Sunday, November 10, 2024

SHIVA AND MARKANDEYA

 

SHIVA AND MARKANDEYA

Once Sage Mrikundu did hard penance to please Lord Shiva who was duly pleased and appeared to him. He said, "Tell me what is your wish?" The sage revealed that he wanted a son.

Lord Shiva asked, "Do you want a son with a long life but little brains of a son with intellectual qualities but only sixteen years of life?"

"Lord, I would prefer a son with qualities," the sage expressed his preference.

"So be it," said Shiva and disappeared.

In due course the sage wife Marudwati gave birth to a son. The fellow sages congratulated them, and the couple celebrated the newborn’s arrival and christened him to "Markandeya'.

As expected, the child was brainy, and he excelled in studies and intellectual pursuits. By the age of sixteen he had become an authority on Vedas and other treatises. His teachers prided themselves over their exceptionally brilliant student. Many envied the parents of the boy for their good fortune.

But the mother of the boy was a very worried and sad woman. She would sob and confide in her husband, "Master! How can I ignore the fact that our son will soon depart leaving us to grieve over him for the rest of our lives."

One day Markandeya had gone to the garden to pick flowers for worship. On his return he found his mother weeping. He asked, "Ma! Why do you weep? The mother didn't reply. She kept sobbing.

His father was sitting beside the mother in an equally depressed mood.

Markandeya asked again, "Ma, why don't you tell me what is wrong with you? Are you not feeling well or something you think I would not be able to do what you want? Look, I am no longer a child. You can confide in me. Tomorrow I will complete my 16th year of my age."

"That is why your mother is weeping, son," the father slowly said.

-What? What is wrong in my becoming 16 year old?" Markandeya asked greatly puzzled "Alright, I will tell you," his father said with a sigh.

The father told his son all about the boon of Shiva and his birth. Markandeya consoled his mother saying, "Don't weep, ma. I will not die. You will see. Lord Shiva can grant life against death. He is power immortal."

"My child, God bless you. Try what you can," the father hopefully said. Markandeya left home with the blessing of his parents. The next morning, he reached the seashore where he raised a sand and mud Shivalinga. He put flowers on it and sat down to meditate. Markandeya meditated for the whole day. In the evening, he sang prayers. Just then, Yama, the god of death arrived. He announced, "Your days are up, boy. Prepare to depart." "Wait a bit, Lord. Let me finish my prayers," Markandeya requested.

"The death does not wait for anyone," Yama growled.

"Please don't disturb my worship. You can take me to the other world as soon as I finish the worship."

"Fool! Do you think that clinging to lignum would earn you longer life? No one can escape death."

Yama prepared to cast his death line on the boy. Suddenly a miracle happened. Lord Shiva materialized there. Yama froze became Shiva was the master of death.

Markandeya fell at Shiva's feet. The Lord knew his wish and granted him immortality. Later before a doom's day Lord Hari appeared to Markandeya and showed him the whole cosmos inside his mouth.

It is believed that Markandeya still exists and frequents the pilgrim centres in disguises.

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