54 - Worship with Triyambaka mantra

Suta said:

1.    With the Triyambka³²² mantra one shall worship the three-eyed lord of Devas in a Banalinga or in a self-born Linga.

322. triyambakena— with the tryambaka mantra. Cf. Linga. II. 28. 62.

 2-6. Those who wish to prolong their lives and those who are conversant with the Vedas shall worship Shiva with a thousand and eight white lotuses or a thousand red lotuses or a thousand blue lotuses. After the worship one shall give milk pudding, cooked rice soaked in ghee, cooked green gram and rice mixed with honey, fragrant sweets and other edibles. He shall perform Homa in the fire with the flowers mentioned before as well as with Charu in particular. He shall perform japa a hundred thousand times and perfectly conclude everything in due order. He shall then feed a thousand brahmins and offer them Dakshinas. After giving a thousand cows he shall in the end give gold also.

7-8. Thus, everything including the secret doctrines has been succinctly mentioned to you. This had been formerly mentioned to Skanda of unmeasured splendour on the top of the mountain Meru by the trident-holding Shiva, the lord of Devas. This was then mentioned to the intelligent son of Brahma by Skanda the lord of Devas.

9. This was then mentioned to Vyasa by Sanatkumara the well-wisher of the worlds. Thus, this has been handed down tiaditionally.

10. When Shuka passed away the highly- blessed great sage Vyasa saw the three-eyed lord Rudra and dispelled his misery.

11-12. The sage listened to the story of the birth of Skanda. As he stayed there the glory of Triyambaka mantra was fully mentioned to him. Thanks to his grace I shall now mention everything to you.

13. One shall repeat the Triyambaka mantra after duly worshipping the lord. One is liberated from all sins accumulated in the course of seven births.

14. He shall gain victory in the battle and attain incomparable good fortune. He who seeks a realm shall acquire it by performing a hundred thousand Homas and shall be happy.

15. He who seeks a son shall undoubtedly attain a son with a hundred thousand Homas of this mantra. He who seeks wealth shall unhesitatingly repeat the japa a million times.

16. He will be fully and perfectly endowed with riches, food grains and all other auspicious materials. He will play with his sons and grandsons. When he passes aw ay he will go to the heaven.

17. O sages of good holy rites, there is no mantra on a par with this one both in the world and in the Vedas. Hence, one shall continuously worship the three-eyed lord thereby.

18-23. The fruit thereof shall be eight times the benefit of Agni sfoma sacrifice.

The word Triyambaka is interpreted thus. He is the lord of the three worlds, three Gunas, three Vedas, three Devas, and three castes — brahmins, kshatriyas and vaishyas. He is expressed by the three syllables “A”, “U”, “M”.³²³ He is the lord of the three fires, viz., the moon, sun and fire. Uma, Amba and Mahadeva constitute the trio. ³²⁴ So he is Triyambaka the lord of the three.

323. akarokaramakara— ST. dissolves  — who is the source of origin of the three-syllabled sum.

(The word Sugandhi in the mantra is interpreted thus). The splendid fragrance of a tree in full bloom is wafted to a great distance. Similarly, is the fragrance of the great lord. The lord is fragrance or the holder of fragrance unto all other Devas. ³²⁵ His fragrance is wafted in this world and in the firmament when the wind blows. ³²⁶ Hence, the attribute Sugandhi refers to the lord. Now the word “Pustivardhanam” is interpreted.

324-326. ST. offers another set of three fanciful derivations of sugandhim

24-26. Formerly, the semen of the lord Shiva was deposited in the womb of Vishnu. It was from this semen that the cosmic golden egg, the source of origin of Brahma originated. The nourishment of his semen extends beyond the moon, sun, stars, earth, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahab, Tapah and Satya. The five elements, the cosmic ego, the cosmic intellect and Prakruti are nourished by his semen virile. Hence, the lord is Pushtivardhana (the increaser of nourishment).

27-28. The word Yajamahe (we worship) is interpreted. We worship that lord duly and devoutly by performing Homas with ghee, milk, honey, barley, wheat, black gram, Bilva fruits, lilies, Arka flowers, Shami leaves, white mustard and Shali rice grains in the Linga.

29-30. Now the latter half of the mantra is interpreted. By the grace of this Ruta (systematic worship) let me be released from the bondage of actions and reactions as well as the fetters of death. Let me be released from the glitter of worldly existence. Just as the ripe cucumber fruits fall out from their stalks when the season arrives, so also the time for liberation has come by the grace of this mantra.

31-35. One shall worship Shiva’s Linga after understanding the meaning and the rites of this mantra. That Yogin shall sever all bonds. He can control death. O sages of goodsholy rites, there is no other lord so merciful as Triyambaka. He is propitiated and delighted easily. So is the mantra. Hence, one shall forsake everything and worship the three-eyed lord of Uma by repeating this Triyambaka mantra. He shall worship with great concentration whatever may be his plight; he shall undoubtedly be liberated from all sins by the meditation on Shiva and he shall become Rudra himself. Although one incurs sins by killing and piercing living beings or by eating and enjoying unjustly he shall be liberated from all sins by remembering Shiva alone once.