What does Sanjeevani mean?
Sanjeevani (or Sanjivani) is a Sanskrit word (Old-Indian language) and is translated mostly directly as the „immortal“, „the infinite life“ or as „life giving“.
In the Hindu mythology Sanjeevani is described as a magical plant which can wake dead people to the life, or which lends immortality.
This plant is mentioned in the Ramayana, as, during the war with Ravana, Lakshmana was wounded and was killed almost by Indrajit. Hanuman (the monkey God) was called, to bring Sanjeevani from the mountain Dronagiri in the Himalayas. Wenn he reached the mountain, Hanuman was not able to identify the herb, and decided to lift the complete mountain, and brought it to the battlefield.
Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya is described as the knowledge about Mrita Sanjeevani, a sacred knowledge which lends immortality and can wake dead people to the life. The old saints and masters looked after this knowledge and transmitted the secret and the mystery only to trustworthy devotees.
Today there is still the mystery and the search for Sanjeevani, the plant that gives back life again. In the end, it is a search for the knowledge about timeless life in you, a search for immortality.
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Mrita Sanjeevani Mantra)
Om Tryambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pushthi Vardhanam
Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan
Mrityor Muksheeya maamritaat
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is also known as the Mrita Sanjeevani Mantra and as the Maha Moksha Mantra of Shiva (Moksha=liberation). It is hailed by the sages as the heart of the Vedas and holds the highest place along with the Gayatri Mantra.
The word Maha means ‘great’, Mrityu means ‘death’, and Jaya means ‘victory’.
It is believed that Shiva itself gave humanity the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, to overcome the fear of death.
It is said to have the strength to give life and to lead us to immortality. It gives us wisdom and knowledge. His vibration pulsates through every cell, every molecule of our body and releases us from the veil of ignorance. It lights a fire in us which purifies us and it is said to have a strong healing power which can safe us from incurable illnesses. It is a Mantra to overcome death, and connects us with our own internal divinity.
Known as the Maha Moksha Mantra of Shiva, it calls Shiva in us, destroys the fear of death and leads us to liberation (Moksha).
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is found several times in the Rig, in the Yajur and in the Sama Veda. It is also mentioned in the ayurvedic scripts. In the Shiva Purana it was called by Shukracharya himself, as the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya (the knowledge which leads to everlasting life).
Meaning of the Mrita Sanjeevani Mantras
There are many variations of translations and interpretations of the meaning of the Mantra. Here a wonderfull translation:
I surrender myself to the Divine Being (Shiva) who embodies the power of will, the power of knowledge, and the power of action. I pray to the Divine Being who manifests in the form of fragrance in the flower of life and is the eternal nourisher of the plant of life. like a skillful gardener, may the Lord of Life disentangle me from the binding forces of my physical, psychological, and spiritual foes. May the lord of Immortality residing within me, free me from death, decay and sickness and unite me with immortality.
Here another easier translation:
We pray to the three-eyed one (Shiva) which is fragrant, and which supports all beings. May he release us from death. May he lead us to immortality, like the cucumber is released from his connection to the vine.