Nagesh D. Sonde

Mrutyunjaya Stotra

Mrutyunjaya Stotra is one of the most misunderstood stotras, which is recited for cling to the reasons other than the purpose for which it was intended.  The is addressed to Shiva, the auspicious  divinity, whose earlier image was spoken as the terrible one, with Maruts, the howling winds being his companions. 

Some see Shiva as the deity presiding over Death and the one who delivers the Soul from the sufferings in the present body, as it degenerates, decays, deteriorates by destroying the present body and giving him a new opportunity to continue his journey on the Path to Perfection in a new body. Some others who are unable to discriminate and distinguish between the external gross body aund the internal subtle Self, and accept the former to be the latter, cling to the degenerated, decayed body and pray for continuance of the body delaying its destruction.

Therefore, it is important to understand the real meaning and intent of the Stotra, which reads as under:

"tryambakam  yajamahe sugandheem pushtivardhanam / urvarukamiva bandhanat mrutyor mruksheeya  maam amrutatvaat  //", which translated means   -  O Lord, I invoke the one with three eyes (the third being the eye of Wisdom), who spreads fragrance which resurges,  deliver me from the mortal (gross body) not from the immortal (subtle Self). 

The seer who is wise in Wisdom, knows the body is mortal, therefore is not a thing to be cherished; knows the Self within is immortal therefore needs to be nurtured now and ever in future. The person who is not wise in Wisdom, equating the body with the Self within, nurtures the body which is seen, overlooking to cherish the Self within, which is unseen. The sage who sees the distinction between the external gross body as one mere instrument available to him and the subtle Self within which is to be made spiritually resurgent for onward spiritual evolution,  prays for and welcomes deliverance from the degenerated, decayed, deteriorated gross body, because he is assured a new body as instrument for his spiritual evolution.  The stupid one, not wise in Wisdom equates the gross body with the subtle Self, prays for the continuance of the gross body, though it is degenerated, decayed and deteriorated, unmindful of what is good and preferable for the subtle Self within.

The man who considers himself does not fear when  he hears the steps even as Death  takes strides to come to him, does not complain of the sound when he knocks on the door, because he cannot harm his immortal Hself, but destroy the decayed, therefore unfit body. Therefore, he invites him with smile on his face for opportunity to leave the degenerated body and looking for the time when a new body will be provided for him and a new opportunity would be provideid for him for spiritual evolution of his Self within.

It is for a man of discrimination to decide the Path to be traversed and not wander on the paths with no idea, no direction, no goal where the paths he is trversing will lead him to.

That is the true meaning of the Mrutyunjaya Stotra. A wise one needs no further clarification.

00000