Mahamrituanjaya Mantra - an explanation

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To all Fellow-seekers and Devotees -

Saadar Pranaam.

The supreme and most potent power of powers are the two universal and glorious Vedic prayers which are the Gayatri Mantra and the Maha Mrituanjaya Mantra.

Gayatri Mantra (Rigveda 3:62:10; Yajurveda 3:35; 36:3; 22:9; and Samaveda 1462) -

This prayer is for higher mental power that leads to the brilliant light of the highest spiritual illumination.

MAHA MRITUANJAYA MANTRA (Rigveda 7:59:12; Yajurveda 3:60; Atharvaveda 14:1:70) -

TRYAMBAKAM YAJAAMAHE SUGANDHIN PUSHTI VARDHANAM

URVAARUK MIV BANDHANAAT MRITYOR MUKSHIYA MAAMRITAAT

Meaning:

Tryambak we worship, sweet augmenter of prosperity.

As from its stem the cucumber,

So I may be released from death,

not reft of immortality.

Grifith's translation (first published in 1889)

NOTE: SAGE VASISHTHA WAS THE SEER OF THIS MANTRA

In this prayer the seeker contemplates upon Rudra (Tryambak, Shiva, Shankara) that bestows us the death that comes when he plucks us as a ripe fruit from the stem. Herein the devotee prays for a healthy and long life, and the death which follows at a ripe age. This Mantra earnestly recited confers upon the seeker the boon of blessedness, the benediction of bliss, as the reward for genuine spiritual endeavour and leads the seeker into the realm of liberty, light and love, where there is no darkness, no illness, no adversaries, no misfortunes, no fear and no untimely death.

Except Yajurveda (36:3) where the Gayatri Mantra starts with "Bhur, Bhuva, Swa" (the earth, the sky, the heaven), this Mantra starts with "Tat Savitur Vareniyam ...", in all other verses.It shows that "Bhur, Bhuva, Swa" - was added before the Gayatri Mantra at a later stage.

Similarly, no where is the mention of "Joon Sah" or any other Beej Mantras before the Mah Mrituanjay Mantra, in any of the Vedas. They were also added before this Mantra at a later stage when they first appeared in the Tantric literature.

OM (AUM) is the first word that God of all had uttered. OM identifies God in His fullness - in His transcendence and immanence.

AUM - the three-syllable word of Mantric significance symbolizing the manifestation of Brahman.It is at once an invocation, a benediction, an affirmation and a promise.

No wonder sage Manu declares in Manu Smriti (2:74:5): "Say 'OM'! at the beginning and at the end of (reciting) the Veda, for (the recitation) slips away without 'OM' before it and dissolves (without 'OM') after it."

-Translated by Wendy Doniger

Without 'OM' no Mantra is complete and sacred. Therefore one must say 'OM' before the Japa of the Vedic Maha Mrituanjay Mantra (also with all other Mantras as well).

The Mantras Haun, Joon, Sah etc. are the seed or Beej Mantras. These seeds are sometimes used before and/before and after the Vedic Maha Mrituanjay Mantra to make it more potent (or perhaps to make it complicated and above reach of a common person).

These seeds can also be used on their own or in conjunction with each other Beej Mantras. Each Beej is like an atom, very powerful and impregnable spiritual armour, a veritable fortress that guards and protects its votary herein and hereafter.

Within them abides the condensed spiritual energy which sometimes can surpass the the nuclear energy in an atom.

These Beej may be of one syllable (Akshar) or many, e.g.

One-Akshar: HAUN

Three-Akshar: OM JOON SAH

Four-Akshar: OM HAUN JOON SAH or OM VAM JOON SAH

Five-Akshar: OM HAUN JOON SAH OM and so on ...

Interestingly the book "Maha Mrituanjay Sadhana and Siddhi" states a 52-Akshar Mantra in it.

Similarly, there are hundreds of Beej Mantras which either used with other Mantras or independently in their own right.

To those persons who are not sure as to which Maha Mritunjaya Mantra to use, I personally find that the one without Beej, or with Beej, or the Beej on their own can all be beneficial if recited regularly and sincerely and with complete surrender to Lord Shiva.

I had a very bad heart condition. I, therefore, recited the Maha Mrituanja Mantra as appears in the Vedas 1.8 Million time during the period March 1989 and January 1999. After that I do One Mala Japa of "OM HAUN JOON SAH" on daily basis.

A close relative of mine was on death bed when he was 65 years of age.Since then he started doing regular Japa of Maha Mrituanja Mantra. It was only last month that he passed away after he had moved to Canada from here in the U.K.

There is a useful Pauranic Mantra called Mrituanja Mantra. It runs as follows:

Mrintunjaaya Rudraaya Neelkanthaaya Shambhave,

Amriteshaaya Sarvaaya Mahaadevaaya Te Namah,

Mrintujaaya Mahaarudra Traahi Maam Sharnaagatam,

Janam Mritu Jaraa Vyaadhi Peerh tam Karam Bandhane.

Please forgive me for any wrong idea I might have expressed due to the little knowledge I possess. Thank you.

REFERENCES:

1. The Hymns of the Rig Veda by Ralph T.H.Griffth; Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi

2. Yajur Veda

3. Sama Veda

4. Atharva Veda

All by Devi Chand; Munshi Ram Manohar Lal, New Delhi

5. The Call of the Vedas by K.M.Munshi & R.R.Diwakar; Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay

6. The Laws of Manu Trans. by Wendy Doniger; Penguin Books New Delhi

7. Maha Mritunjaya - Sadhna & Siddhi (HINDI) by Dr. Rudra Dev Tripathi;

Ranjan Publications, New Delhi.

Kind Regards -

RAJ SHARDA (U.K.)

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Thank you for the informative post. That is certainly the first time I've seen the MM Mantra transliterated this way. Are you sure you got it right?

 

Mantras should be learned directly from the mouth of one's Guru, though a Guru Parampara lineage, not from books.

 

BOM MAHADEV!

 

Surya

-

Raj Sharda

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:12 AM

Re: Mahamrituanjaya Mantra - an explanation

 

 

To all Fellow-seekers and Devotees -

Saadar Pranaam.

 

The supreme and most potent power of powers are the two universal and glorious Vedic prayers which are the Gayatri Mantra and the Maha Mrituanjaya Mantra.

 

Gayatri Mantra (Rigveda 3:62:10; Yajurveda 3:35; 36:3; 22:9; and Samaveda 1462) -

This prayer is for higher mental power that leads to the brilliant light of the highest spiritual illumination.

 

MAHA MRITUANJAYA MANTRA (Rigveda 7:59:12; Yajurveda 3:60; Atharvaveda 14:1:70) -

 

TRYAMBAKAM YAJAAMAHE SUGANDHIN PUSHTI VARDHANAM

URVAARUK MIV BANDHANAAT MRITYOR MUKSHIYA MAAMRITAAT

 

Meaning:

 

Tryambak we worship, sweet augmenter of prosperity.

As from its stem the cucumber,

So I may be released from death,

not reft of immortality.

Grifith's translation (first published in 1889)

 

NOTE: SAGE VASISHTHA WAS THE SEER OF THIS MANTRA

 

In this prayer the seeker contemplates upon Rudra (Tryambak, Shiva, Shankara) that bestows us the death that comes when he plucks us as a ripe fruit from the stem. Herein the devotee prays for a healthy and long life, and the death which follows at a ripe age. This Mantra earnestly recited confers upon the seeker the boon of blessedness, the benediction of bliss, as the reward for genuine spiritual endeavour and leads the seeker into the realm of liberty, light and love, where there is no darkness, no illness, no adversaries, no misfortunes, no fear and no untimely death.

 

Except Yajurveda (36:3) where the Gayatri Mantra starts with "Bhur, Bhuva, Swa" (the earth, the sky, the heaven), this Mantra starts with "Tat Savitur Vareniyam ...", in all other verses.It shows that "Bhur, Bhuva, Swa" - was added before the Gayatri Mantra at a later stage.

 

Similarly, no where is the mention of "Joon Sah" or any other Beej Mantras before the Mah Mrituanjay Mantra, in any of the Vedas. They were also added before this Mantra at a later stage when they first appeared in the Tantric literature.

 

OM (AUM) is the first word that God of all had uttered. OM identifies God in His fullness - in His transcendence and immanence.

 

AUM - the three-syllable word of Mantric significance symbolizing the manifestation of Brahman.It is at once an invocation, a benediction, an affirmation and a promise.

 

No wonder sage Manu declares in Manu Smriti (2:74:5): "Say 'OM'! at the beginning and at the end of (reciting) the Veda, for (the recitation) slips away without 'OM' before it and dissolves (without 'OM') after it."

-Translated by Wendy Doniger

 

Without 'OM' no Mantra is complete and sacred. Therefore one must say 'OM' before the Japa of the Vedic Maha Mrituanjay Mantra (also with all other Mantras as well).

 

The Mantras Haun, Joon, Sah etc. are the seed or Beej Mantras. These seeds are sometimes used before and/before and after the Vedic Maha Mrituanjay Mantra to make it more potent (or perhaps to make it complicated and above reach of a common person).

 

These seeds can also be used on their own or in conjunction with each other Beej Mantras. Each Beej is like an atom, very powerful and impregnable spiritual armour, a veritable fortress that guards and protects its votary herein and hereafter.

Within them abides the condensed spiritual energy which sometimes can surpass the the nuclear energy in an atom.

 

These Beej may be of one syllable (Akshar) or many, e.g.

One-Akshar: HAUN

Three-Akshar: OM JOON SAH

Four-Akshar: OM HAUN JOON SAH or OM VAM JOON SAH

Five-Akshar: OM HAUN JOON SAH OM and so on ...

 

Interestingly the book "Maha Mrituanjay Sadhana and Siddhi" states a 52-Akshar Mantra in it.

 

Similarly, there are hundreds of Beej Mantras which either used with other Mantras or independently in their own right.

 

To those persons who are not sure as to which Maha Mritunjaya Mantra to use, I personally find that the one without Beej, or with Beej, or the Beej on their own can all be beneficial if recited regularly and sincerely and with complete surrender to Lord Shiva.

 

I had a very bad heart condition. I, therefore, recited the Maha Mrituanja Mantra as appears in the Vedas 1.8 Million time during the period March 1989 and January 1999. After that I do One Mala Japa of "OM HAUN JOON SAH" on daily basis.

 

A close relative of mine was on death bed when he was 65 years of age.Since then he started doing regular Japa of Maha Mrituanja Mantra. It was only last month that he passed away after he had moved to Canada from here in the U.K.

 

There is a useful Pauranic Mantra called Mrituanja Mantra. It runs as follows:

 

Mrintunjaaya Rudraaya Neelkanthaaya Shambhave,

Amriteshaaya Sarvaaya Mahaadevaaya Te Namah,

Mrintujaaya Mahaarudra Traahi Maam Sharnaagatam,

Janam Mritu Jaraa Vyaadhi Peerh tam Karam Bandhane.

 

Please forgive me for any wrong idea I might have expressed due to the little knowledge I possess. Thank you.

 

REFERENCES:

 

1. The Hymns of the Rig Veda by Ralph T.H.Griffth; Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi

2. Yajur Veda

3. Sama Veda

4. Atharva Veda

All by Devi Chand; Munshi Ram Manohar Lal, New Delhi

5. The Call of the Vedas by K.M.Munshi & R.R.Diwakar; Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay

6. The Laws of Manu Trans. by Wendy Doniger; Penguin Books New Delhi

7. Maha Mritunjaya - Sadhna & Siddhi (HINDI) by Dr. Rudra Dev Tripathi;

Ranjan Publications, New Delhi.

 

 

Kind Regards -

 

RAJ SHARDA (U.K.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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