According to Hindu mythology, there once was a wise old sage in a forest called Mrikandu who lived with his wife Marudvati. Childless, they undertook a long penance, in the hopes of appeasing the gods and earning the boon of a child. Their efforts were rewarded and very soon Lord Shiva appeared as a vision, blessing the sage with an option to either opt for a child that will be wise and spiritually virtuous but would only live for a mere sixteen years or a child that will live long and healthy without possessing much intellect. The couple chose the former and very soon Marudvati gave birth to a boy called Markandeya.
As Markandeya approached his sixteen birthday, his parents grew ever sad, when he confronted them, they finally gave in and told him the truth. Markandeya, already an accomplished yogi by then decided to rededicate himself to practice. On his sixteenth birthday, he closed himself in a temple and started meditating next to a Shiva Lingam. When the messengers of death came to take him away, they found him focussed in prayer and thus could not bring him back.
Yama, the lord of death upon hearing this decided to personally get the boy himself. Markandeya when urged by the lord of death to follow him and let natural course takes its time flung himself on the Shiva lingam refusing to leave. In a last-ditch effort, Yama threw his noose around they boy, only for it to encircle the Shiva lingam as well, to which he had no authority to do so. Shiva then appeared and killed Yama with a blow from his foot. Yama was eventually resurrected after appeals from the other gods to Shiva, who were concerned that the death of Yama would upset the balance of the universe. Shiva who was very pleased with the devotion of the young yogi blessed him to remain sixteen eternally.
Lord Shiv was known by many names but Markandeya referred to him as Mrityunjaya and thus came the name.
Mantra And Its Meaning
“Aum Trayambakam Yajaamahe sungandhim pushtivardhanam urvaarukamive bandhanaat
mrityormukshiya maamritaat”
The mantra when translated in English means, “We worship the three eyed one, who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings; may he liberate me from death, for the sake of immortality, even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage of the creeper.”
The Maha Mrityunjaya Jap is considered by many to be the most powerful of the Shiva mantras. One can find its verse in the Rig Veda and has been chanted to ward off calamities, bestowing longevity and preventing an untimely demise. It also is chanted to remove fears and to heal holistically and is thus often recommended to be performed by medical professionals so they can channel an infinite reserve of energy and thus prevent burnout.
How To Perform The Maha Mrityunjaya Jap?
The most well-known method in performing the Maha Mrityunjaya Jap is to chant it 108 times. Many people will perform the chant on a 108-bead rosary known as the Rudraksha Rosary which is used to count the number of chants of the mantra.
In Hinduism, the number 108 is quite significant. Separately the digits of 1, 0, and 8 signify ‘oneness’, ‘nothingness’ and ‘everything’. This is a symbolic reference to the universe that is one, empty and infinite, all at the same time.
108 is a frequent number in the Hindu faith, as evident by the number of Upanishads which is 108.
All powerful mantras in Hinduism almost ask to be chanted 108 times, and the Maha Mrtiyunjaya Jap has often been prescribed to be chanted 108 times so as to surround yourself with the protection of Shiva powerful divine energy.
Benefits To Performing The Maha Mrityunjaya Jap
It is recommended to chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Jap early in the morning. When chanted with commitment and absolute devotion, the mind is capable of channelling negative and evil thoughts that lingers around in one’s mind. It is often believed that the Maha Mrityunjaya Jap is a mantra for moksha. You, the devotee seek blessings from Lord Shiva and he in return blesses you with longevity and prevents any thing untimely to occur to you and your loved ones. The benefits to the Maha Mrityunjaya Jap are numerous and below is some of the more common ones often highlighted to portray its benefits in one’s life.
1. Chanting the mantra can help the sick. Often devotes of lord Shiva will chant the mantra next to someone sick, in order for Lord Shiva divine blessing to be bestowed upon him or her restoring their health.
2. It is believed by many the dedicated and devoted chanting of the mantra will prevent accidents to occur as lord Shiva divine aura will surround and protect you one from harm.
3. Practitioners of the mantra, often state they feel at peace and their spiritual self undergoes a sense of relaxation and being at one with the holy Shiva. Keeping them calm and relaxed, physically, mentally and spiritually.
4. Many people in the world chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Jap to achieve spiritual upliftment and for many has provided them the answers they seek in life through this process.
5. Astrologers often prescribed the chanting of the mantra to people suffering from some ‘dosha’ in their ‘Kundli’.
6. Some people have been known to chant the mantra to ward off financial troubles.
7. People suffering from bad dreams or suffering from an inability to sleep have often chanted the mantra. It is a well-known method even in the western world that counting is a common tactic used by people to fall asleep. Similarly, the repetitive chanting of the Maha Mrityunjaya Jap often helps people to sleep, imbued with the divine blessing of lord Shiva. It has been known to help many rid of their bad dreams and sleeplessness by clearing the mind of doubt and calming it to a state of mental bliss.
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