TheMahamrityunjaya Mantra (Sanskrit:महामृत्युंजयमंत्र, महामृत्युञ्जयमन्त्र,romanized: mahāmṛtyuṃjaya-mantra, mahāmṛtyuñjaya-mantra,lit. 'Great death-defeating mantra'), also known as theRudra Mantra orTryambakam Mantra, is a verse (ṛc) of theRigveda (RV 7.59.12). Theṛc is addressed to Tryambaka, "The Three-eyed One", an epithet ofRudra who is identified withShiva inShaivism. The verse also recurs in theYajurveda (TS 1.8.6;^[1][2][3] VS 3.60^[4])

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra reads:

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्।।[5]

oṃ tryàmbakaṃ yajāmahe sugándhiṃ puṣṭi-várdhanam ।
urvārukám iva bándhanān mṛtyór mukṣīya mā́ 'mṛ́tāt ।।

Translation by Jamison and Brereton:^[6]

"We sacrifice to Tryambaka the fragrant, increaser of prosperity.
Like a cucumber from its stem, might I be freed from death, not from deathlessness."

The mantra first appears inRigveda 7.59.12, which is a composite hymn attributed toVasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi. The last four verses (in which the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is found) are late additions to the hymn, and they make references to the Sākamedha, the last of the four-monthly rituals. The Sākamedha ends with an oblation toRudra Tryambaka, which is why the last verse of the four is addressed to Tryambaka.^[7]

Hindus believe the mantra is beneficial for mental, emotional, and physical health and consider it amoksha mantra which bestows longevity and immortality.^[8]

It is chanted while smearingvibhuti over various parts of the body and utilised injapa (mantra repetition) orhoma (religious offering ceremony).

• Vedas
• Hindu mantras

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