The depiction of Markandeya's vision is one of the most potent and mystical images found in the painting of the Panjab Hills. This event is recounted in the Mahabharata epic, and in many other texts written about the great Hindu god Vishnu. The story relates how the deathless sage Markandeya wandered through the immense Night of Brahma, the interval between cycles of creation, when all was contained within the sleeping body of the god Vishnu. To discover the truth, Markandeya entered the cosmic ocean of existence and swam there for countless time. Finally he saw a light emanating from the radiant body of a child floating on the sprig of a banyan tree. The child showed Markandeya the secrets of creation, explaining that he was Vishnu, father of the universe, giver of life who brought forth creation and took it back into himself.
Markandeya Discovers Krishna on the Peepal Leaf
Wandering the Ocean of Being between two cycles of time, the sage finds the baby Krishna-Vishnu, who will reveal the secret of the cosmos, The Deathless Sage Markandeya finds the baby Krishna-Vishnu.
The great sage Mirikandu rishi and his wife Marudmati worshipped Shiva and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. As a result, he was given the choice of either a righteous son, but with a short life on earth or a child of low intelligence but with a long life. Mrikandu rishi chose the former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of 16.
Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva and on the day of his destined death he continued his worship of Shiva in his aniconic form of Shivalingam. The messengers of Yama, the god of death were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva. Yama then came in person to take away Markandeya's life, and sprung his noose around the young sage's neck. By accident or fate the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever. For this act, Shiva was thereafter also known as Kalantaka . A tale from the Bhagvath Purana states that once sage Markandeya visited Narayana rishi and asked him for a boon. Markandeya prayed to the sage Narayana to show him his illusory power or Maya since sages Nara-Narayana are incarnation of Supreme Lord Narayana. To fulfil his wish, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a child floating on a leaf, and declared to the sage that he was Time and Death. Sage Markandeya entered into his mouth and saved himself from the surging water. Inside the boy's stomach Markandeya discovered all the worlds, the seven regions and the seven oceans. The mountains and the kingdoms were all there. So were all living beings. Markandeya did not know what to make of all this. He started to pray to Lord Vishnu. No sooner had he started, than he came out of the boy's mouth. Lord Vishnu now appeared before him and blessed him. The sage spent a thousand years with Lord Vishnu. He composed Bala Mukundastakam.
Bala Mukundashtakam - In sanskrit with meaning
श्रीबालमुकुन्दाष्टकम्: करारविन्देन पदारविन्दं
Sri Balamukundashtakam: Kararavindena Padaravindam
करारविन्देन पदारविन्दं
मुखारविन्दे विनिवेशयन्तम् ।
वटस्य पत्रस्य पुटे शयानं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥१॥
Kara-Aravindena Pada-AravindamMukha-Aravinde Vi-Niveshay-Antam |Vattasya Patrasya Putte ShayaanamBaalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||1||Meaning:1.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who with His Lotus like Hands holds His Lotus like Feet, ...1.2: ... and Puts the Toe in His Lotus like Mouth,1.3: He Rests on the Fold of the Banyan Leaf (Vata),1.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam. संहृत्य लोकान् वटपत्रमध्ये
शयानमाद्यन्तविहीनरूपम् ।
सर्वेश्वरं सर्वहितावतारं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥२॥
Samhrtya Lokaan Vatta-Patra-MadhyeShayaanam-Aady[i]-Anta-Vihiina-Ruupam |Sarve[a-Ii]shvaram Sarva-Hita-AvataaramBaalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||2||Meaning:2.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who Draws the Entire World in that Banyan Leaf (Vata), ...2.2: ... on which He Rests with His Divine Form which is Beginningless and Endless,2.3: He is the Lord of All, His Incarnation is for the Welfare of All,2.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
इन्दीवरश्यामलकोमलाङ्गं
इन्द्रादिदेवार्चितपादपद्मम् ।
सन्तानकल्पद्रुममाश्रितानां
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥३॥
Indiivara-Shyaamala-Komala-Anggam
Indra-[A]adi-Deva-Arcita-Paada-Padmam |
Santaana-Kalpadrumam-Aashritaanaam
Baalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||3||
Meaning:
3.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who is like a Dark-Blue Lotus with Tender and Soft Body,
3.2: Whose Lotus Feet is Worshipped by Indra and Other Devas,
3.3: By taking Refuge in that Never Ending Wish Fulfilling Tree, ...
3.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
लंबालकं लंवितहारयष्टिं
शृङ्गारलीलाङ्कितदन्तपङ्क्तिम् ।
बिंबाधरं चारुविशालनेत्रं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥४॥
Lamba-Alakam Lamvita-Haara-Yassttim
Shrnggaara-Liila-Angkita-Danta-Pangktim |
Bimba-Adharam Caaru-Vishaala-Netram
Baalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||4||
Meaning:
4.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who has Long Curly Hair and Wears a Long Garland,
4.2: On Whose Rows of Teeth are Marked the Enchainting Smile of Love Play,
4.3: Whose Lips are like Bimba Fruits and Eyes are Wide and Lovely,
4.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
शिक्ये निधायाद्य पयोदधीनि
बहिर्गतायां व्रजनायिकायाम् ।
भुक्त्वा यथेष्टं कपटेन सुप्तं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥५॥
Shikye Nidhaaya-Adya Payo-Dadhiini
Bahir-Gataayaam Vraja-Naayikaayaam |
Bhuktvaa Yathessttam Kapattena Suptam
Baalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||5||
Meaning:
5.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who Steals the Milk and Curd from the Pots Fixed on the Swing,...
5.2: ...when the Cowherd Girls of Vraja goes Out,
5.3: And having Eaten them according to His Wish, He Pretends to be Sleeping,
5.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
कलिन्दजान्तस्थितकालियस्य
फणाग्ररङ्गे नटनप्रियन्तम् ।
तत्पुच्छहस्तं शरदिन्दुवक्त्रं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥६॥
Kalinda-Ja-Anta-Sthita-Kaaliyasya
Phanna-Agrar-Angge Nattana-Priyantam |
Tat-Puccha-Hastam Sharad-Indu-vaktram
Baalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||6||
Meaning:
6.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who on the Kaliya Snake situated inside river Yamuna, the river which originated from Mount Kalinda,...
6.2: ...Danced joyfully over the Top of Its Hood ...
6.3: ...holding Its Tail with His Hand; His Face Shining like the Autumn Moon,
6.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
उलुखले बद्धमुदारशौर्यं
उत्तुङ्गयुग्मार्जुनमङ्गलीलम् ।
उत्फुल्लपद्मायतचारुनेत्रं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥७॥
Ulukhale Baddham-Udaara-ShauryamUttungga-Yugma-Arjunam-Angga-Liilam |Utphulla-Padma-[A]ayata-Caaru-NetramBaalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||7||Meaning:7.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who was Tied to the Mortar (by His Mother), but His Face radiating Unperplexed Heroism,...7.2: ... He Played the Divine Play of uprooting the Pair of Lofty Arjuna Trees (Arjuna) with His Body,7.3: He Looks out with Wide Open Eyes which Stretches like the Beautiful Lotus Petals,7.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
आलोक्य मातुर्मुखमादेण
स्तन्यं पिबन्तं सरसीरुहाक्षम् ।
सच्चिन्मयं देवमनन्तरूपं
बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥८॥
Aalokya Maatur-Mukham-AadennaStanyam Pibantam Sarasii-Ruha-Akssam |Sac[t]-Cinmayam Devam-Ananta-RuupamBaalam Mukundam Manasaa Smaraami ||8||Meaning:8.1: (My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam) Who Looks at the Face of His Mother while ...8.2: ...Drinking Milk from her Breast, His Eyes like a Lotus Situated over a Lake,8.3: His Divine Form Reflects the Infinite Pure Consciousness,8.4: My Mind Remembers that Beautiful Bala Mukundam.
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