Mrikandu and Marudhvathi’s Devotion
Sage Mrikandu and his wife, Marudhvathi, lived an ascetic life in a forest but were childless for a long time. To fulfill their desire for children, Mrikandu performed intense tapas for several years to please Lord Shiva. One day, Lord Shiva appeared before him, pleased by his devotion.
The Divine Boon
Lord Shiva offered Mrikandu a boon, asking if he desired a virtuous, wise, and pious son who would live up to sixteen years, or a dull-witted, evil-natured son who would live long. Without hesitation, Mrikandu chose the short-lived but virtuous son. Lord Shiva granted his request and departed.
The Birth and Early Life of Markandeya
In due course, Marudhvathi gave birth to a son named Markandeya. The parents were extremely happy with their son, who, even as a child, mastered all the Vedas and Shastras. He was liked by all for his pleasing ways and mastered his studies quickly. When Markandeya was twelve, his parents performed his Upanayana, initiating him into chanting the mystic Gayatri Mantra.
The Approaching Sixteenth Year
As Markandeya’s sixteenth year approached, his parents became increasingly sorrowful, knowing he was destined to die at that age. Unable to hide their grief, they eventually told Markandeya about his fate. The boy consoled his parents, stating that death was as natural as birth and should not be dreaded.
Markandeya’s Penance
Determined to win over death, Markandeya sought his parents’ blessings to perform severe penance to please Lord Shiva. His parents blessed him, and he began his penance with great devotion.
Confrontation with Yama
On the day Markandeya was to complete his sixteenth year, Yama, the God of Death, came to take his life. Despite his servants’ inability to approach Markandeya due to his intense radiation of piety, Yama himself came on his black buffalo. As Yama threw his noose to capture Markandeya’s soul, it encircled both Markandeya and the Shiva Linga he was worshipping.
Divine Intervention
At that moment, the Shiva Linga split into two, and Lord Shiva emerged, trident in hand. He pushed Yama aside and killed him to save Markandeya. From that day, Markandeya became known as Mrityunjaya (Conqueror of Death) and Kalakala (the one who conquered time).
Markandeya’s Immortality
Upon the request of other gods, Lord Shiva restored life to Yama. Pleased with Markandeya’s devotion, Shiva blessed him with immortality, ensuring that he would never age, remain virtuous, and be famous until the end of the world. To this day, Markandeya is revered as one of the immortals, known for his youthful and saintly appearance due to his yogic powers.
Moral of the Story
The story of Markandeya teaches us the power of devotion and the blessings of superior personalities. By taking shelter and receiving the blessings of a higher power, we can achieve seemingly impossible feats.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
PS: I humbly request all devotees to please forward and share these moral/instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefited by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
