The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, also known as the ¡°Om Tryambakam¡±, is mentioned both in Y

ajur Veda chapter 3 mantra 60 and Rig Veda mandal 7 sukt 59 mantra 12. The mantr
a ¡°om¡± is added as a prefix. The exact words of the mantra are as follows:
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Om. Tr-yam-bha-kam Ya-ja-ma-he
Sugan-dhim Push-ti-var-dha-nam
Ur-va-ru-ka-mi-va Ban-dha-nan
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Mantra Yoga
The Gayatri Mantra
Om Namah Shivaya ¨C The Shiva Panchakshara Mantra
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat

Literal Meaning Word by Word

Om. The three-eyed one / we worship
The fragrant / sustainer of this world
Like a cucumber / from its stem
From death / liberate / not from immortality

Translation as Given by Swami Sivananda in ¡°Japa Yoga¡±

¡°Om. We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and who nourishes al
l beings; may He liberate me from death, for the sake of Immortality, even as th
e cucumber is severed from its bondage (of the creeper)."
Significance
In this mantra, Lord Shiva is addressed as the three-eyed one. The deeper meanin
g of the term ¡°Shiva¡±, according to the Sanskrit dictionary by Martin Mittwede, is ¡°that
which is auspicious and benevolent¡±. Shiva not merely denotes a specific deity amon
g other deities, but is an appellation for the Absolute Consciousness or Godhead
.
The Third Eye of Shiva
Shiva is generally depicted with three eyes. The third eye is the eye of wisdom,
which stands for spiritual vision and knowledge beyond the duality of past and
future, knower and knowledge, subject and object. The third eye is not only asso
ciated with spiritual realization and meditative vision, but also stands for Shi
va¡‾s power to destroy evil. In Hindu mythology, Shiva is known to destroy evil with
a mere glance from this third eye, especially when his righteous anger is arous
ed.
Positive Effects of Chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Among other effects, this mantra is believed to have strong healing powers. Acco
rding to Swami Sivananda in his book ¡°Japa Yoga¡±, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra will rem
ove accidents, incurable diseases and bestow long life and immortality. Swami Si
vananda also calls it a moksha mantra ¨C a mantra believed to remove fear of death
as well as help achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Best Time for Chanting the Om Tryambakam
Like with any mantra, the early morning hours before dawn are especially well su
ited for reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. But in general, it can be chanted
 any time and whenever one feels the need. It is advised to chant the mantra thr
ee times or any multiple thereof. Along with the Gayatri Mantra, the Maha Mrityu
njaya Mantra is regarded as one of the most powerful mantras for contemplation,
protection, healing and spiritual liberation.
Source
Japa Yoga. By Swami Sivananda Saraswati.
Links
Audio recording of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra by Yoga-Vidya Germany.

Read more at Suite101: Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra: Om Tryambakam Shiva Mantra with
Text, Translation and Explanation http://www.suite101.com/content/maha-mrityunja
ya-mantra-a195634#ixzz15R1AUex9