shivamrityunjayadeath-conqueringmarkandeya

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌂𑌜𑌯 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍

Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Brahma Muhurta, or at the bedside of the ill·📜 Traditional Shaiva stotra (attributed to Sage Markandeya)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Traditional Shaiva stotra (attributed to Sage Markandeya) · Attributed to Markandeya Rishi · Ancient / classical

This death-conquering hymn is traditionally linked to Sage Markandeya, the boy-sage who overcame Yama through devotion to Shiva and was blessed with immortality. The stotra distils that fearlessness into a litany of Shiva's names — Rudra, Pashupati, Sthanu, Nilakantha, Kalanashana — each verse sealing the bow with the rhetorical question 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati', 'what can death do to me?', the cry of a soul wholly sheltered in the Lord.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told that when the noose of Yama fell upon young Markandeya, Lord Shiva sprang from the Lingam and drove death away, granting the boy eternal youth. From this triumph flows the conviction behind this stotra: that the devotee who bows to Shiva with the words 'what can death do to me?' is placed beyond the reach of untimely death, and many recite it at sickbeds reporting peace and recovery.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌣𑍁𑌂 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌮𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௧॥

Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥1॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — Rudra, Pashupati, Sthanu (the eternal pillar), the blue-throated one, the Lord of Uma. What then can death do to me?

Verse 2

𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௨॥

Nilakantham Kalamurtim Kalajnam Kalanashanam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥2॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the blue-throated one, the embodiment of Time, the knower of Time, the destroyer of Time. What then can death do to me?

Verse 3

𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌲𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌲𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௩॥

Nilakantham Virupaksham Nirmalam Nilayapradam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥3॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the blue-throated one, the one with the wondrous eye, the stainless, the giver of the final abode. What then can death do to me?

Verse 4

𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௪॥

Vamadevam Mahadevam Lokanatham Jagadgurum। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥4॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — Vamadeva, the great God, Lord of the worlds, preceptor of the universe. What then can death do to me?

Verse 5

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌷𑌭𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌜𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௫॥

Devadevam Jagannatham Devesham Vrishabhadhvajam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥5॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — God of gods, Lord of the universe, ruler of the gods, whose banner bears the bull. What then can death do to me?

Verse 6

𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌭𑌰𑌣𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௬॥

Gangadharam Mahadevam Sarpabharana-Bhushitam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥6॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the bearer of the Ganga, the great God, adorned with serpents. What then can death do to me?

Verse 7

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌂 𑌚𑌤𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌭𑍁𑌜𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌟𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௭॥

Tryaksham Chaturbhujam Shantam Jata-Mukuta-Dharinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥7॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the three-eyed, four-armed, serene one, wearing a crown of matted locks. What then can death do to me?

Verse 8

𑌭𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍂𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌭𑌰𑌣𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௮॥

Bhasmoddhulita-Sarvangam Nagabharana-Bhushitam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥8॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — all his limbs smeared with sacred ash, adorned with serpents. What then can death do to me?

Verse 9

𑌅𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌧𑌰𑌂 𑌹𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௯॥

Anantam-Avyayam Shantam-Akshamala-Dharam Haram। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥9॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the infinite, the imperishable, the peaceful, holding the rosary, Hara the remover. What then can death do to me?

Verse 10

𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑍈𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌦𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௧௦॥

Anandam Paramam Nityam Kaivalya-Pada-Dayinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥10॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — supreme and eternal bliss, the giver of the state of absolute liberation. What then can death do to me?

Verse 11

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌪𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௧௧॥

Svargapavarga-Dataram Srishti-Sthity-Anta-Karinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥11॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — bestower of heaven and of liberation, the doer of creation, preservation and dissolution. What then can death do to me?

Verse 12

𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌦𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌰𑌰𑍋𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿॥௧௨॥

Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-Arogatam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥12॥

Meaning:Grant me, O Lord, a lifespan of an aeon, merit, and lifelong freedom from disease — I bow my head to that God. What then can death do to me?

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊RudramRudra — the fierce roarer, the destroyer of suffering

𑌪𑌶𑍁𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊PashupatimPashupati — Lord of all living beings

𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌣𑍁𑌮𑍍🔊SthanumSthanu — the firm, immovable, eternal pillar (the unchanging absolute)

𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌕𑌣𑍍𑌠𑌮𑍍🔊NilakanthamThe blue-throated one (who held the halahala poison in his throat to save creation)

𑌉𑌮𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊UmapatimThe Lord (consort) of Uma (Parvati)

𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌸𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊Namami Shirasa DevamI bow my head to that God

𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿🔊Kim No Mrityuh KarishyatiWhat then can death do to us? — the fearless refrain ending every verse

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊KalamurtimThe very embodiment of Time

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌮𑍍🔊KalajnamThe knower of Time (and of the right moment)

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊KalanashanamThe destroyer of Time (and hence of death)

𑌵𑌿𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍🔊VirupakshamThe one with the odd (third) eye / many-formed eye

𑌨𑌿𑌲𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊NilayapradamThe giver of the final abode (refuge, liberation)

𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊VamadevamVamadeva — one of the five faces of Shiva, the beautiful and gracious aspect

𑌜𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍🔊JagadgurumThe world-teacher (preceptor of the universe)

𑌵𑍃𑌷𑌭𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌜𑌮𑍍🔊VrishabhadhvajamHe whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)

𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾𑌧𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊GangadharamThe bearer of the Ganga (in his matted locks)

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌭𑌰𑌣𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊Sarpabharana-BhushitamAdorned with serpents as ornaments

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍🔊TryakshamThe three-eyed one

𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌟𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊Jata-Mukuta-DharinamWearing a crown of matted locks

𑌭𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍂𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌮𑍍🔊Bhasmoddhulita-SarvangamAll his limbs smeared with sacred ash

𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌧𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Akshamala-DharamHolding the rosary (rudraksha mala)

𑌕𑍈𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌦𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊Kaivalya-Pada-DayinamThe giver of the state of kaivalya (absolute liberation)

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌪𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Svargapavarga-DataramThe bestower of both heaven (svarga) and liberation (apavarga)

𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌦𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌰𑌰𑍋𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-ArogatamGrant me a long life of an aeon (kalpa), merit, and freedom from disease for the whole of my life

Benefits of Chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram

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Recited for protection from untimely and accidental death, like its companion the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

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Each verse's refrain 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' instils profound fearlessness toward death

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Invokes Shiva as Kalanashana — the destroyer of Time itself

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Prayed for health, longevity (kalpayuh) and lifelong freedom from disease (arogata)

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A beautiful meditation on the many names and forms of Shiva, deepening devotion

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Bestows both worldly wellbeing (svarga) and ultimate liberation (apavarga/kaivalya)

How to Chant Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram

Repetitions11times

Best TimeMondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Brahma Muhurta, or at the bedside of the ill

Sit facing east or north before an image or Lingam of Shiva, ideally with a rudraksha mala. Recite the verses steadily, dwelling on the refrain 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' as a heartfelt affirmation of fearless surrender. It is often chanted together with, or after, the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Om Tryambakam) for healing. During serious illness it is recited daily; for the dying, it is chanted at the bedside to bring peace and grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a Sanskrit hymn to Lord Shiva, traditionally attributed to Sage Markandeya, beginning 'Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim'. Each verse salutes Shiva by his names and ends with the refrain 'Namami Shirasa Devam, Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' — 'I bow my head to that God; what then can death do to me?'

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is the single Vedic verse 'Om Tryambakam Yajamahe' from the Rigveda. The Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram is a separate, longer hymn of many verses ('Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum') attributed to Markandeya. Both are dedicated to Shiva as the conqueror of death and are often recited together.

Markandeya was a young sage destined to die at sixteen. On that day he embraced the Shiva Lingam in devotion; when Yama, the god of death, cast his noose, Shiva burst forth and saved him, granting him deathlessness. Hymns conquering death, including this stotra, are associated with Markandeya's victory over Yama.

It is chanted for protection from untimely death, for recovery from illness, for longevity and for fearlessness. Mondays, Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri are especially auspicious. It is also recited at the bedside of the seriously ill and the dying to invoke Shiva's grace and a peaceful, fearless state.