Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra:

“Om trayambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam

Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat”

There are many mantras for warding off evils like death and other suffering given in the sacred literature of the Hindu's, but the Mrityunjaya mantra has been extolled in sacred literature as being the best. This mantra is said to have the power to remove all sufferings, ward off all evils, remove diseases and bestow the aspirant with health and energy. And it is said that when this mantra is it chanted with great devotion and serious contemplation it is said that the knowledge of this birth and death cycle is revealed to the aspirant. And thus it helps in overcoming the fear of death.

This mantra is addressed to Lord Shiva and is taught in the Rig Veda (7 mandala 59 Chapter) as well as the Yajur Veda (3-60). After the penance Lord Shiva taught the Mahamrityunjaya mantra to Sukracharya, who under very compelling circumstances had to teach this to the son of Brihaspati and that is how the devas also got the mantra. This mantra was given (sruti) to Vasistha Maharishi for the welfare of this world. The mantra and explanation given by Sukracharya to Rishi Dadhicha when the latter's body was cut and thrown by Raja Kshuva is recorded in the Shiva Purana.

The name Mrita-Sanjivini mantra has a story behind it. It is said that Sage Sukracharya accepted a challenge of Lord Indra and took up a rigorous penance of hanging upside down from a tree with his face being fanned with fumes of a fire directly beneath his hanging body. And after Sukracharya did this for Vimsottari dasa period (twenty years), Lord Shiva appeared before him and gives him this Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra to restore his physical condition. Hence it also called the name Maha Sanjivini Mantra.

Sukracharya said "The first pada is “trayambakam yajaamahe” and means - we worship or sing the praise of Lord Trayambaka. Tryambaka is the name of Lord Shiva as the father of the three worlds - bhu, bhuva and svarga lokas. He is the father and lord of the three mandala's - Surya, Soma and Agni mandala. He is Maheswara, the lord of the three Guna's - Satva, Rajas and Tamas. He is the Sadashiva, the teacher of the three tatvas - Atma tatva, Vidya tatva and Shiva tatva. He is the father (cause and source) of the three energies (agni) - Aavahaniya, Garhapatya and Dakshinagni. He is the father of all physical creation through the three murti bhuta - Prithvi (solid), Jala (liquid) and Tejas or agni (energy). He is the lord of the three heavens created by the dominance of the three Gunas - Rajas (Brahma), Satva (Vishnu) and Tamas (Shiva). Know Him to be the nirakara (formless) Sadashiva as He is above this physical mode and is their Maheswara. This is the first foot of the mantra (composed of eight syllables)."

"The second pada of the mantra," continued Sukracharya, is “sugandhim pushtivardhanam” Sugandhim refers to the fragrance of the flower that spreads in all directions, and in a similar way Shiva is present in the entire creation, both animate and inanimate. In all the bhutas (modes of existence), in the three Gunas (nature of creation as being Satva, Rajas or Tamas), in the ten indriyas (five gyana-indriyas or senses and five karma-indriyas or organs of action), in all the devas (33 devas are the source of all illumination and enlightenment) and the ganas (hosts of demi-gods), Shiva exists and pervades as the illumine atma (soul) and is their essence. Pustivardhanam is now being explained. That inward dwelling spirit (atman), the Purusha Shiva is the real sustainer of Prakriti (and not vice-versa as all people perceive). Starting with the mahatatva (primordial state of matter/energy) to the individual parts of creation, the entire sustenance of the physically created beings (both animate and inanimate) is done by the imperishable Purusha. You, I, Brahma, Vishnu, the Munis and even Indra & devas are maintained/sustained (by the atma and that is Him). Since the Purusha (atma - Shiva) is the granter of sustenance to prakriti (body/nature), he is 'Pusti-vardhana'."

Having explained the first two pada of the mantra, Sukracharya continued to explain the remaining two pada. He said " the next two pada (consisting of sixteen syllables) is “Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat” meaning - Prabhu! Just as the ripe cucumber is severed from the bondage of the creeper, in the same manner may we be delivered from death for the sake of immortality (moksha). Rudra deva is like amrita (nectar of immortality). Those who worship Him with good karma, penance and repentance, meditation, contemplation, prayer or praise, will surely renewed life and vigor. The strength of truth force (in this mantra) is such that Lord Shiva shall definitely free the worshipper from the bondage of death because Shiva alone is the giver of bondage and moksha.

This is the Mritasanjivani mantra and has the power to give back life and rescue from death and great evils. You should adore Lord Shiva and recite this mantra. Water sanctified with this mantra should be drunk all the time. [Authors note: It is well known that the rudraksha bead is placed in a glass of water after being held in the palm during the recitation of the mantra. this water is drunk during the day.]

Mrityunjaya (Bija) mantra
The Bija mantra is given by Kahola Rishi;  Haum, Joom, Sah
“Aum Haum Joom Sah
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swaha”
The mantra is in Gayatri channdah; The mantra devata (deity) is Sri Mrityunjaya (form of Shiva). This mantra is to be used for meditation and at all times for protection from all evils.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra can be chanted by anybody. It is important one understands the meaning of this mantra word for word before chanting it. That’s because by knowing the meaning, the aspirant can easily contemplate on the aspect of birth and death cycle. When chanted with full sincerity, faith and devotion, to a worshipper from any faith, this removes dangers of accidents, incurable diseases and calamities, bestows long Life and immortality. It has a great curative effect. Diseases pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by this Mantra. It bestows health, wealth, peace, prosperity, satisfaction and long life. It is a Moksha-Mantra too. The preparatory rites should be learnt from your Guru or from any book on Karma-kanda (pooja method).

Om. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality.

Maha Guru and Maha Muni Agastyar

We consider Agastya Muni as our Maha Guru.

Agastya Muni is considered the guru of all Siddhars. He is called as “Kurumuni” meaning short in height. Siddhar are spiritual adepts who possessed the “ashta siddhis”, or the eight supernatural powers. The Siddha medicine system is believed to have been handed over to him by Lord Muruga. Siddhars are the followers of Lord Shiva. Agastyar is the first Siddhar. His disciples and other siddhars contributed thousands of texts on Siddhar litratures, including medicine and form the profounder of the system in this world.

It is believed that sage Agasthiyar was instrumental in spreading the Vedic religion in southern India. Agastya is also recognized as one of Seven Great Sages (Saptarishis). Sage Agasthiyar has also contributed immensely to the four Vedas. These mantras were revealed to Sage Agasthiyar by the Brahman (Supreme Being) itself.

In the hierarchy of siddhars or perfected human beings, who have guided the destinies of nations on our planet Earth for the past 12,000 years of recorded history, the ageless legendary siddha Sri Agastiya Maha Muni stands out as the senior-most guru who initiated a galaxy of eminent gurus and siddhas down the ages, and who had established and nurtured the ancient Dravidian civilization lasting several millennia. He is also acknowledged, in occult circles, as the head of a representative group of rishis entrusted with the guiding of the destiny of India and other nations called the Sapta Rishis as disclosed in certain “ola” leaf manuscripts called rishi vakyams and also in theosophical writings.

Sri Agastiyar is also considered the author of several Rig Vedic hymns in Sanskrit, Lalitaa Sahastra Namam (The Lalita Sahasra Naam, was first revealed to the world when Hayagreev, a manifestation of Vishnu, taught the same to Agastya Muni), Aaditya Hridayam and many Strotras. Agastya Muni is regarded as founder Nadee Astrology, Sidha medicine and Southern Kalarippayattu, an ancient Indian martial art. Kalarippayattu is known as mother of all martial arts. Southern Kalarippayattu or Adi Murai mainly includes Varma Kalai. This system of “marmam” is part of Siddha Vaidyam, also attributed to Agastyar and his disciples. One of his medicinal preparations, Boopathi Kuligai, is so powerful that it can even bring the dead back to life. He is related to many legends including of River Kaveri, Vindhya Mountains, in Krita Yuga drink the ocean to save Devas and He was mentioned both in Ramayana and Mahabharath.
In a legend, at a Shaiva temple named Kutralam, formerly a Vishnu temple, in Tamil Nadu, Agastya Muni was refused entry. He then is said to have miraculously converted the Vishnu idol to a Shiva linga. A symbolic meaning of this conversion is to show that Vishnu and Shiva are different aspects of the one and same God. There is lot of other legends connected to him.

Maha Avatar Kriya Babaji of the Himalayas, the lineal Guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda, Yukteswar and Lahiri Mahasaya, who is well nigh 1,800 years old today, still retains a young physical body of a 16 year old youth, as a result of his divinizing the cells of his physical body, after receiving initiation from two of the greatest siddhas of all time. Siddhars Agathiyar and Bogar are the gurus of Babaji. Siddha Boganathar instructed him in the higher Kriya yoga techniques, for six months at Kataragama in Sri Lanka in the year 214 AD and sent him thereafter to his own Guru Siddha Agastiyar at Couttalam in India, where Babaji had the final initiation in Kriya yoga, after he had practiced severe austerities for 48 days to invoke the grace of Agastiyar, who finally appeared before him in his physical body emerging from the adjoining forest; and showered his full blessings on him. Many of us may be aware of Kriya Babaji - the himalayan yogi living for many centuries.
It was the immortal Sri Agastiyar who originally taught and transmitted to several of his disciples over the ages the Kriya yoga techniques of divinizing the cells of the body and:

1. rendering the physical body deathless for centuries, (as in the case of the 18 Siddhas and Kriya Babaji)or
2. enabling the physical body to disappear completely and resurrect in a glow of light into a subtler    vibrational field, (as in the case of Adi Sankaracharya and the four great Saiva saints namely the Nayanmars and Kabir of medieval times and Ramalinga Swamigal as recently as 1874), or
3. enabling the physical body to be placed in a tomb in jeeva samadhi at will, in a state of suspended animation, where the blood circulation and the breathing have stopped but a luminous pranic energy keeps the body-cells alive, with the possibility of the siddha dematerializing the body in the tomb and materializing it outside in a completely different locality and living out an extended span of life for several years (as in the case of three well-known siddhas of modern times, namely Sri Raghavendra Swami about whom a popular film had been made recently, Sri Kulandaj Ananda Swami whose last jeeva samadhi is in Madurai city and Sri Muthukrishna Swami whose jeeva samadhi is in Vallioor).
Agastya Muni is believed to have conquered death and some believe he is still living in Pothigai hills in TamilNadu, India. They also believe that only people who rigorously mediate to see him can see him. Mahalakshmi gave a boon to Lopamudra and Agastya Muni that whoever worships them or even remembers them together will get the grace of Goddess Maha Lakshmi.

How to worship Agastya Maha Muni

Auspicious times for worshipping Maha Guru Agastya Maha Muni are as below:

• On Sunday during “Rahu kalam” – 4.30pm to 6pm
• On Thursday during “Rahu kalam” – 1.30pm to 3pm
• On Full Moon day (Pournami) during night 10.45pm to 11.50pm
• On No Moon day (Amavasi) during Sandhya time.
• On Panchami Tithi after Amavasi during Rahu kalam.
• On Ashtami Tithi after Poornima during Rahukalam.

Required for pooja are

1. Agastya Muni’s picture.

2. A mirror (to see self – related to Adwaita sidhanta even without Agastya Muni’s picture mirror is a must).

3. 5 lamps.

4. 5 different oils to be lit in 5 lamps. They are Ghee and other any 4 oils from Til oil, Castor oil, Veppenna (Neem oil), Coconut oil and Marottikka oil.

5. Agarbathi.

6. Garland of white colored flowers, white flower.

7. Tender coconut.

8. Honey. (When offering tender coconut or any sweets you have to pour some honey in it.)

9. Sweets (Payasam or similar but notmandatory but if it is there good, put some honey in it at the time of offering).

Tender coconut is a must and offered opening the coconut in the top and adding some honey in it.

• Place Agastya Muni’s picture and Mirror side by side or a big mirror and Agastya Muni’s photo in the friend also sufficient.

• Lit the five lamps, four with oil and the ghee lamp in the centre.

• Put the white flower (Jasmine or similar) garland on the picture.

• Offer tender coconut with honey.

• Light the agarbathi.

• Do the pooja chanting dhyanam and mantras.

All together do the parthana loudly. Or one lead and others follow.

Agastya Muni Dhyanam

“Om Namasthe Sthithe THe Jagad Karanaya
Namasthe Sthithe Sarva Lokashrayaya
Namo Adwaitha Thatwaya Mukhya Pradaya
Namo Brahmane Vyapine Shashwathaya
Om Shree Agastheshwara Mahamuni Prabhuve Nama”

1. Then chant following 9 times.

     “Om Rim Glim Gum Ganapathaye Nama” .

2. Do Shwasana kriya (deep breathing and exhaling) 13 times.

3. Then chant following three lines 7 times thinking about seven chakras.

     “Om shreem shreem shreem

      Om shreem shreem shreem

      Om shreem shreem shreem”

4. Then chant following mantra 9 times.

    “Om Eim Hreem Shreem Dhoom Shreem Chempaka deviye nama”

5. Respect (do namaskar) seeing father and mother (if not with you do namaskars in the mind).

6. Do namaskar and prayer to Kula Devatha.

7. Do namaskar and prayer to Agasthya Muni.

8. Then chant following mantra 48 times.

    “Om Aana Eim

     Eema Klim

     Oosi Soum

     Yeva Rim

     Oya Shreem

     Om Shivaya Shivaya Shivaya Agastheswara Maha Muni Prabhuve Nama”

Don’t demand any thing from him or not open the list of your requirements to him. Just put your heart in your prayers. Later the blessings and changes in life will come to you automatically. When you feel it is the time to ask him, then pray and request him “to remove all doshas from your previous birth and Jathaka doshas of the present birth. Later you will feel that a relation is built and you can pray him for your needs.

"Om Shree Mahaguru Agastheswara Mahamuni Prabhuve Nama"

May Maha Muni Agastheswara Guide us and bless us all.