The great death-conquering mantra of Lord Shiva — a prayer for healing, protection and liberation, likened to a ripe cucumber released gently from its vine.
📜 Read this text in your script — same words, your letters
Om. We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant, who nourishes all beings. As a ripe cucumber slips free of its stem, may he release us from death — never from immortality.
Word meanings
त्र्यम्बकं — त्रिनेत्र शिव · यजामहे — पूजते हैं
सुगन्धिं — दिव्य सुगंधयुक्त · पुष्टिवर्धनम् — पोषण बढ़ाने वाले
उर्वारुकम् इव — पकी ककड़ी की भाँति · बन्धनात् — बंधन से
मृत्योः मुक्षीय — मृत्यु से छुड़ाएँ · मा अमृतात् — अमरता से नहीं
tryambakam — the three-eyed (Shiva) · yajamahe — we worship
sugandhim — sweetly fragrant · pushti-vardhanam — increaser of nourishment
urvarukam iva — like a ripe cucumber · bandhanan — from bondage
mrityor mukshiya — free us from death · ma amritat — not from immortality
tryambakaṃ — the three-eyed (Shiva) · yajāmahe — we worship
sugandhiṃ — sweetly fragrant · puṣṭi-vardhanam — increaser of nourishment
urvārukam iva — like a ripe cucumber · bandhanān — from bondage
mṛtyor mukṣīya — free us from death · mā amṛtāt — not from immortality
The image is gentle: as a cucumber ripens and drops from the vine without any struggle, may our release from mortal bondage be just as natural.
When it is recited: Chanted for health and recovery, on birthdays, during illness, on Mondays, Pradosh and Shivaratri, and in Mrityunjaya japa or homa. Often recited 108 times.
Traditional significance: Tradition holds that this mantra invokes Shiva as Tryambaka, the three-eyed one, to free the devotee from fear of death and untimely misfortune, and ultimately from the cycle of rebirth itself.
Questions
When is the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra chanted?
Any time, but it is especially associated with Mondays, Pradosh, Shivaratri, illness and recovery, and long journeys. Many chant a daily round of 108.
What does “Tryambaka” mean?
“The three-eyed one” — Shiva, whose third eye represents the light of awareness that sees beyond birth and death.