Śrī Śrī Mṛtyuṃjaya

That consciousness which illumines the exterior is called Śivatattva, whereas the individual feeling as “I” is Śaktitattva – Tripurarahasya, XIV, 61

Mṛtyuṃjaya is Śiva as Conqueror of Death and his yantra, which can be displayed in full detail by clicking here, shows him with his Śakti surrounded by his attendants. The weapons he holds in his hands are on the inside of the bhūpura together with the names of eight of the Dikpālas (Guardians of the Directions). On the eight petals of the lotus are the eight Bhairavas, also mentioned in the Paṭala section of the Māhamṛtyuṃjaya Pañcāṅga (below).

His mantra is oṃ juṃ sah, the letters of which are scattered around the petals of the yantra. At the end of the paṭala are given the ṣaṭkarma, or six magical acts. The tantras warn that unless a sincere seeker (mumukṣu) is already siddha in a mantra and performs daily pūja, these acts bring ruin to a sādhaka or sadhvinī.

Mṛtyuṃjaya Paṭala

On Kailasa Peak, in a beautiful garden strewn with various radiant jewels and garlands; scattered with different sorts of trees and creepers, filled with various beautiful flowers; in a grotto-temple adorned with various pure gems; in front of which are Kinnarīs, softly murmuring and conversing, is seated Bhagavan Umanatha, the refuge; served by Brahma, Indra and Viṣṇu, by Jupiter (Guru) and Venus (Śukra) and hosts of Brahmins, Rishis, Siddhas, Aughas and Gandharvas; wearing a crescent moon as diadem, holding sword and trident, one hand giving boons, the other dispelling fear, peaceful, holding spear and bow, axe, shield, noose, javelin, knife, sprinkling Moon Kalās, holding an iron rod, bearing a mace and ḍamaru and a 100 spoked discus; the Deva with 18 arms, ornamented with all the elements, naked, with three large open eyes and five faces, thrilled with bliss, the Iśvara, both Cosmos and Lord of the Cosmos, victorious, triumphant, His being one with Gaurī, adorned with jewels of the serpent-demons, the Mahādeva, the Maheśvara, Śambhū, in the bound-lotus position, the dear Refuge of all. Having seen His sweet face, Pārvatī bowed and rose, and with a pleasant voice Gaurī spoke to Parameśvara.

Śrī Devī said — Lord God, who is Śiva Deva, the Supreme Mahāmṛtyuṃjaya (Conqueror of Death), Adinātha, Protector of the World, Lord of Initiation, Iśvara. You have spoken to Me previously Mahādeva, Lord of the Guṇas, Supreme Form of the Absolute! Now I wish to hear the five limbs. I request You to speak to me Lord!

Śrī Bhairava said — Because of Your devotion I will declare the previously unknown manual (5 Limbs) of the Supreme Lord Mahā Mṛtyuṃjaya to You, (consisting of) Paṭala, Ritual Succession, Armour, 1,000 Mantra Names, Hymn and Mantra-Limbs. A sādhaka who knows this should conceal it.

Now firstly I shall speak of the section, beloved by the Lord of Initiation. his highest secret of all secrets should be concealed by sincere aspirants (mumukshas),

Now I will speak of the unfolding of the Mantra O Mahadevi, giving the fruit of initiation, celestial, bestowing happiness, objects aimed for, success — Oṃ Juṃ Sah Haṃ Sah, Protect! Protect Me! Sah Aṃ Sauh Juṃ- This mantra is the wish fulfilling gem of the beloved Lord of Initiation.

There is no mantra as powerful as this for giving siddhi, desired results, and destroying enemies. It should not be given to the foolish, to the undisciplined, to those not on the path, to the bad, or those fettered by the five kleśas. This alone is the very blissful thing destroying enemies. This mantra ls the powerful King of Mantras, giving the fruit of initiation, like the wish-fulfilling tree. Unless one previously prepares this King of Mantra it does not grant success, therefore one should prepare the mantra using methods indicated by the Guru. Only those who obtain this method from the Guru’s hand should do this preparation.

This powerful King of Mantras is greater than the Aeon Tree! One should prepare it 400,000 times, or half that, O Maheśvarī. One should never perform this method less than 100,000 times. One should give a tenth of recitation, a tenth of homa, a tenth oblation, a tenth sprinkling, and a tenth feeding. All this the sādhaka should do if he wishes to prepare the mantra. O Iśvarī, one should give dakṣiṇa to the Guru as necessary.

Then, Mahādevī, one should recite (the mantra) which becomes the giver of all success. Unless one doess this, there is no success, and initiation fails.

Now, Pārvatī, I speak of the rules relating to the unfolding of the yantra of Devadeva, which is all- alluring, heavenly, and the cause of all complete curse-removal. The Śrī Cakra has bindu, triangle, hexagon, circle, eight lotus petals, three circles and earthsquare. Pārvatī, now I speak of the magical practice (Layanga) of the King of Mantras. Whosoever hears this doctrine may obtain the fruit of initiation. O Shire, In the earthsquare are the 10 Dikpālas, with their weapons, such as Indra and so forth.

In the three circles are the three lines of Guru, the Celestial, Siddha Augha, and Mortal Augha.

Śive, in the eight (petals) are Asitanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodhesha, Unmatta Bhairava, Kapalesha, Bhushana and Samharesha. Sincere seekers and sādhakas should worship these in the eight petal lotus.

One should worship Kalagnirudra, Netresha, Vishvanatha, Maheshvara, Sadyojata and Vamadeva in the six yonis. O Devī, in the triangle one should worship Kameshvara, Mahākāla Deva, and Svacchanda Bhairava. Śive, in the bindu one should worship Mṛtyuṃjaya Deva with his own Śakti. He is the Lord of Amṛta, Ishana, ruler of the Three Worlds, with three parts, the highest pure Kalā, with a necklace of pearls over His limbs — in this way the best sādhakas should worship.

One should offer variously, O Devī, using scent, unhusked rice, flowers, incense, flame, food, paan, with parasols and fly-whisks. This is the magical practice (Layanga), hidden in all tantras, giving all siddhi, which one should conceal carefully.

Mahādevī, the Seer of this mantra is Maha Chama Pada, the metre is Gayatri, and the aspect of divinity Mahā Mṛtyuṃjaya Rudra (known as) Mahādeva, the Primordial God. Devī, the bīja is Om. The Śakti is Juṃ. Paramashani, the lynchpin is Sah. O Ishvarī, the binding of the directions is 25 “Phaṭs”. The application is the famous four vargas. One should use Oṃ Juṃ Sauh with six long vowels to bow with. The best of sādhakas should start with the heart first. Using the root bīja one should do three pranayamas. One should sip water for the three tattvas which are Atma, Vidya, and Śiva.

Pārvatī, now I declare the meditation image (dhyana) of the God of Gods. Whichsoever mantrin meditates thus becomes one with Śiva. One should meditate on Mṛtyuṃjaya as having three eyes which are Moon, Sun and Fire; smiling face; seated within two lotuses, Whose hands hold Mudra, Noose, Wine and Rosary; effulgent as the Moon; with 10 million Moon Kalās of nectar drenching His body; begemmed wlth radiant pearls and so forth; charming, bewildering the Universe, the Paśupati.

In the centre of Rudra’s forehead one should meditate on the circle of the Moon. By meditating on this place one may accomplish what one desires, and obtains freedom from death. In this way one should meditate on the begemmed mantra which Is the supreme seed of all, to obtain what one desires. One should carefully conceal this meditation on Rudra’s head.

Now I speak of eight practical applications, hard to obtain, giving supreme results. The mantrin who should do these comes to resemble Bhairava, (They are) Paralysing, Deluding, Killing, Attracting, Subduing, Producing Peace and Promoting Health. Now I speak of those actions which cause great happiness. All siddhi comes via these magical methods in the Kali Yuga.

Śive, on a Sunday, having bathed, and having done the daily rite, firstly having made a resolution as to the number of times to recite the mantra, one should recite it many times. A tenth of this one should offer as sacrifice (homa), using clarified butter and lotus seeds, Then one may accomplish paralysis of speech and mouth, causing (even such a great Brahmin as) Vivashvata to fall from caste.

On a Monday one should worship Deveśa and should recite (the mantra) numerous times. One should give sacrifice of a tenth part using ghee, corn, parched grain, and vegetable leaves. Making a forehead mark using the ash one is able to delude the world.

On a Tuesday, the sādhaka, after bathlng, should go to a cremation ground. There he should recite the mantra numberless times, doing sacrifice of a large quantity of ghee, lotuses, various sweet substances, fruit of the Bel Tree, Devī, then one may kill one’s enemy.

On a Wednesday, having bathed, one should worship in front of the Śrī Cakra, and should recite the mantra numerous times, by a tenth part of this giving sacrifice of ghee, three thorns, bilva leaf. Then one may attract women.

On a Thursday, having bathed, one should recite the vidya a very large number of times. One should give sacrifice of a tenth part of that, using ghee, lotus seeds, sandalwood, sprinkling water and pieces of dead flesh. One obtains what one desires, gains victory over enemies, becomes a hero, wealthy, and lords it over adversaries.

On a Friday, the Lord Hero, in the cremation ground, should recite the mantra numerous times. Before an image of the root vidyā one should do sacrifice of a tenth part, using ghee, frog flesh, snail flesh. Then, most certainly, one may uproot enemies.

On a Saturday, having bathed, one should do pūja and should recite the vidya a number of times. One should do sacrifice using milk, water used for bathing the dead, wood of the vaṭa tree, sunflowers, flesh of a tiger with dhatura flowers. Then one may accomplish pacifying,

Always, on any day, one should recite the mantra numerous times, using mutton, tortoise flesh, boar flesh, and various fruits and flowers. Then disease is removed from home, father and devatās. Having done sacrifice of a tenth part one promotes great health.

Thus the Inner Essence (mahātattva) of the mantra has been declared, One should carefully hide it from the undevoted as if it were Your own yoni.

End of the Patala

Artwork is © Jan Bailey, 1975-2022. Translations are © Mike Magee 1975-2022.Questions or comments to mike.magee@btinternet.com

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