Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109
The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra
Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana
अक्षरात्मा निगदितो मंत्रो मृत्युञ्जयात्मकः । ऋषइः कहोलो देव्यादिगायत्री छन्द ईरितम् ॥ १०९ ॥
akṣarātmā nigadito maṃtro mṛtyuñjayātmakaḥ | ṛṣaiḥ kaholo devyādigāyatrī chanda īritam || 109 ||
Diese Mantra wird als wesensgleich mit dem akṣara, der unvergänglichen Silbe, erklärt und als von der Natur des Mṛtyuñjaya, des Bezwingers des Todes. Ihr ṛṣi (Seher) ist Kahola, und ihr chandas (Versmaß) heißt Devyādi-Gāyatrī.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical mantra-vidhi)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It identifies the mantra’s inner principle as the imperishable akṣara and frames it as Mṛtyuñjaya in essence—pointing to protection, longevity, and transcendence over fear of death through mantra-upāsanā.
By naming the mantra as Mṛtyuñjaya-ātmaka, it directs devotion toward the death-conquering divine power; bhakti here is expressed as reverent mantra-japa aligned with the mantra’s r̥ṣi and chandas.
Chandas (metre) and mantra-vidhi: the verse states the ṛṣi (Kahola) and the chandas (Devyādi-Gāyatrī), which are core components of correct viniyoga (application) in Vedic recitation and ritual.