Updated on 14th June 2025

In 1998, during a large international Sita Kalyanam yagna event, Sri Swami Satyananda recommended that the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra and the Gayatri mantra be chanted on a daily basis by everybody. He guaranteed that, without a doubt, whoever chanted these two mantras with intensity of focus, willpower, purity of heart and feeling, health and healing would be provided for themselves as well as for others. 

In the Satyananda Yoga tradition, all aspirants are encouraged to chant three mantras every morning, and the first of these is the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, eleven times. 

All yoga centres and ashrams of the Satyananda Yoga tradition, tune in together every Saturday and chant 108 rounds of the mantra, sometimes while performing a havan (fire ceremony). They dedicate all the merit and benefits of the vibrations for the well-being and release of suffering of all those in need. 

What is Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra? 

The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is an ancient mantra from the Rig Veda, expounded on in the Taittiriya Upanishad. 

This chant is based on a deeper insight into the workings of the universe, of Prakriti, (Mother nature) and its relationship with underlying, inherent, all-pervasive Consciousness, symbolised by Lord Shiva. From a traditional perspective the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, is a mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

The mantras are: 

oṃ tryàmbakaṃ yajāmahe sugándhiṃ puṣṭi-várdhanam 

urvārukám iva bándhanān mṛtyór mukṣīya mā́ ‘mṛ́tāt 

• You can find different variations of the literal and symbolic meaning of the words comprising the mantra. Below is one version: 

We worship the Three-Eyed One (ie. Lord Shiva), 

who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings. 

May He liberate us from the bond of death to immortality, 

even as the gourd is severed from its vine. 

• Another version is this: 

OM to Consciousness which manifests through the Third Eye of Intuitive Insight, 

and which is resplendent with All Potential. 

Release “me” from “my” bondage in ignorance and mortality, and lead me to the Divine Existence, 

like a cucumber is severed from the vine. 

The yogic view is that every being embodied in a perishable, physical body is destined to cast off this mortal sheath at some point. This chant indicates that human beings can realize their true immortal nature, which is beyond the limited body and mind, and be freed from the endless cycle of birth and death. 

What are the benefits of chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra? 

The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra has many benefits and is essentially a healing mantra. 

It is even more powerful if before starting the recitation, one makes a sankalpa (conscious intention) for chanting. Thus, one can set the following intentions which are in line with the vibrations of the mantra: health, healing, vitality, immunity, strength, endurance, protection, removal of suffering and misery, smooth transition of the soul, resolution of ecological problems. 

Indeed, the strong syllables of the Mahamrityunjaya, ‘Tryambakam yajamahe’ create a vibration which, according to tradition, removes the influences of tamas or stagnation; that static nature which is without any inspiration and motivation. 

Illness, according to the yogic perspective, sets in when the body has lost its joy and will to live, so the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, by rearranging the frequencies and vibrations in our body, encourages health and healing. 

Sri Swami Satyananda has explained that, ‘These vibrations are represented in the various chakras or psychic centres. When we use a combination of mantras or sound syllables, we are activating and bringing forth the potential of these vibrations that are inherent in the body. When we use a string of vibrations, as in the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, these vibrations realign the disturbances in the vibratory system. Disease and illness can be managed effectively with this mantra.’ 

The sound vibrations and the frequencies also especially activate the solar plexus, which is the manipura chakra, as well as strengthening the weak pranic energy in different parts of the body. Once the debilitated energies are revitalized they work to release imbalances and illnesses from the physiological structure. 

Other benefits:

Apart from being recognized since time immemorial as the mantra to awaken the prana shakti, (the life-force), and revive health, the Mahamrityunjaya mantra is also an effective method to ward off negativity and bad energy, reduce anxiety, increase confidence and concentration. 

How to chant Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra correctly? 

The transliteration into Latin characters of the mantra is roughly as follows: 

OM TRAYAM BAKAM YAJAMAHE 

SUGANDHIM PUSHTI VARDHANAM 

URVARUKAMIVA BANDHANAN 

MRITYOR MUKSHEEYA MAMRITAT 

It is not always possible to convey the Sanskrit mantras phonetically into languages with other alphabets. 

The best way to learn the manta pronunciation, is to hear it from a yoga master or scholar. You can find audio recordings of the masters and students of the Satyananda Yoga tradition on www.rikhiapeeth.net, www.yogavision.net, www.biharyoga.net 

And even then there might be slight variations. One does the best they can and with sincerity and purity of motivation, the mantra is very powerful. 

What are the chanting rules of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra? 

There are no particular rules for chanting this mantra. It can be chanted in any physical position and condition, at any time of the day or night. It can be chanted for the benefit of others, whether they are physically present or not. Even just listening to the repetition of the chant, having it playing in the background, and not verbally chanting it, has tremendous benefits for the environment and the nature around. 

A clear and serious intention increases the power of the vibrations manifold. 

The science supports the chanting of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.

A number of experiments have been done on participants chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, one of which concluded that chanting immediately decreased stress which may also decrease blood pressure, heart rate as well as load in heart and myocardial oxygen consumption.1 

Swami Sivamurti Saraswati (founder of Satyanandashram Hellas and yoga Acharaya), was invited a guest speaker to the Quantum Scio Conference in Madrid in 2007 to present a talk on the Satyananda System of Yoga and its practices. After the presentation, a group of yoga practitioners chanted the Mahamrityunjaya mantra 108 times, as it is always done every Saturday throughout the world in the Satyananda Yoga tradition. A large group of researchers using a very sophisticated energetic medicine system known as SCIO (Scientific Consciousness Interface Operation) measured the potency of the mantra via their computers. The effects of the mantra were astounding as the SCIO program showed that those chanting, but also those in the environment, received positive effects both on their physical body and a calmness in the mind.

How Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra differs from other mantras? 

In the ancient texts and there are described many different mantras for many different purposes, ranging from the primordial mantra Om, representing the timeless now of being, to mantras for recovery from snake bite, a good marriage union and success in a business venture, amoung others. 

The Maha Mritynjaya Mantra is directly linked with Lord Shiva, the source, Consciousness, in yoga. It is a very powerful spiritual mantra that transforms the entire personality and connects us with that which is immortal in us. This mantra has a generic benevolent effect on the person who chants it and all beings in need of it’s purifying and healing force. 

How can chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra improve your mental well-being? 

In yoga it is well known that the physical, energetic and mental aspects of our being are a continuation of each other. From one perspective actually a grosser to finer to expression of the same substance of being. In this way, the physical and energetic healing effects of the mantra, directly effect our state of mind and mental well-being. The ancient Greeks knew this very well too and even today express it with the famous saying ‘Nous ygeies en somati ygeies’ – a healthy mind in a healthy body. 

As mentioned above, the Maha Mritynjaya Mantra effectively increases and regulates the prana (vital energy) throughout out system. Prana is the vitalising and healing agent. Therefore, chanting the Maha Mritynjaya Mantra with the intention of physical health indirectly also includes and induces psychological well-being. It also helps mental concentration, reduces mental anxiety and agitation, increases positivity and confidence in the process of life.