Chanting a mantra is a way of meditation practiced by ancient yogis to focus and concentrate on their inner self. It creates divine healing vibrations, provides peace of mind and spreads positive energy in the environment. Did you know that in Pagodas or Buddhist temples there are a series of cylindrical wheels which are inscribed with mantras and devotees rotate them with their hand. Rotating cylinders inscribed with mantras denotes the purification of the environment to make it more spiritually conducive for the human beings.
An ill person can go about with his treatment by taking medicines and also chant mantras in tandem. While medicines help in treating infection and aiding the physical body in other ways, chanting of mantras would help in gaining inner strength, fearlessness and repair his belief system and that would act as a catalyst in his healing process. Also, if a mantra is chanted by knowing its complete meaning, it psychologically uplifts the morale and generates immense positivity within which in turn produces nectar or positive energy in the body and heals the illness. Chanting of mantra destroys limiting beliefs and enhances your inner will (Ichcha Skakti).
The miracles that the mind power could do in the life of a human being is well illustrated by the following real story that happened few years back. There was a village girl named Arunima Sinha who was thieved in a train. A few goons tried to snatch her gold chain and as she tried to fight back, she was pushed off. Both her legs were cut and there were 83 fractures on her body. After regaining consciousness, she thought that if she is still alive after such a tragedy, God would want her to do something great in her life. With the help of prosthetics, not only did she climb the Mount Everest, which is the tallest peak in the world, but also climbed seven other of the world’s tallest peaks. She was awarded the Padma Shree from the President of India for her dedication and “never give up” attitude.
What is Mahamrityunjaya Mantra ?
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a verse of a hymn found in the book of Rig Veda (RV 7:59:12) and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The name has origins in the Sanskrit language. ‘Maha means – great, mrutyu means death and jaya means victory. In a way it is translated as the ‘great death conquering mantra’. Chanting this mantra detaches an ailing person from the bondages of karma and this heals and rejuvenates him. The Sanskrit text and the meaning of each of the words are as under :
OM. Tryambakamyajamahe
aum = is a sacred/mystical syllable
tryambakam = the three-eyed one
yajāmahe = we worship, we sacrifice
Sugandhimpushti-vardhanam
sugandhim = the fragrant, the virtuous, the supreme being
puṣṭi+vardhanam = the bestower of nourishment, wealth, perfection), literally “him who possesses the growth of nourishment”
vardhana = increase, growth
Urvarukamivabandhanan
urvārukam = fruit, a kid of cucumbera
iva= as
bandhanān = from bondage, from the stalk/stem
Mrityormukshiyamamritat
mṛtyoḥ = from death
mukṣīya = may I be freed/released
maamṛtāt= from immortality
This is a prayer to the all knowing (three eyed Shiva) that just as a cucumber creeper willingly separates its ripe fruit from its stalk and thus saves itself from imminent death (If the fruit is pulled from the creeper, it will lead to it’s death), in the same manner, may I (the worshipper) also develop this gift of detachment from the fruits (actions, results).
Spiritual Significance of Mahamrityunjaya mantra
All illnesses happen due to suffering. Your body is a mirror of your inner consciousness. Pain and pleasure are emotions created because of individual references to experiences and people due to definitions, perceptions and judgement. Because of alignment with the ‘I’ or ego, one becomes attached and thus cannot see the situations as complete and resorts to suffering when things do not happen as per him. Attachment to self, material things, family, friends, career and desires is what leads to all fears and worries. Since our higher state is detachment, situations will come that will take us away from what we love the most. And this is the time when we have to rise above suffering and realise our true nature. Masters have come since ages to say that it is attachment that is the root cause of suffering.
The Mahamrityunjaya mantra liberates us from the cycle of physical birth and death by teaching us lessons from the creeper which practices detachment knowing that it is life that gave it birth, life that nourished it, life that gave it the fruits and hence the fruits belonged to life itself.
