Understanding the Mrityunjaya Mantra
Conquering Death
The Mrityunjaya Mantra appears in the Rigveda. It is often chanted for good health and longevity. Literally, ‘mrityunjaya’ means ‘death-conquering’ (mrityu — death; jaya — victory). There is more to this mantra than that. This article presents the essence and purport of this mantra.
Here is the meaning of the mantra:
“Om. We meditate upon the three-eyed Lord, who is the Supreme Self,
who bestows prosperity and welfare.
May we be freed from the bondages, like the urvāruka fruit.
May he liberate us from disease and death, not from immortality.”
Let us now explore the different parts of this verse and discuss the purport.
Lord refers to the all-pervading Supreme
Tryambaka: The term literally means ‘three-eyed’ (Siva). Here it is referring to the Supreme Self, as is qualified by the term sugandhi. The etymology of the name Siva is, ‘that which bestows auspiciousness’. In this mantra itself, this is explained by the phrase pushti-vardhanam — that which bestows prosperity and welfare.
Sugandhi: This is a very beautiful usage. Literally it means fragrant or sweet-smelling. According to the dictionary sugandhi also means Supreme Being. Here it refers to the Paramatma, the Supreme Self. Like fragrance that is pervasive, the Supreme is all-pervasive, omnipresent.
Freedom from bondages of samsara
We are meditating upon freedom from all bondages. The bondages, that are the result of attachments, are the ones that lead to suffering in life.
According to the dictionary, the term mrityu (मृत्यु) also means ‘the worldly life’ or ‘the worldly existence’, i.e., samsara. Samsara refers to the course of life in this world or worldly existence, that includes suffering through the course of life.
In life, we get attached to the objects of this world thinking that these objects are the ones that give us happiness. And that attachment leads us to suffering, and that is why worldly existence (samsara) seems like a bondage.
In this mantra, ‘freedom from mrityu’ can also be interpreted as ‘freedom from the fetters of samsara’. This freedom from bondage of samsara is nothing but the freedom from slavery to the objects of the world. And this enables us to move about freely in this world, without suffering.
The urvāruka fruit
The mantra says: “Liberate us from the fetters, the way urvāruka fruit is separated from its plant.”
What is the significance of the simile? Urvāruka, cucumis usitatissimus, is a fruit belonging to the family of cucumber. This fruit, when ripe, naturally gets free from the plant with ease, and falls. The following are the lessons for us:
- Let the fetters of bondage break away as easily as this fruit gets separated from the plant. Freedom from all fetters is the ultimate goal in human life, which is referred to as moksha.
- Let this body fall, as easily as this fruit gets separated from the plant, in due course, in natural manner, without suffering. Suffering here includes both bodily and mental.
Essentially, the simile to this fruit stresses upon the idea that the freedom should come as easily and naturally as that of the urvāruka being separated from its plant.
Freedom from the fetter of death
The mantra includes the prayer: “Liberate us from the fetter of death”. How we interpret the word ‘death’ in this context, decides how we understand this mantra, and the impact it has on us. Here are two ways of looking at ‘freedom from death’:
1. Freedom from death of the body — An impossibility
If we interpret ‘death’ to be ‘death of the body’, then freedom from death of the body would imply that the ‘body does not die’. We all know, that is an impossibility. Body being a product of nature, will perish. This point is affirmed in the Bhagavad Gita (2.27):
“Of the one that is born, death is certain; and of the one which is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in something that is inevitable (and unavoidable), you ought not to grieve.”
With this knowledge, it does not make sense to pray for ‘freedom from death’. In this mantra, ‘free us from the fetter of death’, is better interpreted as ‘free us from the fear of death’.
Conquering the fear of death is conquering death!
2. The meaning of immortality
Knowing that freedom from the death of the body is impossible, what then is ‘immortality’? In the context of spirituality, freedom from death or immortality is nothing but the ‘Realization of the Self’. In other words, it is the realization of our true nature or identity — the Self, which is immortal. Sri Krishna says (in the Bhagavad Gita 2.20):
“The Self is neither born, nor does it ever die. It is not that, not having been in existence, it comes into existence. Then again, it is not that being in existence, is becomes non-existent. For the Self is unborn, eternal, ever-lasting, ever-fresh (in past, present and future), and is not killed even when the body is killed.”
There are six kinds of changes that apply to matter: birth, existence, growth, change, decay and death. These apply to the body and do not apply to the Self.
Realization of this truth about our true nature — the Self, is what is referred to as ‘liberation’, ‘freedom’ (moksha, etc.). This realization of the Self leads to freedom from suffering in this world.
Do not free us from immortality
Earlier, the mantra said, ‘free us from death’, and now it says, ‘do not free us from immortality’. It is to be interpreted as ‘do not deprive me of immortality’; in other words, it means ‘bestow immortality’.
It can also be interpreted as a use of double negative. It is mainly for emphasis. Here, it is a prayer immortality.
What does ‘immortality’ mean? As we discussed earlier, it certainly is not of the body. The body being perishable will go through the different stages — birth, childhood, youth, adulthood, old-age and finally death. Immortality is the realization of our imperishable nature, our true identity — the immortal Self.
Significance of this mantra
Chanting this verse should free us from the fetter of the ‘fear’ of death, and free us from the fetters of samsara (suffering in life). It should take us closer to true freedom — realization of our true nature.
As discussed earlier, death of the body cannot be avoided. Nature will take its own course on that front. While chanting or meditating on this mantra, if we constantly think of the ‘freedom from death of the body’, it will make us anxious and increase the fear of death. This leads to suffering. More we meditate thinking thus, more will be the fear and consequent suffering.
Why does this happen? Constantly thinking of ‘wanting to be free from death’, we become more attached to the body. And the desire to live longer increases. And that desire, furthers the attachment, and the thought of death will thus increase anxiety and fear. It is a cyclic process.
This above point has been explained in the Bhagavad Gita 2.62, 63:
“Constantly thinking about objects (including things, people, events, work, etc.) leads to attachment to them; from attachment arises craving for the objects; from craving anger is born; from anger arises wrong perception (regarding the true source of happiness); from wrong perception arises loss of memory regarding the spiritual goal; from the loss of memory arises destruction of understanding and reason; and from destruction of understanding, the human being falls and fails to attain the goal of everlasting peace (or freedom from suffering).”
Based on the above discussions, let us revisit the meaning of the mantra:
We meditate upon the Supreme Being, who bestows prosperity and welfare.
May he free us from disease and bestow wellbeing.
May he free us from all bondages.
May he free us from all suffering.
May he lead us to liberation (i.e., the realization of the Self).
Pray for the auspiciousness of all
The Mrityunjaya Mantra says, “we meditate”. There is a plural usage. We are thinking of all. The thoughts expressed in this mantra can be complemented with the following prayer:
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः । सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु । मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
“May all be happy; May all be free from illness.
May whatever comes be auspicious to all; May no one suffer.
Om. Peace. Peace. Peace.”
The constant prayer for the welfare of all, will lead us to the idea of the Universal Self, the omnipresent Supreme (sugandhi). The more we reflect on the welfare of all, the more it will take our mind away from our own body, to the Supreme.
Remember, we become what we meditate upon!!
In Conclusion
The proper understanding of a mantra will help us derive the real benefits of the mantra.
Let us pray that we are led to the ‘right’ knowledge. For that, let us meditate upon the following words:
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
“Om.
O Lord, lead me from untruth to truth.
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to immortality.
Om. Peace. Peace. Peace.”
