Mantra for good health: 5 traditional prayers for well-being
The Maha Mrityunjaya, Dhanvantari and other mantras traditionally chanted for good health, with Devanagari, meaning and how to chant them each day.
The mantra most often chanted for good health is the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे, a prayer to Shiva from the Rig Veda. Families also turn to the Dhanvantari mantra, to the physician of the gods, and to sunrise prayers to Surya. Chanted daily, these are prayers for strength, recovery and a steady mind.
A mantra is a prayer, not a treatment. It can bring comfort and calm while you or someone you love is unwell, but it is not a replacement for a doctor, and it works best alongside proper care, food, rest and movement.
Five mantras for good health
Maha Mrityunjaya mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् | उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मोक्षीय माऽमृतात् || Om Trayambakam Yajaamahe, Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Oorvarukamiva Bandhanaan, Mrityor Mokshiya Maamrutaat
"We worship the three-eyed one, fragrant, who nourishes all beings. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may we be freed from the fear of death, and not from immortality." It is traditionally chanted for long life, for strength in illness, and for anyone facing fear. Many families chant it 108 times for a person who is unwell. Listen on Mahakatha.
Dhanvantari mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलश हस्ताय सर्वामय विनाशाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय धन्वन्तरि महाविष्णवे नमः Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Dhanvantraye Amritakalasha Hastaya, Sarvamaya Vinashaya Trailokyanathaya, Dhanvantari Mahavishnave Namah
A prayer to Dhanvantari, the form of Vishnu who rose from the ocean holding a pot of amrita and who is honoured as the teacher of Ayurveda. The mantra praises him as the healer of all ills and lord of the three worlds. It is traditionally chanted for comfort and overall wellness. His day is Dhanteras, which falls on Friday 6 November 2026 (see the Dhanteras mantra guide). Listen on Mahakatha.
Vaidyanatha Ashtakam
श्रीराम सौमित्रि जटायुवॆद षडाननादित्य कुजार्चिताय । श्री नीलकण्ठाय दयामयाय श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ Shrirama Saumitri Jatayuveda Shadananaditya Kujarchitaya, Shri Nilakanthaya Dayamayaya Shri Vaidyanathaya Namah Shivaya
"O Shiva, worshipped by Rama, Lakshmana, Jatayu and the Vedas, by Subramanya, the Sun and Mars; blue-throated, ever-merciful: I bow to you, Lord of physicians." Vaidyanatha means "lord of healers". This is the first of the hymn's eight verses, traditionally chanted for well-being and self-belief. Listen on Mahakatha.
Adityasya Namaskaram, to the Sun
आदित्यस्य नमस्कारं ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने। आयुः प्रज्ञा बलं वीर्यं तेजस्तेषां च जायते॥ Adityasya Namaskaran Ye Kurvanti Dine Dine, Ayuh Prajna Balam Viryam Tejastesham Cha Jayate
"Those who bow to the Sun every day are blessed with long life, wisdom, strength, vigour and radiance." A short verse said at sunrise, often with Surya Namaskar. It is a reminder that health is built day by day: early light, movement and a regular routine. Listen on Mahakatha.
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayah
"May all beings be happy; may all beings be free from illness." Niramaya means free of disease. It is a prayer for everyone's health, not only your own, and a gentle way to end any practice. Listen on Mahakatha.
How to chant for health
- Choose one mantra to begin. The Maha Mrityunjaya is the most widely chanted; the Sun verse suits a morning routine.
- Chant at the same time each day, ideally early morning after washing, facing east. Light a lamp if you like.
- Count 11, 21 or 108 times with a mala or the japa counter. Read why 108 if you are curious.
- Chant for someone else. If a family member is unwell, many families chant the Maha Mrityunjaya for them, saying their name in their heart before beginning.
- End with Sarve Bhavantu, then a moment of quiet.
Slow, unhurried chanting is better than fast counting. If you cannot chant, listening helps too. Mahakatha Radio plays Shiva, Surya and other mantras all day and night, free and without ads.
When someone you love is unwell
You can offer a prayer for their healing. It is written gently into a short prayer, read aloud on Mahakatha Radio at 7 am or 7 pm India time, and followed by a mantra chosen for them; you receive an email when it airs. A prayer on the prayer wall is free. For more, see prayers for healing.
Questions people ask
Which mantra is chanted for healing from illness?
No mantra replaces medical treatment. The mantras most traditionally chanted as prayers for healing are the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra to Shiva and the Dhanvantari mantra; families chant them for strength and comfort alongside a doctor's care.
Which god should I pray to for better health?
Traditionally, Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods; Shiva as Mrityunjaya and as Vaidyanatha, lord of healers; and Surya, the Sun, for vitality. Many people simply pray to their own family deity.
What is the Sanskrit mantra for health?
The best known is ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. The line सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः, "may all be free from illness", from the Sarve Bhavantu prayer, is another favourite.
Which mantra is most powerful for health?
The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is the one most widely chanted for health and long life. What matters most is chanting it regularly and calmly, and looking after your health in every other way too.
What are the most powerful mantras?
The Gayatri mantra, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, Om Namah Shivaya and Om itself are often named. See our list of the most powerful mantras.