श्री महामृत्युंजय मंत्र

Verse

What is Shri Mahamrityunjaya Mantra?

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is Rigveda 7.59.12, addressed to Tryambaka—Rudra, later widely identified with Shiva. It asks for release from the bondage of death like a ripe cucumber released from its stem, while not being separated from immortality.

Vedic source and name

The verse appears at Rigveda 7.59.12 and is associated with Vasishtha Maitravaruni in the Rigvedic tradition. The familiar names Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and Tryambakam Mantra belong to its later devotional reception. The prefixed Om is customary in recitation but is not part of the Rigvedic verse text.

What the imagery means

Urvaruka is commonly understood as a ripe cucumber or gourd that separates naturally from its stalk. The image is a prayer for liberation from mortal bondage without losing amrita—often translated as immortality or the deathless. Translation choices vary, so the meaning shown below is interpretive rather than definitive.

Practice and health note

The mantra is often recited during Shiva worship, periods of fear, illness, bereavement, or personal reflection. These are devotional uses. Chanting can accompany care and spiritual support, but it does not diagnose, prevent, or treat illness and should never replace professional medical attention.