🕉 Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is also called the «Mrita Sanjivani». In disease, fear and danger of untimely death it is chanted as a prayer to Shiva for protection and long life.

📖 Full text — with meaning

Tap «Roman (English) script» to see the original Devanagari text.

🔍 Word-by-word meaning

📿 Japa counter (mala of 108)

📅 Next auspicious days (from our panchang)

• 23 Oct (Friday) — Pradosh Vrat
• 26 Oct (Monday)
• 2 Nov (Monday)
• 6 Nov (Friday) — Pradosh Vrat
• 7 Nov (Saturday) — Masik Shivaratri
• 9 Nov (Monday)

Dates are for Delhi sunrise; see today's panchang for your city.

🪔 How to chant / recite

1. Time: Morning brahma-muhurta or after bath; Monday and Pradosh are special.
2. Seat & direction: Kusha/woollen asana, facing east or north.
3. Mala: Rudraksha mala; keep it in a gomukhi (cloth bag) while chanting.
4. Count: 108 daily (one mala); 11 malas in trouble; a 1.25-lakh anushthan under a qualified acharya.
5. Pronunciation: «Tryambakam» = Tryam-bakam; a slight pause at the avagraha in «Ma'mritat»; clear and slow.
6. Abhishek: Offering water/milk on the Shivalinga while chanting is customary.

🛕 Puja vidhi (step by step)

🧺 Items needed

• Shivalinga or picture of Shiva-parivar
• Pure water and raw milk (abhishek)
• Bilva leaves (three-leaved, unbroken)
• Dhatura, aak flowers (as per tradition)
• White sandalwood, bhasma, akshata
• Incense, ghee lamp
• Fruits and sweets as bhog
• Rudraksha mala (for japa)

🪷 Procedure

1. Bathe and wear clean clothes; clean the puja place and spread a fresh cloth on the altar (chowki).
2. Do achamana (sip water three times) and purify hands and mouth; sit on an asana and calm the mind.
3. Light a lamp of ghee or sesame oil — by tradition the lamp is kept to the deity's right.
4. Take water, akshata (unbroken rice) and a flower in the right hand and make the sankalpa — your name, gotra, place, date and the purpose of the puja, spoken or in the mind; then let the water fall to the ground.
5. First remember Shri Ganesha (Om Gam Ganapataye Namah).
6. Do abhishek on the Shivalinga with water, then milk (and if possible curd, ghee, honey, sugar — panchamrit), then water again, chanting «Om Namah Shivaya».
7. Offer white sandalwood and bhasma, akshata, bilva leaves (smooth side towards the linga), dhatura and aak flowers.
8. Show incense and lamp, offer bhog; then chant the mantra / recite Shiv Chalisa / Rudrashtakam.
9. Sing «Om Jai Shiv Omkara»; the parikrama of a Shivalinga is half — the outlet (somasutra) is not crossed.
10. Finally perform aarti, offer pushpanjali (flowers) and do parikrama (or turn around in your place).
11. Ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja, distribute the prasad and take it yourself.

⚠️ Rules & precautions

• Ketaki flowers and tulsi are traditionally not offered to Shiva; turmeric-kumkum is offered to Mother Parvati, not on the linga.
• Bilva leaves should be unbroken; a bilva leaf can be washed and offered again.
• Monday, Pradosh (trayodashi) and Masik Shivaratri are special days for Shiva.
• Water/milk offered on the linga should not fall at the feet — pour it into a plant.

📜 Story / origin

According to a story, Markandeya, son of Sage Mrikandu, was destined to live only sixteen years; he embraced the Shivalinga and worshipped with this mantra, and when Yama came, Shiva himself appeared and protected him — hence it is called the Mrityunjaya (death-conquering) mantra.

🌟 Benefits (as per tradition)

• A prayer for protection and long life in disease, fear and danger.
• The custom of chanting with a sankalpa in the name of a sick family member.
• Peace of mind and freedom from the fear of death.

These are traditional beliefs described in scriptures; results are understood to depend on faith, discipline and one's own actions.

❓ Frequently asked questions