Mṛtyunivarakāshṭaka

The Mṛtyunivarakāshṭaka is an ashṭaka (a composition of eight verses) made by Mārkaṇḍeya, the ṛshi, to keep death away and to win long life. It is addressed to Bhagavān Vishṇu as the one who defeats mṛtyu (death). It is recorded in the Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, chapter 233.

The composer

Mārkaṇḍeya is one of the most honoured names in the Purāṇic tradition. He is known above all for his victory over death. He was meant to die young. He held Bhagavān Śiva with such deep devotion that when Yama came for him, Bhagavān Śiva himself kicked Yama away and declared Mārkaṇḍeya to be for ever sixteen years old (ciraṃjīvī, the long-lived one). The ṛshi who made this stotra is therefore itself a living proof of its power.

The Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa places this stotra within its wider teaching on overcoming death through the grace of Bhagavān Vishṇu. That fits the Purāṇa’s concern with death, the journey after death and moksha.

The eight verses

The ashṭaka calls on Bhagavān Vishṇu as the highest conqueror of Mṛtyu and asks his protection in eight ways.

  1. Bhagavān Vishṇu who goes beyond death. “You who are beyond all death, protect me from untimely departure.”
  2. Remembering Bhagavān Vishṇu at the time of death. One who remembers Vishṇu at death reaches him directly. This rests on the teaching of the Bhagavad Gītā:

yaṃ yaṃ vā’pi smaran bhāvaṃ tyajaty ante kalevaram

  1. The power of the name. The name Kṛshṇa is called the cure for the fear of death. The name comes before the form and cannot be destroyed.
  2. Protection of the body’s vital forces. A prayer for āyus (long life), ārogya (health) and prāṇa-rakshā (protection of the life breath).
  3. Vishṇu as Mṛtyuñjaya. Though the Purāṇa is Vaishṇava, it accepts that Bhagavān Vishṇu rules over death in all his forms.
  4. Surrender of the self. “Having given this body, mind and life to You, I have no fear of death.”
  5. The assurance for the yogī’s death. One who dies remembering Vishṇu (Vishṇu-smaraṇa) is not under Yama’s power. The devotee goes straight to Vaikuṇṭha.
  6. The phalaśruti and closing prayer. One who recites this ashṭaka at sunrise, noon and sunset is freed from the fear of untimely death and reaches the eternal abode.

The phalaśruti

The stotra itself declares what it gives. One who recites the Mṛtyunivarakāshṭaka:

  • is protected from mṛtyu-bhaya (fear of death);
  • gains long life (dīrgha-āyus);
  • is held up by remembrance of Vishṇu in the last moments;
  • reaches the abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu at the time of leaving the body.

The stotra is especially recited during illness, at the bedside of a dying loved one, and as part of daily stotra-pāṭha (recitation of stotras) in families where early death has run.

Sources

  • Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, chapter 233