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Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra from Ved
There are two most important Shiv Mantra - one is Panchaaksharee Mantra and the other is Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra. Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra is also a very important Mantra of Shiv. There are at least two expanded versions of the Tryambakam Mantra. Both of them are to be found in the Rudra Ashtaa Dhyaayee and in its parent Ved - the Shukla and Krishn Yajur Ved. Both of them are very similar with the exception of one or two syllables.

This Mantra is from Rig Ved (7/59);
Om Tryambak Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvaa Rukmiva Bandhanaan Mrityor Muksheeya Maamrataat .....It alleviates even most dreadful diseases and death.

The Mantra from  Shukla Yajur Ved, (3/60)
Om Tryambak Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pati Vedanam
Urvaa Rukmiva Bandhan Adito Muksheeya Maamutah ...  this is the prayer of a bride for her husband.....
In the Shukla Yajur Ved, Ch. 3, Mantra 60, it is the prayer of a bride who is proceeding from her own house to the house of Groom along with the groom and their relatives, and it is the prayer of the Bride at the time of her leaving her own house, leaving behind her father, mother, brothers, sisters and other relatives.

At both the places, the meaning of the Mantra has to be interpreted in different ways depending upon the situation.
The bride says that the bondage in which she had been till now, is really a bondage which does not give her the Moksh, but "Oh my God, the bondage at the house of my own husband is the way of Moksh and therefore Oh God, kindly do not keep me away from getting that Moksh. In Yajur Ved this Mantra has to be interpreted in this way but in Rig Ved it is to be interpreted in the way as mentioned above.

Lord Shiv shall always be satisfied with Abhishek, without which Shiv Pooja is incomplete and unconsummated. While performing Abhishek chanting of Mrityunjaya Mantra is advised. To get eternal happiness to the self and people around, who hears Mrityunjaya Mantra shall be uttered in rhythmic fashion as specified, keeping or remembering its meaning in the mind. To achieve best results Lord Shiv shall be worshipped on Mondays in particular.

Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra or otherwise called Mrit Sanjeevanee Mantra is bequeathed to us by Vashishth Jee. It is written in "Anushtup Chaand". It is composed off four lines and eight Pad in total. The Omkaar Shabd is added to this Mahaa Mantra at a later stage to enhance the power of Mantra by Rishi and scholars having authority. For the best results it shall be chanted for a minimum number of 8,000 in a Mandal (40 days). While worshipping Shiv in the morning hours it is advised to sit facing East facing and in the evening hours facing North.

Om - This is the Beejaakshar of Param Shiv which represents Sookshm Shareer (Subtle body) of the Lord.
Trayambakam - This Word was explained in different ways by learned scholars. Lord Shiv is having three eyes as Moon, Sun and the Fire (Eye on the fore head or Aagyaa Chakra). Traya means three and Ambak means eye hence called Trayambakeshwar. He is also called with this name as he wiped off Tripur also. Aadi Shankaraachaarya has elucidated that Lord Shiv is the master of;
Three Gun - Rajoo, Tamo and Satwa;
Three Mandal - Som, Aaditya and Agni;
Three Lok (worlds) Bhoo, Bhuva, Swar Lok;
Three Tattwa - Aata, Vidya,
Three Shiv Tattwa - Anava, Karm, Maayaa.

In gist Lord Shiv is the bestower of salvation or deliverance, hence shall be remembered to start with.

Yajaamahe - We pay tribute to you. This word shall be read in conjunction with the above.

Sugandhim - Sugandh means fragrance or aroma. The effect of worship of Lord Shiv is compared with the fragrance that drives away A-Dharm
from the individual and leads a disciplined life. Shiv's worship spreads aroma in all three Gun, ten Indriyaan to purify the soul from egoism, Karm, Maayaa and bestows balance in pleasure and pain.

Pushtivardhanam - Lord Shiv is the Sustainer too. Pooshan refers to Him as the sustainer of this world and in this manner, He is the Father of all. Pooshan is also the inner impeller of all knowledge and is thus Savitur or the Sun and also symbolizes Brahmaa the Omniscient Creator. In this manner He is also the Father (Genitor) of all. For every living being to sustain food is essential, hence Shiv is food contributor. Arth (wealth) and Karm (Deeds) had taken together means Pushti. Lord Shiv's worship imparts knowledge for self realization.

Urvaa Rukameva - Urvaa means vast, expansive, big or large, whereas Aruk means disease. These diseases are either of physical or mental
(Shad Varg, Tri-Gun etc) in nature. Shiv's worship will wash down these diseases and ease from the bondages of rebirth.

Bandhanaat - This word shall be read in conjunction with the above. Badhanaat mean exclusion from all bondages.

Mrityor Muksheeya - Savior of premature deaths and relieve from the cycle of rebirths by granting Salvation. (Moksh)

Maamritaat - This word shall be read in conjunction with the above. Maamritaat means O' Lord give me the nectar to alleviate me from the tedious cycles of rebirth and accord Jeevan Mukti.

"Om Joom Sah" is the Mahaa Mrityunjaya Beej Mantra. It can be used as part of the Lom Vilom Samput in chanting the Tryambakam Mantra. Lom Vilom means "forwards and backwards".

Read this also - "The second Pad of the Mantra," continued Shukraachaarya, "as Sugandhim refers to the fragrance of the flower that spreads in all directions, in a similar way Shiv is also present in the entire creation, both animate and inanimate. In all the Bhoot (modes of existence), in the three Gun (nature of creation as being Sattwa, Rajas or Tamas), in the 10 Indriyaan, in all the Devtaa (33 Devtaa are the source of all illumination and enlightenment) and the Gan (hosts of demi-gods), Shiv exists and pervades as the illumine Aatmaa (soul) and is their essence.

Pushti Vardhanam is now being explained. That inward dwelling spirit (Aatmaa), the Purush Shiv is the real sustainer of Prakriti (and not vice-versa as all people perceive). Starting with the Mahaa Tattwa (primordial state of matter/energy) to the individual parts of creation, the entire sustenance of the physically created beings (both animate and inanimate) is done by the imperishable Purush. You, I, Brahmaa, Vishnu, the Muni and even Indra and Devtaa are maintained and sustained (by the Aatmaa and that is Him). Since the Purush (Aatmaa - Shiv) is the granter of sustenance to Prakriti (body/nature), he is 'Pushti Vardhanam'."

Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra is the most powerful Mantra in Kali Yug and that is a fact. Many people do some mistakes while chanting this
Mantra so here is the correct way of chanting this Mantra -
It is not Trambakam OR Thrambakam (Most of south Indian use this phrase) but it is "Tryambakam"
Do not use Bandhanat but it is "Bandhanaan".

3 Types of Laghu Mrityunjaya Mantra and Their Siddhi
This Mantra is a must for people who are very ill or suffering from any kind of disease. There are 3 types of this Mantra. This Mantra needs to be recited 1 Lakh times to attain Siddhi, otherwise the Jap (recital) of this Mantra is trifurcated into the following -
--Laghu Mrityunjaya Mantra (three small Mantra each attaining Siddhi after recital of 3 Lakhs, 4 Lakhs and 1.25 Lakhs respectively)
--Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra, which has several prefixes and suffixes to the Mantra attains Siddhi after recital of 1.25 Lakhs
--Mrit Sanjeevanee Mantra which is even longer than the second one, attains Siddhi after recital of 1 Lakh times.

Based on the teachings of Harihara in Prashn Maarg, we advise that this Mantra should be recited for 8,000 times in a period of 40 days. The recitation of 108 Mantra for forty days both in the morning and evening covers this requirement. For other purposes larger number of repetitions are advised. After lighting a lamp and sitting in any Yaugik posture (preferably Padmasan) while facing East. Recite the Mahaa Mantra 108 times (one rosary) or its multiples in each sitting. This is the greatest work of Maharshi Vashishth Jee. Before commencing the Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra, recite the Mantra to the everlasting spirit of the Maharshi Vashishth for his blessings and guidance. Thereafter, perform Rudraabhishek (Ritual offering of the Panchaamrit or the five forms of nectar as Honey, Ghee, Curd, Milk and Gangaa Water) on the Shiv Ling.

Why to Recite a Mantra so Many Times to Get Siddhi.
If we do not attach these conditions to the Mantra it will benefit more to mankind. if we say you have to say the mantra "n" Laakh times a person will lose interest and will stay away from using them. I have recently started the use of Mantra and advised to some people to use them, We are not counting how many times we are saying but we can feel the difference, we are feeling good about them and also we are finding some benefits. I think it will become easier and useful if we encourage people to chant the Mantra in their daily life with out any conditions. Mantra have vibrations and energy when we recite them they activate the Chakra in our body and energize our souls, so we feel the benefits of Mantra. They have more effect if we say them more times.

Pt Arjun says - "When you recite a Mantra repeatedly, you would feel the Chakra getting activated. however, to awaken the Kundalinee energy and to realize the full positive impact of a Mantra, a particular number is given. In olden days, people used to go to a secluded place and start chanting a Mantra continuously without counting. then after some time (could be days, weeks, months or years) suddenly God gave him His Darshan and asked him to seek a boon. It is a symbolic thing for a layman. In reality it means, that his Kundalinee is awakened at that point of time and he got self realization, god's realization and got aligned with god. Simply put, he himself became god from then onwards.

As god is there in all human beings, the moment a person achieves god's realization and aligns with god, he possess godly powers and his blessings have the POWER to change the fate. This is the reason why Rishi (sages) are treated above gods in protocol. However, for any person to reach that level, first he shall undergo self purification process which takes several years, then will undergo the self realization process which takes a few more years, then only god realization occurs, which takes yet another longer time (maybe even several births).

Legend Behind this Mantra
Legend has it that Shiv appeared before his devotee Rishi Maarkandeya (who was destined to die at the age of 16) and stopped his aging
process the day he was destined to die. Thus, death was never be able to take him with him. Hence, this Mantra is also referred to as the Maarkandeya Mantra in classical Hindu studies. The Mantra should ideally be repeated 108 times, twice daily, at dawn and at dusk.
It is particularly useful for meditation and Yog practice.

Some Other Reasons for Chanting This Mantra
(1) The Kaarmik cloud (canopy of black cloud in the Vigyaan-maya Kosh) is still there and needs to be burnt.
(2) Each Mantra has a Bouton energy and many Bouton energies go to activate the Kundalinee Shakthi which needs a particular number of
Aahuti (internal Aahuti) for activation.
(3) The deity has fixed a certain fixed number for the Mantra depending on the cosmos conditions of that period.
(4) Each Beej has a particular activational level and needs a certain amount of impinging into the subconscious mind to penetrate.

These are just four reasons why a Mantra needs to be repeated many number of times or say in a fixed number of times, it another example is that most Mantra are recited for 108 times (that is why a rosary is made of 108 beads), because all the planets have to pass through all the 108 Charan of all the 27 Nakshatra of all the 9 planets, so to please all the planets and all the Nakshatra, wherever they are at the time of Jap, get their share of their prayer.

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