The Story of Rishi Markandeya
Long ago, in ancient India, there lived a noble couple — Rishi Mrikandu and his wife Marudvati. They were devoted to Lord Shiva but remained childless for many years. With deep faith, they performed intense penance to please the Lord.
Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before them and offered a boon.
He said:
“You may choose either a son who will be brilliant and virtuous but will live only sixteen years,
or a son who will live a long life but will not be wise.”
The parents chose the first — a child full of brilliance and virtue, even if his life was short.
Thus, Markandeya was born, a radiant boy with immense devotion.
Markandeya’s Devotion
As Markandeya grew, he excelled in learning and became deeply spiritual.
He was blessed, polite, pure-hearted, and fully devoted to Lord Shiva.
But as his sixteenth birthday approached, his parents were grief-stricken.
When Markandeya learned of his destined short life, he remained calm and said:
“I will pray to Lord Shiva. He will protect me.”
The Day of Destiny
On the day his life was destined to end, Markandeya went to the temple and embraced the Shiva Linga with total devotion.
He began chanting:
“Om Namah Shivaya… Om Namah Shivaya…”
At that moment, Yama, the god of death, arrived to take his soul.
But Markandeya refused to leave the linga.
Seeing the boy’s devotion, Yama threw his noose—it landed around Markandeya, but it also tightened around the Shiva Linga.
Shiva Appears in Anger
The moment the noose touched the linga, Lord Shiva emerged from it in fierce form, his eyes blazing with anger.
He roared:
“How dare you cast your noose on my devotee!”
Shiva struck Yama with his Trishul, defeating him instantly.
The entire universe trembled, for death itself had been subdued.
Granting of the Boon
The gods rushed to Shiva and pleaded for Yama’s revival, for without Yama the cosmos cannot function.
Shiva revived Yama but warned him never to approach true devotees without permission.
Then, turning to Markandeya, Shiva blessed him:
“You shall live forever.
You will remain a Chiranjivi, untouched by death.
You will be a symbol of devotion and purity.”
Thus, Rishi Markandeya became immortal.
Markandeya Darshan of the Cosmic Deluge
Later, Lord Vishnu also blessed Markandeya.
During the cosmic dissolution, Markandeya once saw:
the entire universe submerged in water,
a divine infant lying on a banyan leaf,
sucking his toe, smiling peacefully.
This was Baby Narayana, who granted him the darshan of the Mahapralaya (cosmic flood).
This vision is described in the Markandeya Purana, the scripture attributed to him.
True devotion can conquer even death.
God protects those who surrender completely with love.
Faith, purity, and courage make the impossible possible.
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