaarukamiva bandhanan" - to describe liberation from the cycle of birth and death with grace and completeness rather than through violent severing. "Sugandhim pushtivardhanam" praises Shiva as the divine fragrance that nourishes all beings. The phrase "mrityor mukshiya maamritat" asks for release from death and the granting of immortality (amrita), connecting it to India's mythological tradition of the Samudra Manthan and the nectar of immortality.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is recited 108 times (one mala) during Rudra Abhishek ceremonies at Shiva temples across India, particularly at Jyotirlinga shrines such as Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi) and Somnath (Gujarat). It is chanted during critical illness, surgeries, and times of danger. Modern research in the fields of sound therapy and psychoacoustics at institutions including AIIMS and various Indian yoga universities has explored the neurological effects of rhythmic Vedic chanting, finding correlations with reduced cortisol levels and improved focus.