Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is chanted rigorously to seek blessings and protection from the almighty to overcome untimely death and other mishaps.

The powerful Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is as follows:

“Om tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pustivardhanam,

urvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrtyor muksiya maamritaat”.

This mantra is known by other names like Shiv mantra, Rudra mantra, Tryambakam mantra, and Mrita Sanjeevini as the mantra is believed to restore life. According to the legends, Sage Markandeya created Mahamrityunjaya Mantra to win over death. The origin and importance of this effective mantra can be found in the ancient Hindu scripture Markandeya Purana.

In the scripture it is mentioned that Sage couples Mrikandu and Marudvati were childless for many years hence they performed penance and worshipped Lord Shiva with the hope of getting a child as a boon. Pleased by the devotion of the sage couples, Lord Shiva appeared in front of them. He gave them two options wherein the first was to have a child who was intelligent but with a short lifespan of 16 years while the other was to have a child with a longer lifespan but with no intelligence. The sage couples decided to go with the first option and Lord Shiva granted the boon.

The time came when Marudvati gave birth to a baby boy and he was named Markandeya. The couples decided not to tell Markandeya about his short life but as the days passed and he was about to reach the age of 16, Markandeya saw that his parents were leading a sad life. Markandeya approached his parents and asked the reason for their sadness and the sage couples told them about the boon of Lord Shiva.

Knowing the truth, Markandeya on his 16th birthday isolated himself in Shiv temple and started worshipping Lord Shiva. When Lord Yama’s disciples came to take the life of Markandeya they could not do so as he was completely involved in his prayers. So, the disciples informed Lord Yama about the same. Lord Yama himself came down to take the life of Markandeya but he refused and wound his hands around the Shiv lingam.

Lord Yama threw his noose towards Markandeya but the death rope circled the lingam and Lord Shiva came out of it in rage and killed Yama for his doing. Lord Shiva said that Markandeya’s belief in the Lord saved from untimely death and was granted a boon to remain a sixteen year old eternal sage.

Thus, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra has gained prominence and is regarded to be one of the most powerful mantras in yoga. It is very effective in resuming good health and filling life with peace and contentment.