Mere Mahadev
There was a very learned sage couple named Mrikandu and his wife, who deeply desired a child when they were not able to conceive so they prayed to Lord Shiva and were eventually offered a choice:
They could have a son who would live a long but below intelligent life, or a son who would be exceptionally wise and spiritually luminous but would live only sixteen years.
They chose the extraordinary child. Their son was Markandeya Rishi.
Markandeya prayed to Lord Shiva and was deeply devoted to Shiva. When his 16th year approached, his parents became increasingly sorrowful. But instead of becoming consumed by fear, Markandeya turned toward his spiritual practice surrendered himself completely to Shiva.
He chants the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. When YamaRaj—the deity associated with death—arrives to take him. Markandeya clings to the Shivalinga and refuses to abandon his devotion.
Yama threw his weapon toward Markandeya. But the noose also falls around the Shiva Lingam.
At that moment, Shiva appear and Markandeya overcomes Yama, granting Markandeya freedom from his destined death. And this is how the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra came to be popularly understood as the “great death-conquering mantra.”
This mantra is the essence of detachment
Maha = great
Mrityu = death
Jaya = victory/conquering
This mantra is not just for healing, protection, longevity and during illness or difficult transitions but to have vistory over mrityu - which refers to any kind of transition - dying of your old self and rebirthing of new self.
Constantly we are going through changes and experiencing little deaths - death of a relationship, a situation, a habit, a phase, an identity and resistance to any change will cause pain and sufferings - often because of our attachment to what was.
The powerful meaning :
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे - We honor the Three-Eyed One, Shiva,
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् - who nourishes and sustains all life
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् - Just as a ripe fruit naturally releases from its vine, may I be released from the bonds that hold me
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् - from fear, attachment, and birth and death cycle - and awaken to the eternal within.
May all separations be painfree and natural.
