To get longevity from life threat 

 “Om tryambakkam yajamahey,
Sugandhimpustivardhanam 
Urvaarokameva bandanaan
Mrityormooksheya maamritaat”

“Lord Shiva is the three-eyed god. Shiva is always perfumed. He fosters all the creatures of the Universe. Lord Shiva releases from death for the sake of immortality, as cucumber detaches its bondage of the vine. We worship Lord Shiva to liberate us from death”

We bow our head in devotion to the almighty Lord Shiva who is the destroyer of all evils. He is the one whom we offer our prayers, to avoid ultimate death. Lord Shiva appears in a meditating but ever-happy posture. He has knotted hair which holds the flowing Ganges River and a falcate moon, a serpent coiled around his neck, a ‘trishul’ in his one hand and ashes all over his body. Shiva is the only godhead who is forever in deep meditation, totally absorbed in contemplation in His abode, Kailaasa mountain in the great Himalaya.

The Lord's characteristic represents his victory over the evil activity, and calmness of human nature. He is known as the "giver" god. His vehicle is a bull (symbol of happiness and strength) named Nandi. Lord Shiva is the one who helps us to overcome the difficult phases of life.

Trayambakkam refers to the three eyes of Lord Shiva. He is also called Tryambaka Deva (literally, "three-eyed Lord"), is depicted as having three eyes: the sun is His right eye, the moon the left eye and fire the third eye. The two eyes on the right and left indicate His activity in the physical world. The third eye in the center of the forehead symbolizes spiritual knowledge and power, and is thus called the eye of wisdom or knowledge. Like fire, the powerful gaze of Shiva's third eye destroys evil, and thus the person who has evil intention fears His third eye.. These three eyes of enlightment are the Trimurti or three primary deities namely, Brahma (omniscient), Vishnu (omnipresent) and Shiva (Omnipotent). We sing in praise to Lord Shiva whose fragrance is always spreading around. He is the sustainer of this world. Therefore when we are bound by some deadly disease then we should bow our head and pray to him to bring us out from the deadly disease and also from the cycle of re-birth.

Based on the teachings of Sri Harihara in Prasna Marga, The Maha Mritunjai mantra should be recited 8000 times in a period of forty days. The recitation of 108 mantra for forty days both in the morning and evening covers this requirement. Maha Mruthyunjaya Homam is dedicated to Lord Shiva to avoid untimely death. The Mruthyunjaya Homam is performed to achieve Jaya or Victory over Mritya or death. The object of worship of this homa is Lord Shiva. One of the synonyms of Lord Shiva is Mrityu. Mrityu which means death of the death or the destroyer of death. During this homa one chants 21 mantras. The prominent offerings in this homa are durva grass and an herb called amrita. The former is famous for purifying blood and the latter is used as a medicine for incurable diseases like arbuda or cancer. Since these are used as offerings in this homa, it is believed that this homam bestows longevity on the performer. The hymns are devoted to Mrityu, the God of death, praying for long life. These hymns are used in the purnahuti or the final offering in the famous Soma sacrifice. This homa also alleviates Mrityu dosha or premature death.

Shiva sitting in the cremation ground signifies that He is the controller of death in the physical world. Since birth and death are cyclic, controlling one implies controlling the other. Lord Shiva is honored as the ultimate controller of birth and death in this unique world. Thus, to relieve our self from uncertain death and lead a good and healthy life it is important that we perform the Maha Mritunjai Yagna.

Who should perform this Yagna?

People who are going through some unforeseen circumstances for example if he/she is going through a chronic health problem or some legal problem can perform this yajna. This yagna is done according to the intensity of the problem. An astrologer advises the person to do a jaap (chanting within oneself) according to the seriousness of the situation.

Key Feature and program schedule of this Yagna  

Along with other rituals related with this Yagna, there will be chanting of mantras

 

No of the mantra to be chanted	Duration of the yagna	No of priests
31,000	1day	6
61,000	3 days	5
1,25,000	5 days	5