mahamrityunjay mantra; its true meaning

 

This blog tries to cover the true meaning of the mahamrityunjay mantra, its wordings and its beej (seed) mantra

 

 

I write about a famous case; in 1982 the actor Amitabh Bachchan suffered a near-fatal injury while shooting a fight scene, his mother chanted the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra to avert his death, most people use this mantra to avert death, no the mahamrityunjay mantra is not for physical longevity and escaping death and getting back to live in this sansar, it is a prayer for transcending death, it is a true salvation mantra, It is about getting freed from the cycles of repeated births and deaths to achieve immortality

 

(sansar means continuous cycle of death and rebirth, driven by karma, from which spiritual liberation (Moksha/Nirvana) is sought.)

 

Most people take its meaning as--- In this prayer, we are asking Lord Shiva to help us ripen with wisdom so that when death comes, we can detach from the world without fear or struggle, moving naturally toward immortality, again no, this prayer is not about getting freed when ripe, it is about ones inability to detach from this sansar even when ripe and hence praying to the Mahadev to cut our bonds from this sansar and free us from the cords of worldly attachment

 

Let me try to explain the above point

 

First of all, as explained in last blog Shiv is the formless representation of the trinity, everyone call’s Mahadev / Shankar as Shiv

 

Now let us try to understand this prayer

 

Imagine if you were the Rishi who composed this mantra why would you put the word cucumber instead of a fruit

Cucumber is mentioned specifically, why?

Let us understand the life cycle of a cucumber

Cucumber is so heavy yet it does not separate off from its creeper (here the creeper is its sansar where it is born and nourished)

Unlike fruits that fall due to gravity or a gentle touch when ripe, a cucumber remains attached to its creeper, it does not fall on its own, It requires "cutting" or separation by the gardener, symbolizing the need for divine grace to release the soul from worldly bondage.

Even when a soul has ripened yet the attachment to the sansar does not let it to detach hence the prayer to the mahadev / Shankar whose guna is tamas and is capable of cutting and hence liberating

Are we not like that, even Gurus who teach spirituality are so much attached to their seats and position

The cucumber so attached to its sansar that it will not liberate itself even when ripe it will rot and seeds will come out only to be reborn as a plant, this cycle of birth and decay will go on until the divine grace of the mahadev cuts the bonding and liberates the ripe cucumber

When we begin our spiritual journey, we pray

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

 

Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |

Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |

Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih

 

Look at this line, Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya: Lead me from death to immortality. This is the prayer of the beginner and when the person has elevated and ripened he again prays in the mahamrityunjay mantra-- Mrit-yor-muk-shi-ya (मृत्योर्मुक्षीय): Ma-am-ri-tat (मामृतात्): to liberate me from death to immortality since I am unable to cut the bond myself

 

 

The complete mahamrityunjay mantra with its beej (seed) mantra

 

 

 

The Mahamrityunjaya Beej Mantra acts as a powerful prefix and suffix to the main Vedic mantra, forming what is known as the "Sampurna" (complete) version. 

 

Starting Beej Mantras (Anulom) (The Invitation)

The mantra begins with a specific set of seed syllables and the three planes of existence (Vyasritis): 

 

ॐ हौं जूं सः (Om Haum Joom Sah)

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः (Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah) 

 

Ending Beej Mantras (Vilom) (The Grounding & Seal)

The mantra concludes by reversing the order of the starting syllables:

 

ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः (Om Swah Bhuvah Bhuh)

ॐ सः जूं हौं ॐ (Om Sah Joom Haum Om) 

 

Complete "Sampurna" Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 

The full version, combining the beej syllables with the core 32-syllable verse, is:

 

ॐ हौं जूं सः ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्
ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ सः जूं हौं ॐ 

 

 

1. Starting Beej (The Invitation)

ॐ हौं जूं सः
(Om Haum Joom Sah)
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
(Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah)

2. The Core Verse (The 32-Syllable Body)

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
(Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam)
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्
(Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat)

3. Ending Beej (The Grounding & Seal) 

ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः
(Om Swah Bhuvah Bhuh)
ॐ सः जूं हौं ॐ
(Om Sah Joom Haum Om)

Individual Syllable Significance

 

Haum (हौं): Associated with Lord Shiva's power to dispel darkness and disease.

Joom (जूं): Represents vitality and protection.

Sah (सः): Symbolizes the divine self and liberation. 

 

 

Have you noticed that while the first line is a perfect mirror image between the starting and ending beej, the second line BHUR becomes BHUH by following a specific Vedic pattern called Viloma (reverse) that focuses on the three planes of existence.

 

Here is why they look different:

 

1. The Mahavyahritis (The Three Worlds)

The line Bhur Bhuvah Swah represents the ascending order of existence:

Bhur: The physical earth/ground.

Bhuvah: The atmosphere/middle world.

Swah: The heavens/celestial realm.

2. The Return Path

In the closing section, you are bringing that divine energy back down. To do this, the sequence is reversed to Swah Bhuvah Bhuh.

 

3. The "Om" Placement

You’ll notice that Om (ॐ) usually stays at the "outer" edges to seal the mantra.

Start: ॐ (Om) → Bhur → Bhuvah → Swah

End: Swah → Bhuvah → Bhuh → ॐ (Om)

The reason the very first line (Haum Joom Sah) reverses perfectly into (Sah Joom Haum) is because those are "pure" seed sounds (Beej), whereas the second line is a set of specific names for the planes of reality that must be stepped down in the correct order.hence BHUR becomes BHUH

 

These additional seed sounds act as a "Samput" (seal) that directs the mantra's energy specifically toward protection and liberation. 

 

 

 

Word-by-Word Spiritual Meaning

 

Om (ॐ): The primordial sound representing the Supreme Consciousness.

Tryambakam (त्र्यम्बकं): "The Three-Eyed One" (Mahadev). The third eye represents spiritual wisdom and perception beyond physical illusion.

Yajamahe (यजामहे): "We worship, adore, or honor" with deep meditation. Yag to unite

Sugandhim (सुगन्धिं): "Fragrant." This refers to the divine presence or spiritual essence that pervades the universe like a sweet scent.

Pushti-Vardhanam (पुष्टिवर्धनम्): "The Nourisher" who sustains and strengthens our health, vitality, and spiritual core.

Urvarukam-iva (उर्वारुकमिव): "Like a ripened cucumber (or melon)".

Bandhanat (बन्धनान्): "From bondage or attachment". This refers to our unhealthy attachments to worldly things that keep the soul bound.

Mrityor-Mukshiya (मृत्योर्मुक्षीय): "Liberate us from death" (both physical untimely death and the cycle of spiritual ignorance).

Ma-Amritat (माऽमृतात्): "But not from immortality." A plea to lead us toward eternal life and the nectar of divine realization. 

the "Ma" Separation: In the final line of the core verse, ensure you say "Ma-Amritat" clearly. This is a request to not (Ma) be separated from immortality (Amritat).

Crucial Tip: A common mistake is to join these as "Ya-ma-amritat." You must pronounce "Ma" separately to avoid invoking "Yama" (the God of death) by accident. 

 

Pronunciation Guide for Authenticity:

 

 

Bhur (भूर्): Pronounced like the English word "boor," where the "r" rolls directly into the next word, "Bhuvah".

Bhuh (भूः): Pronounced as "Bhoo" followed by a soft, breathy echo of the "oo" sound (e.g., Bhoo-hu). This is the pure form of the syllable. 

In Vedic chanting, these subtle changes are vital because the vibration must remain continuous. Using Bhuh at the very end signifies a return to the original, grounded state of existence. 

To achieve the authentic vibration, it is essential to understand the 

Visarga (the sound indicated by the two dots ः). 

The difference between Bhur and Bhuh is not just a spelling variation; it is a fundamental shift in how the breath is released.

 

1. Understanding the "Visarga" (ः)

In Sanskrit, the two dots (ः) are called Visarga. It is technically an unvoiced exhalation. 

Authentic Rule: It is traditionally described as being like the "hiss of a baby snake"—a sharp but soft release of air.

Chanting Technique: You do not use your throat to say "ha." Instead, you simply exhale through your mouth while maintaining the mouth position of the previous vowel. 

2. The Sound of "Bhuh" (भूः)

In the ending beej, the word is Bhuh (भूः). Because it follows the long vowel "oo," the visarga creates a subtle echo: 

How it sounds: Pronounce it as "Bhoo-hu".

The Echo: The "hu" should be a very faint, breathy reflection of the "Bhoo." It is not a full second syllable but a "half-measure" (ardha-matra) sound. 

3. The Sound of "Bhur" (भूर्)

In the starting beej, Bhur (भूर्) does not have a visarga because it is joined to the next word (Bhuvah).

How it sounds: The "r" is a hard, rolling sound that acts as a bridge: "Bhur-Bhuvah". There is no breathy echo here because the energy is moving forward into the next syllable. 

4. Summary for Practice

To ensure the correct effect, use these distinct pronunciations:

Start: "Om Bhur-Bhuvah Swah" (Connected, rolling 'r').

End: "Om Swah Bhuvah Bhuh" (Disconnected, ends with a soft "Bhoo-hu" breath). 

When you reach the end of the mantra with Bhuh, let the breath dissolve naturally into the final Om.

 

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra with technical perfection, you must follow the 32-syllable Vedic meter (Chandas) while correctly applying Sanskrit phonetic rules like Sandhi (joining sounds) and Visarga (the breathy ending).

 

Critical Pronunciation Details-- Word-by-Word

 

For the mantra to be effective, pay close attention to these specific sounds:

Haum (हौं): Pronounced with a deep "h-au-m" sound, similar to "howm" but with a nasal ending.

Joom (जूं): Uses a long 'u' sound (as in "zoom").

Bhur Bhuvah Swah: In the reverse path, Bhuh (भूः) ends with a soft "h" echo (visarga), and Swah (स्वः) also carries this subtle breathy sound.

Urvarukamiva (उर्वारुकमिव): Ensure you pronounce the long 'aa' and do not drop the "m" in the middle. 

 

 

 

Bhur (भूर्) and Bhuh (भूः) is due to a Sanskrit grammar rule called Sandhi (phonetic joining of sounds). 

Both words refer to the same root for "Earth" or "Physical Existence," but their pronunciation changes based on the sound that follows them. 

 

Why the words change:

Starting Beej (Bhur):

Phrase: Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah

Rule: When the root word Bhuh (भूः) is followed by Bhuvah (भुवः), the visarga (the "h" sound) transforms into a "r" sound due to Visarga Sandhi. This creates the combined sound Bhur-Bhuvah.

Ending Beej (Bhuh):

Phrase: Om Swah Bhuvah Bhuh Om

Rule: At the end of this sequence, Bhuh (भूः) is typically followed by Om. In many traditions, it stands alone or precedes a pause, so it retains its original form with the visarga. 

 

 

 

Line 1: ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे 

Om (ॐ): A long, resonant "Ooo-mmm" that vibrates in the head.

Try-am-ba-kam (त्र्यम्बकं): Pronounced Try-um-buh-kum. The "m" at the end is a nasal sound (Anusvara) that should transition smoothly into the next word.

Ya-ja-ma-he (यजामहे): Pronounced Ya-jaam-ah-hay. Ensure the "ma" is slightly elongated. 

Line 2: सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् 

Su-gan-dhim (सुगन्धिं): Pronounced Soo-gun-dhim. The "n" is a soft nasal sound.

Push-ti-var-dha-nam (पुष्टिवर्धनम्): Pronounced Push-ti-var-dha-num. Explicitly sound the "r" in vardhanam to avoid it sounding like "vaaadhanam". 

Line 3: उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् 

Ur-va-ru-ka-mi-va (उर्वारुकमिव): Pronounced Oor-va-roo-kum-ee-va. All syllables should flow as one single word.

Ban-dha-nan (बन्धनान्): Pronounced Bun-dhuh-nun. Note the dental "n" at the end, which is a firm stop. 

Line 4: मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् 

Mrit-yor-muk-shi-ya (मृत्योर्मुक्षीय): Pronounced Mrit-yor-mook-shee-ya. The transition from Mrityor to Mukshiya must be clear.

Ma-am-ri-tat (मामृतात्): Pronounced Ma-um-ri-taat.

Crucial Tip: A common mistake is to join these as "Ya-ma-amritat." You must pronounce "Ma" separately to avoid invoking "Yama" (the God of death) by accident.