Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra: Meaning & the Markandeya Story
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
The Tryambakam mantra — its words and meaning, the story of Markandeya, and how it is chanted in the homam.
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
The mantra at the heart of the homam is the Tryambakam mantra from the Rig Veda — revealed by Lord Shiva to Sage Markandeya to conquer death itself.
The Tryambakam mantra
Sugandhim Pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat”
We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva, fragrant and nourishing all beings. As the ripe cucumber is freed from its bondage to the creeper, may He free us from death, for the sake of immortality.
Markandeya and the conquest of death
The boy-sage Markandeya was destined to die at sixteen. On that day he embraced the Shiva Linga and chanted this mantra with all his heart. When Yama, the lord of death, came for him, Lord Shiva appeared and conquered death on his behalf — granting Markandeya eternal youth. The mantra is therefore also called the Mritasanjivini (life-restoring) mantra.
Recitation in the homam
In the homam the mantra is chanted a prescribed number of times — from 108 up to 1,25,000 — with each repetition offered into the fire. Karishye’s purohits chant with correct metre, often in groups, to complete the chosen count. See the scale & japa count and the procedure.
Book Maha Mrityunjaya Homam with Karishye
Verified Telugu purohits, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra chanted the prescribed number of times, and complete eco-friendly samagri included — for health, longevity and protection, across Telangana & Andhra Pradesh.
Frequently asked questions
Q.What is the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra?
The Tryambakam mantra from the Rig Veda — “Om Tryambakam Yajamahe...” — a prayer to Lord Shiva for healing, protection and liberation from death.
Q.What does the mantra mean?
We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva; as a ripe cucumber is freed from its creeper, may He free us from death for the sake of immortality.
Q.Why is it called the Mritasanjivini mantra?
Because it is believed to restore life — Lord Shiva gave it to Sage Markandeya to conquer his destined death.