The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is a single verse of the Rigveda, hymn 7.59, verse 12. It is also called the Tryambaka mantra from its opening word, tryambaka, which means “three-eyed” and names Rudra, whom tradition identifies with Shiva. The verse is traditionally credited to the sage Vasishtha and also appears in the Yajurveda. The name Mahamrityunjaya, “the great conqueror of death”, is the later epithet by which Shiva and the verse are known.
The mantra is short but its image is vivid. The verse asks to be released from death “like the urvaruka from its stalk”. The urvaruka is a cucumber-like fruit that, when ripe, drops free from its vine without any tearing. The wish expressed is not to avoid mortality in a harsh way but to leave the bond naturally and fully ripe, and towards the immortal.
On this page you will find the mantra in Devanagari with a simple transliteration, a word-by-word glossary, notes on how it is chanted, what tradition says about it, and a few frequent questions. Related Shiva texts are linked below, and Maha Shivaratri is the festival most associated with Shiva.
The text, transliteration and meaning
The verse is shown as it stands in the Rigveda. The glossary below takes the words one at a time so you can see how the meaning is built.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tryambakam | the three-eyed one (Rudra, identified with Shiva) |
| yajamahe | we worship, we offer honour to |
| sugandhim | fragrant, sweet-scented |
| pushtivardhanam | one who nourishes and increases well-being |
| urvarukam | the urvaruka, a cucumber-like fruit |
| iva | like, as |
| bandhanat | from its stalk, from bondage |
| mrityoh | from death |
| mukshiya | may I be freed |
| mamritat | not from the immortal (ma amritat) |
Rigveda 7.59.12
त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhananmrityormukshiya mamritat
MeaningWe worship the three-eyed Lord, who is fragrant and who nourishes growth. Like the urvaruka fruit from its stalk, may I be freed from death, and not from immortality.
Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, page “ऋग्वेदः सूक्तं ७.५९”. Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse.
When and how it is traditionally recited
The mantra is chanted on a japa mala of 108 beads, often in multiples such as 108, 1,008 or, in formal rites, larger numbers set by a priest. Many devotees sit quietly at dawn, and Mondays are a favourite day because they are associated with Shiva. It is also recited in temples during abhisheka, the ritual bathing of the linga.
Families often chant it at moments of illness or anxiety within the household, or on birthdays. This is a matter of custom and feeling, and practices differ by region, family and teacher. A short reading takes under a minute, so it fits into a daily routine without difficulty.
What the tradition says it is for
Tradition links the mantra with Shiva worship and with prayers for health, protection and long life. Teachers also read the verse more inwardly: the three eyes are seen as seeing past, present and future, and the freedom sought is liberation from the cycle of birth and death, which is why the last phrase asks to be freed from death, not from the immortal.
These are traditional readings, and none is a promise. The mantra is a prayer and a discipline, and it is not a medical treatment, nor a replacement for a doctor. If you or someone you love is unwell, please seek proper medical care, and treat chanting as a companion to that and not an alternative.
The mantra belongs to the same family of Shiva devotion as Om Namah Shivaya, and it is often chanted together with it. If you want a longer hymn, the Rudrashtakam is a good next step.
Pronunciation notes
Say it in two rhythmic halves: tryam-ba-kam ya-ja-ma-he su-gan-dhim push-ti-var-dha-nam, then ur-vaa-ru-ka-mi-va ban-dha-naat mri-tyor-muk-shee-ya maa-mri-taat. The tr in tryambakam blends t and r quickly, and mri is mri, a rolled r followed by a short i, not the English mree.
The aspirated dh in sugandhim and bandhanat is a d with a puff of breath, and the sh in pushti and mukshiya is a retroflex sound, made with the tongue slightly curled back. Long vowels last about twice as long as short ones. The closing t of amritat is a clear, light stop. Many people learn this mantra by ear from a teacher.
Related mantras and pages
- Om Namah Shivaya: the short five-syllable mantra of Shiva
- Gayatri Mantra: another widely chanted Rigveda verse
- Rudrashtakam: a devotional hymn to Shiva
- Shiva Tandava Stotram: a long hymn to Shiva the dancer
- Maha Shivaratri: the great night of Shiva worship
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is the meaning of the Mahamrityunjaya mantra?
It means: we worship the three-eyed Lord, fragrant and nourishing; like the urvaruka fruit from its stalk, may I be freed from death, and not from immortality. It is a prayer for a natural release and a deeper freedom.
↳ Where is the Mahamrityunjaya mantra from?
The verse is Rigveda 7.59.12, traditionally credited to the sage Vasishtha. It also appears in the Yajurveda. It is the source of the name Tryambaka mantra, from its first word.
↳ What is the urvaruka?
The urvaruka is a cucumber-like fruit. When it is ripe it drops from its stalk of its own accord, which is the image the mantra uses for a freedom that comes without force.
↳ How many times should it be chanted?
Many devotees chant 108 times on a mala, and some repeat it in larger sets. There is no fixed rule, and customs vary. Follow your family or teacher, and chant at a pace that stays calm.
↳ Is the mantra a medical remedy?
No. Tradition links the mantra with prayers for health and long life, but it is not a medical treatment. If someone is ill, please consult a doctor, and chant alongside proper care if it brings comfort.