This mantra should be recited for 8000 times in a period of forty days. The recitation of 108 mantra for forty days both in the morning and evening covers this requirement. For other purposes larger number of repetitions are advised.After lighting a lamp and sitting in any yogic posture while facing east. Recite the Maha-mantra 108 times or its multiples in each sitting. This is the greatest work of Maharishi Vashistha. Before commencing the Mahamrityunjaya mantra recite the mantra to the everlasting spirit of the Maharishi vasishtha for his blessings and guidance which is as follows.
“Vam Vashistaya Namah“
Thereafter, perform Rudrabhishek (Ritual offering of the Panca-Amrita or the five forms of nectar as Honey, Ghee, Curd, Milk and Water) on the Shivalinga. After this mantra you can start reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.
Meaning Of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra : It is important to understand the meaning of the words as this makes the recurrence meaningful and brings forth the results.
OM is not spelt out in the Rig-Veda, but has to be added to the beginning of all Mantras as given in an earlier Mantra of the Rig-Veda addressed to Ganapati.
TRYAMBAKKAM refers to the Three eyes of Lord Shiva. ‘Trya’ means ‘Three’ and ‘Ambakam’ means eyes. These three eyes or sources of enlightenment are the three primary deities, namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the three ‘AMBA’ means Mother or Shakti’ are Saraswati, Lakshmi and Gouri. Thus in this word, we are referring to God as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
YAJAMAHE means, “We sing Thy praise”.
SUGANDHIM refers to His fragrance of knowledge, presence and strength as being the best and always spreading around. Fragrance refers to the joy that we get on knowing, seeing or feeling His moral deeds.
PUSTIVARDHANAM Pooshan refers to Him as the sustainer of this world and in this manner, He is the Father of all. Pooshan is also the inner impeller of all knowledge and is thus the Sun and also symbolizes Brahma the Creator.
URVAAROKAMEVA ‘URVA’ means “VISHAL” or big and powerful or deadly. ‘AAROOKAM’ means ‘Disease’. Thus URVAROOKA means deadly and overpowering diseases. The diseases are also of three kinds caused by the influence of the three Guna’s and are ignorance, falsehood , and weaknesses.
BANDANAAN means bound down. Thus read with URVAROOKAMEVA, it means ‘I am bound down by deadly and overpowering diseases.
MRITYORMOOKSHEYA means to deliver us from death for the sake of Mokshya.
MAAMRITAAT means ‘please give me some Amritam to get out of the death inflicting diseases as well as the cycle of re-birth.
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Now you are ready to recite the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra