Markandeya is an ancient rishi from the Hindu tradition,
born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi. He is celebrated as a great devotee of Lord
Shiva. Lord Shiva protected Markandeya in the form of Kaalasamhaara Moorthi
from the clutch of death in Thirukadaiyur in Tamilnadu. Sri Amirthagateswarar
kovil in Thirukadaiyur is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his manifestation as “Destroyer
of Death” and his consort Parvathi as Abirami. The story of Markandeya is as
follows.
image courtesy: Google images
Mrikandu, a great rishi and his wife Marudavathi, were great devotees of Lord Shiva. They were very happy singing
the songs of the Lord and spreading his stories everywhere. However they were sad as they did not have any children. The sage and his
wife decided to perform severe penances to win the favour of Lord
Shiva. Finally pleased with their penances Lord Shiva appeared before
them.
'Mrikandu, Marudavati, open your eyes!' said the three-eyed God.
Mrikandu and Marudavati opened their eyes and were stunned to see the
handsome Lord Shiva before them.
'You have come...Lord!' Mrikandu whispered as both of
them immediately fell on the Lord's feet unable to contain themselves.
Lord Shiva rejoiced on seeing the devotion in their eyes. He looked
at them smiling, 'I am very pleased with your penance! I wish to
grant you a boon. What do you desire, Mrikandu and Marudavati?'
Marudavati looked at the Lord with a smile in her face. 'Lord, all I
want is a child...' She looked at her husband, who looked at her encouragingly,
'Lord...' she continued, 'I wish for a child who is blessed by you...'
Lord Shiva remained silent for a few minutes considering something. He
then looked at the two of them, 'What sort of a child do you want?'
Mrikandu and Marudavati looked at each other confused. What sort of a question was that? They
both turned and looked at the Lord waiting for him to explain.
Lord Shiva continued, 'What I meant was that, do you wish for a gifted
child or a foolish child?'
Mrikandu and Marudavati still did not speak. They were confused. What sort of a person would choose a
foolish child. Realising that there was a catch somewhere, Mrikandu
spoke slowly, 'I do not understand, my Lord.'
Lord Shiva said plainly. 'Do you wish for a gifted child who will live only for 16 years or a foolish child who would live a very long life?'
Mrikandu and Marudavati looked at each other with troubled eyes. They
realised that this was some sort of a test for them and that they had to choose
one of them. Marudavati looked at her husband and remembered how they had
prayed for a child. She turned at looked at the Lord.
'Lord, I wish for a gifted child with a short life span.' She said
looking straight at Lord Shiva. She then turned to her husband, who was looking
at her alarmed. She nodded her head, 'It is ok. We will be happy with him for
as long as he is with us...After that, we will still have his memories...'
Mrikandu realised the truth in her words and also looked at Lord Shiva
and nodded his head. The two of them then fell at Lord Shiva's feet. Lord Shiva
then blessed them and without another word went back to his home in Kailash.
Marudavati then gave birth to a boy. They named the child Markandeya.
Markandeya was a very gifted child. He learnt all the Vedas and the
scriptures very fast. He also loved his parents very much. Looking at them from
his childhood, Markandeya also became a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. He loved
singing bhajans for Lord Shiva. He would lose himself singing and
thinking about the Lord.
However being a very intelligent child, Markandeya sensed that
his parents were unhappy about something. No matter how hard he tried, his
parents remained unhappy. They seemed to put on a happy face when he was
around, but deep inside he could sense their sorrow.
Finally the day before his sixteenth birthday, Markandeya talked to his
parents, 'Father, why do you always look so sad? I mean...have I done something
to make you so unhappy?'
Hearing these words Marudavati broke down crying, 'NO...No...How could
you even think we are unhappy with you?'
Mrikandu and Marudavati looked at each other each wanting the other to tell
Markandeya. Finally Marudavati broke the silence.
'...It is...just..that...we got you as a boon from Lord Shiva...' Slowly
Marudavati with the help of Mrikandu told the entire story to Markandeya.
Markandeya was a patient listener and did not interrupt until both his
parents had finished. He felt sorry for his parents. They had loved and
nourished him with a burden knowing that they were going to lose him. He
looked at them proudly. They were the bravest people he knew.
Markandeya was not however bothered about himself. His parents had
changed their destiny and had got him from the Lord. Changing destiny was
nothing new to their family. He smiled. He looked at his parents lovingly.
'Father, Mother...Please do not be worried. I will pray to the
Lord...' Markandeya said with steely determination. 'I am sure the Lord will
not let anything happen to me...'
His parents could not help but feel optimistic when they heard the words
of the boy. Mrikandu hugged his son and blessed him. 'Go on son!
I am sure you will overcome... whatever comes in your way.'
Marudavati also blessed her son. Markandeya with the blessings of his parents immediately set
out. He came at the sea and felt peace seeping
into him.
If I am to meet my end, I want it to
be here...He thought and went to the sea shore and with the mud
there, lovingly built a shiva linga there.
image courtesy: Google images
He sat down there and started his prayers. He sang bhajans for some
time and later he was deep in meditation.
In Hindu mythology, Yama is the God of Death. He along with
his soldiers collected the souls of the dead people. Yama realised that Markandeya's time on earth was up. He sent his
two servants to collect Markandeya's soul.
However by this time Markandeya was so deep in meditation
that a strange fierce light emerged from him. The light from him was
burning so bright that the servants of Yama could not go close to
him. Try as they might, they could not approach him.
Facing failure for the first time, the servants returned
crestfallen to their master.
'Master, we could not approach him. There was something coming from him.
Something very bright....' The servants shook their head, 'It was so bright
that it almost burnt us...'
Yama nodded, 'It is ok. I will take care of this..' Yama then picked up
his noose and sat on his buffalo vehicle and came up near Markandeya. Yama
realised that Markandeya was pure and had lived a good life. That was
protecting him. That was what had driven out the servants.
But Yama was the God of Death. Good man or not, nobody escaped from him.
However as Markandeya was a noble child, Yama made himself visible.
'Markandeya' Yama spoke deeply, 'Your time on earth is up...'
Markandeya opened his eyes and looked at Yama. However Markandeya did
not get afraid. He looked at Yama in the eye. 'I will not go with you...My Lord
will protect me...'
Yama repeated, 'Your time on earth is up. I have come to take you...'
Markandeya smiled shook his head and hugged the shiva lingam
tightly. Realising that he had no choice, Yama threw his noose around
Markandeya's neck to pull out his soul. Unfortunately Yama's noose fell around
both Markandeya and the linga. Markandeya closed his eyes tightly Save me my Lord...
image courtesy: Google images
Markandeya was surprised when he felt the linga move with his closed
eyes. He opened his eyes with astonishment.
Markandeya was thrilled to see the three-eyed Lord before him. His
wish had been fulfilled. He had seen Lord Shiva now...
Markandeya suddenly felt like as if he was inside a protective
shield. Nothing could hurt him now...Markandeya looked at Yama and smiled...Not even death
However there was nothing calm about Shiva at that time. Every line
of Shiva's face was fierce with anger. And Shiva's trident was raised
and pointing at Yama, who had dropped the noose and backed away in
fright.
'YOU DARE DISTURB HIM!' Lord Shiva yelled angrily, threatening
to open his third eye.
'My Lord...' Yama said afraid, 'His time on earth is up. I have come...'
'HE WILL LIVE FOREVER!...HOW DARE YOU...' Shiva picked up his trident
and pierced Yama. Yama tried dodging the trident, but Yama
caught the weapon straight in his chest. He fell down dead. The Lord of the Dead was dead!
image courtesy: Google images
Immediately Lord Indra and the other Devas appeared before Lord Shiva,
who was still looking at Yama angrily.
Lord Indra looked at peaceful face of Markandeya
with astonishment. The boy
had done what no one had done before.
Indra turned and bowed to Lord Shiva, 'Lord Shiva...We need to have a
Lord of the Dead... Without death, there would be no balance on earth...People
would continue to be born and never die. That is not the way of life. Life is
not meant to be this way. Please Lord...Give Yama his life back. So that
the balance of life can be restored...' Indra said pointing at the dead form of
Yama.
Hearing to Indra's words, Lord Shiva was pacified. He nodded slowly, 'Yes...Yes...Yama
shall have his life back...if...' Lord Shiva looked at
Markandeya who was still looking at Lord Shiva as if he had found the
biggest treasure on earth. Lord Shiva smiled at Markandeya, '..if
Markandeya is spared...Markandeya will live forever. He will be the one who has
conquered death...'
The Devas realised that this was a fair deal and accepted the
condition.
Yama opened his eyes as the wound in his chest healed. Yama looked at
Markandeya, smiled and disappeared from there. The other Devas also went
back to the heavens.
Markandeya then fell at the feet of Lord Shiva, 'Lord I want
nothing more, I have seen you...'
Lord Shiva smiled, 'Go back to your parents Markandeya, and have a peaceful life. You have my blessings. You
will remain sixteen years for all eternity. You will
always have my blessings...'
image courtesy: Google images
Markandeya went back to his parents who were overjoyed on hearing his
story. Markandeya was a good son and looked very well after his parents.
He never aged more than sixteen.... [Endrendrum 16]
The form which Lord Shiva's assumed to kill Yama is
called as 'Kalasamhara Murti' ['Kala' is Death, 'Samhara' is ender, 'Murti' is
idol]
In Hindu Mythology it is believed that Markandeya is still
alive and roaming the earth and continues to do good to all. He is a
chiranjeevi [one who lives for ever].
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
