Mahamrityunjaya Sadhana

Shiv Puja on Shivratri: Mrityubhayam Vinaashaay Mrityunjayam Prasaadhayet - One can win over even death through Mrityunjaya Sadhana Lord Shiva has more different divine forms than any other deity in the world. In Yajurved he has been worshipped in an angry form, in the Upanishads in benevolent forms of Ashutosh and Shankar, in Puraans in form of Girijapati, the Lord of beauty. Then He is also famous as Neelkantth who consumed the poison to save the Gods, and Natraaj , Lord of dance.

But the most benevolent and important of his forms is that of Mahaamrityunjaya - the Lord who has conquered death. Through his worship, Sadhana and meditation one can banish the fear of death forever from one's life. This is why Maarkandey Rishi sang - Chandrashekharaashraye Mam Kim Karishyati Vei Yamah i.e. when I am in the protection of Lord Chandrashekhar then how can Yama, the Lord of death harm me.

Longevity and Good Health are first requirements of a happy life and every person wishes for them. This is why one keeps praying for them daily and also seeks recourse of medicines and tonics. But Mahamrityunjay Sadhana is the best means to this goal, for through it a Sadhak can forever remain young and disease free and lead a very joyful life.

According to Atharvaveda after Brahma had created this world the earth became overcrowded and overpopulated. It became difficult to even breath. Suddenly fire started to pour out of Brahma's eyes and destroy the creatures. Lord Shiva was moved by their plight and and prayed to the Lord to stop the annihilation. The fire disappeared and the process of death was created to rid the earth of extra creatures. The force of death was instructed to lead creatures into the arm of eternal sleep from time to time. The weapon that death was given was disease and this proved to be the cause of death for the creatures. To this day a creature dies because it becomes afflicted by some ailment.

Everyone has to die some day. Jaatasya Hi Dhruvo Mrityuh i.e. one who is born has to die one day. But death should not be untimely. For this the ancient Rishis and Yogis devised means through which untimely death can be prevented. The best among these means is Mahamrityunjaya Sadhana.

Lord Shiva consumes the poison of problems of his devotees and bestows upon them elixir of health and divine boons. Among the various forms of the Lord, Mahamrityunjaya is considered best.

Mrityunjaya Japam Nityam Yah Karoti Dine Dine. Tasya Rogaah Prannashyanti Deerghaayushcham Prajaayate.

i.e. The person who daily chants Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is freed of all ailments and attains longevity. It is said in Rudrayaamal text -

Mrityunajyasya Mantram Vei Japate Yadi Maanushah. Koti Varsha Shatam Sthitvaa Leeno Bhavati Brahmanni.

i.e. One who daily chants the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra lives long and after death his soul fuses with the form of Lord Shiva.

The divine Mahamrityunjaya form of the Lord is present in a Paarad Shivaling i.e. a Shivaling made from consecrated and solidified mercury. Very unfortunate are those who do not have a Paarad Shivaling at home. In tis Sadhana one needs a Paarad Shivaling and three Madhuroopen Rudrakshas. One should try it with full faith. Place the Paarad Sivaling along with the three Rudrakshas before yourself. Take flowers in both hands and offer them on the Shivaling chanting thus-

i.e. I pray to Lord Mahamrityunjaya Shiva who holds two pots of divine elixir in his two hands, who sits on the Kailash mountain on a lotus flower and who has a moon ornamenting his forehead.

Take water in the right palm and chant thus -

Then let the water flow on to the ground.

This is done to assimilate the divine powers of the Rishi who created these Mantras in different parts of the body. Chanting thus touch part of the body indicated.

Chant thus each time joining fingers indicated.

According to Rishi Vashishtth, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra has 33 alphabets which represent the powers of the 33 deities. These 33 deities are - eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Aadityas, one Prajapati and one Vashatkaar.

These 33 deities are present in different parts of the body of a person. When this Mantra is chanted divine forces in the body are activated and they protect the person from diseases, weakness and death.

This Mantra should be chanted one lakh twenty five thousand times. After completion of the chanting twelve thousand five hundred times offer oblations in the holy fire with a mixture of Bel leaves, Kheir, Vat, Sesame seeds, mustard seeds, Kheer (sweet porridge of rice and milk), curd and grass blades.

Ghee should be added to this mixture and oblations made with chanting the above Mantra. Then perform Abhishek one thousand two hundred fifty times for the patient for whose health this ritual is being done. Abhishek means sprinkling of water on someone each time chanting above Mantra.

If there has been some accident or there is threat to life or any problem, pain or fear then one should chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra energised with the Mritsanjivini Vidya devised by Shukracharya. This is called Mritsanjeevani Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.

This is a Mantra with 62 alphabets and it can sure avert death if chanted properly.