MARKANDEYA

Markandeya was the son of the sage Mrukandu.  Mrukandu did not have children for a long time.  So, he performed penance for several years to please the Lord Siva to get a son.  Siva appeared before him in person and asked him thus, “Do you desire to have a virtuous, wise and pious son who would live up to sixteen years or a dull-witted, evil-natured and arrogant son who would live long?” 

Mrukandu chose the first type and soon a son was born to him.  He name his son Markandeya.  Even from boyhood, Markandeya was very intelligent, by which he knew all the Vedas and Sastras.  His pleasing manners got the approval of his teachers and he was liked by one and all.

But the parents were sad and whenever they looked at their son a gloom spread over their face.  The secret of the short span of his life was hidden from him.

The sixteenth year was fast approaching and one day unable to control their grief, they wept before their son Markandeya.  Markandeya asked them the reason why they wept.  Mrukandu with tears running down his cheeks, told him the story.

From that day, Markandya started performing penance wearing barks of trees for his dress and growing matted hair.  Then he soon engrossed in severe austerirties.

The day of his death came and Markandeya sat before on the idol of the Lord Siva in deep meditation.  The servants of Yama, the Lord of Death could not approach Markandeya for the radiation from him was too hot for them. 

So, Yama himself came to fetch him.  Then Markandeya crying loudly for help, embraced the Lord Siva’s idol before him.  Yama threw his rope with a noose and it bound along with the idol also.

Then, the enraged Siva appeared from the idol and coming down killed Yama to save Markandeya.  From that moment, Siva got the names Mruthyunjaya and Kaalakaala etc.  After that being requested by the Devas, Lord Siva gave life to Yama again and MARKANDEYA to be of SIXTEEN YEARS for ever.

(This is a part of Blogchatter's Half Marathon 2023)