महामृत्युञ्जय स्तोत्रम् — Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram

Revealed by Sage Markandeya

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The Vedic Foundation

The root of this prayer is the immortal Rigvedic mantra (7.59.12):

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्यौर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

“We worship the Three-Eyed Lord who is fragrant and nourishes all beings. Just as a ripe cucumber effortlessly separates from its binding vine, may He release us from the bondage of death, but never from immortality!”

When the sixteen-year-old sage Markandeya was approached by Yamaraja holding his noose, Markandeya clung firmly to the Shiva Lingam and sang these verses. Shiva appeared from the lingam, kicked Yama aside, and declared Markandeya eternally sixteen and deathless (Chiranjeevi).

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Verse 1

रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration:
Rudraṁ paśupatiṁ sthāṇuṁ nīlakaṇṭham-umāpatim |
Namāmi śirasā devaṁ kiṁ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 1 ||

Meaning:
I bow my head in reverent surrender before the Divine Lord: who is Rudra (the dispeller of sorrow), Pashupati (the shepherd of all living souls), Sthanu (the unmoving, changeless pillar of truth), Neelakantha (the blue-throated redeemer), and Umapati (the beloved of Goddess Uma). When Shiva is my shelter, what can death do to me?

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Verse 2

कालकण्ठं कालरूपं कालज्ञानानुपालकम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ २ ॥

Meaning:
I bow my head to that Supreme Lord who holds Time within his throat, who is Time itself, and who guards the sacred wisdom of cosmic destiny. When Shiva is my protector, what can death do to me?

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Verse 3

नीलकण्ठं विरूपाक्षं निर्मलं निरुपद्रवम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ३ ॥

Meaning:
I bow to the Blue-Throated one, whose third eye penetrates the cosmic void, who is stainless, peaceful, and untouched by any calamity. When Shiva is my shield, what can death do to me?

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Verse 4

वामदेवं महादेवं लोकनाथं जगद्गुरुम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ३ ॥

Meaning:
I bow to Vamadeva (the gentle healer), Mahadeva (the supreme deity), Lokanatha (the master of all worlds), and Jagadguru (the primordial teacher of creation). When Shiva is my guide, what can death do to me?

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Verse 5

देवदेवं जगन्नाथं देवेशं वृषभध्वजम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ५ ॥

Meaning:
I bow to the God of gods, Lord of the Universe, ruler of all celestials, whose banner bears the emblem of the sacred bull Nandi. What can death do to me?

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Verse 6

अनन्तमव्ययं शान्तमक्षमालाधरं हरम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ६ ॥

Meaning:
I bow to Hara, who is endless, immutable, serenely still, and who holds the sacred rosary of Rudraksha beads. What can death do to me?

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Verse 7

आनन्दं परमं नित्यं कैवल्यपदकारणम् ।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ७ ॥

Meaning:
I bow to the embodiment of supreme and everlasting Bliss (Parama Ananda), who is the sole cause of final emancipation (Kaivalya). What can death do to me?

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Verse 8 & Phala Shruti

मार्कण्डेयकृतं स्तोत्रं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
तस्य मृत्युभयं नास्ति नापमृत्युर्भवेत् क्वचित् ॥

Meaning:
Whoever recites this stotra composed by sage Markandeya in the presence of Lord Shiva or with devotion in their heart will have no fear of death, and will never encounter an untimely or accidental death (Apamrityu). They will enjoy radiant health, longevity, and ultimately reach the abode of Shiva.