Lord Shiva Invocation - Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Meaning and Audio

Aum Trayambakam
Yajamahe,
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam;
Urva Rukamiva Bandhanaat,
Mrityor Mokshiye Maamritat.

Summary of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

We worship Shiva - The Three-Eyed Lord
Whose eyes are the Sun, Moon and Fire
Who is fragrant and nourishes all beings;
May he protect us from all disease, poverty and fear
And bless us with prosperity, longevity and health.

May he liberate us from death,
For the sake of immortality;
As the ripened cucumber is automatically liberated,
From its bondage from the creeper when it fully ripens.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva (part of the hindu trinity, the lord of destruction, penance and meditation) for help in overcoming "death". The seeker is more concerned with avoiding spiritual "death" rather than physical "death". The mantra is a request to Lord Shiva to lead us to the mountain of meditation, which is indeed Lord Shiva's abode. Legend has it that Lord Shiva appeared before his devotee Markandeya (who was destined to die at the age of sixteen) and stopped his aging process a few days before he was supposed to turn sixteen. Thus, death would never be able to claim him! Hence, this mantra is also referred to as the Markandeya mantra in classical hindu studies. The mantra should ideally be repeated 108 times, twice daily, at dawn and at dusk.

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in Sanskrit

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(visit http://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/mahamantra.php for mp3 audio)

Listen to the Mrityunjaya Mantra (mp3 260K): This rendition of the Mrityunjaya Mantra is from the "Chants of India" CD by Ravi Shankar. This CD is a must for anyone interested in exploring other mantras. All the tracks are excellent, including the Gayatri Mantra.Chants of India by Ravi Shankar
New! Listen to the Mrityunjaya Mantra (mp3 204K): This rendition of the Mrityunjaya Mantra is a short extract of a 5:21min rendition from the "Mahamantras" CD by Pandit Jasraj. This CD contains several other mahamantras dedicated to Ganesha, Lakshmi and many more!

Paarvati Devi Mantra

Sarva-mangal-maangalye, Shive Sarvaarth-saadhike
Sharanye-triyambake Gauri, Naaraayani Namo-stute

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके |
शरण्येत्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणी नमोsस्तुते ||

The Goddess Paarvati (or Gauri), the consort of Lord Shiva, is praised through this mantra. Paarvati is the one who brings good fortune and prosperity (-mangal-maangalye) to all (-sarva) her devotees. She is the one who is always and forever (-sarvaarth) accompanying Lord Shiva in all his meditations (-saadhike). O beautiful and fair-colored one (-gauri), please give us refuge (-sharanye) in the protection of the three-eyed one (-triyambake). We bow to you repeatedly as we sing the praises (namo-stute) of our protector, Goddess Paarvati (-naarayani), the consort of Lord Shiva.

New! Listen to the Paarvati Devi Mantra (mp3 224K): This rendition of the Paarvati devi Mantra is a short extract from the "Mahamantras" CD by Pandit Jasraj.

(source : http://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/mahamantra.php)

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MAHA MRITYUNJAYA MANTRA - ITS MEANING and AUDIO

Summary of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in Sanskrit

Paarvati Devi Mantra

Comments from our readers (Please scroll down to submit your thoughts, e.g. how did these pages personally affect you? what aspect - audio, meaning, history of mantras did you like most? Thanks! )