Powerful Mantras 1: Mahamrityunjaya! Part I

In these series of posts I will talk about what are Mantras, why are they so popular all across India and what are the benefit associated with chanting them regularly.

Mantras are basically religious verses which can be as small as a few words or really long to cover hundreds of verses. Most of them are short consisting of a couple verses.

Mantras play a significant role in India and most of practicing Hindus chant some form of Mantras on a regular basis with many people chanting them on daily basis.

Mantras are known to have several religious, spiritual, physical and mental benefits and each Mantra carries it’s own specific energy and set of associated benefits.

In this article I will be covering the origin and benefits of Mahamrityunjaya mantra which is considered to be one of the most powerful and effective mantras of Lord Shiva.

Origin of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra!

Mahamrityunjaya is a really ancient mantra and it’s origin is linked to the story of sage Mrikandu who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He lived with his wife Marudmati and they prayed everyday to Shiva to bless them with a son.

After many years of severe penance and praying, Shiva finally appeared in front of Mrikandu. Shiva said that you were not having a son due to bad karma from previous life. I will now grant you a son but to some effects of the previous Karma there will be condition. You can choose to have either a son who will live a long life but will be of mediocre intelligence or a son who will be one of the most intelligence sage ever but will have a short life of only sixteen years.

Mrikandu thought for a while and then said he will prefer an intelligent son even if he has a short life. Shiva granted the boon and disappeared. Mrikandu and Marudmati were soon blessed with a prodigious son named Markandeya who showed a great liking and aptitude for the scriptures since early age. Mrikandu was amazed when he saw that Markandeya started composing new verses in praise of the gods as he started growing up. However as Markandeya started nearing the age of sixteen Mrikandu became fearful and always looked sad and tense. When Markandeya asked his father why he looked so worried all the time then Mrikandu told him about the prophecy at his birth.

Markandeya told his father that he should not worry as whatever happens is for the best and there is no use of worrying. On the day that Markandeya was going to turn sixteen the whole was worried about the approaching doom. Markandeya went to the Shivaling where he used to pray daily and started chanting the verses he had created in praise of Shiva. The moment he turned sixteen the messenger of Yama the god of Death arrived at the spot he was praying. He saw that the energy surrounding the boy was so intense that he could not step close to him. The messenger went back and told Yama that he was unable to bring back the boy called Markandeya. Yama checked his records and said the boy was destined to die today so he himself will go and collect him.

When Yama arrived at prayer room of Markandeya he could sense that this was no ordinary boy but he was duty bound to take him. He threw is noose on Markandeya and started pulling him. Markandeya did not want to leave his prayer in the middle and clutched the shivaling to resist the pulls of Yama. Immediately the shivaling burst open and Shiva appeared in his fearsome Rudra form and shouted at Yama that how dare he attack his most ardent devotee in the middle of a prayer. Shiva then pierced Yama with his trident and he instantly died. This created panic across the universe as with Yama dead it meant nobody will die and it will create an imbalance in the cycle of life and death. All the gods appeared before Shiva and appealed to him to bring Yama back to life. Shiva agreed with the condition that he will not allow Yama to ever come near Markandeya. Thus Markandeya became immortal and the Mantra which he was chanting when Yama attacked him came to be known as Mahamrityunjaya which means conquering death.

In the next part of Mahamrityunjaya mantra I will be covering what does the mantra signify, what are the benefits of the chanting Mahamrityunjaya and what is the correct way of chanting it.

Om Namah Shivay!