Day - 14: “Om Shri Sai Mrityunjayaya Namaha”

        
Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala – Meaning, Meditation and Miracle  

          Day - 14: “Om Shri Sai Mrityunjayaya Namaha”  

Meaning:

Humble salutation to the embodiment of Lord Shiva, who has conquered death (Immortal). 

Meditation:

The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (Sanskrit: महामृत्युंजय मंत्र, Mahāmrtyumjaya Mantra "great death-conquering mantra"), also called the Tryambakam Mantra, is a verse of the Rigveda (RV 7.59.12.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकम् यजामहे सुगन्धिम् पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माम्रतात् ।। 

Aum  tryambakaṃ  yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam

urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya māmṛtāt 

Translation: We hail the fragrant Three-eyed One who nourishes [all] and increases the [sweet] fullness of life. As the cucumber is liberated from captivity [from its stem], may we [also] be liberated (mukshiya) from death (mrityor) not from immortality (maamritaat). (Wikipedia).

The desire to conquer death is essentially the desire to conquer birth. Since anything which is born is bound to die, the true conquest over death occurs only when the cycle of birth, death  and birth is broken, which Sages call as Mukti. The Brahmam is Desire less. Brahmam thus conquers death and thus becomes Mritunjayan- the conqueror of death.

Baba who was seen and worshipped every day with Bel leaves   as Shiva by Megha, suffered the pains of many dying devotees and saved them from death.

One Mrs Khaparde the wife of Mr. Dadhasaheb Khaparde of Amravathi, was staying in Shirdi with her son for some days. One day the son got high fever, which further developed into Bubonic Plague. The Mother was frightened and felt most uneasy. She thought of leaving the place for Amravati, and went near Baba in the evening, when He was coming near the Wada (now Samadhi Mandir).in His evening rounds for asking His permission. She informed Him in a trembling tone that her dear young son was down with Plague. Baba spoke kindly and softly to her, saying that the sky is beset with clouds; but they will disperse and pass off and everything will be smooth and clear. So saying He lifted up His Kafni upto the waist and showed to all present, four fully developed bubos, as big as Eggs and added, “ See, how I have to suffer for My devotees, their difficulties are Mine”. (Shri Sai Satcharita- Ch:7.) 

In the year 1910, Baba was sitting near the Dhuni on Diwali and warming Himself. He was putting fire-wood into the Dhuni, which was burning brightly. A little later instead of pushing logs of wood, Baba pushed His arm into the Dhuni. His arm was scorched and burnt. This was noticed by the errand boy Madhav and also by Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama).They, at once, ran to Baba and Madhav Rao clasped Baba by His waist from behind and dragged Him forcibly backward and asked, “ Deva, Why you done this?”. Then Baba came to His senses and replied, “The wife of the Blacksmith at the distant place was working the bellows of a furnace, her Husband called her, forgetting that her child was on her lap, she got up hastily and the child slipped into the furnace. I immediately thrust My hand into the furnace and saved the child. I do not mind My arm being burnt but, I am glad the life of the child is saved. (Shri Sai Satcharita Ch: 7). 

For the simple minded devotees who had nothing but faith, He saved them from bodily death. For those who realise Him as Brahmam He saves them from the cycle of birth and death and liberates them from death. He is Mrityunjayaya.