The story of Markandeya Rishi

Sage Mrikandu led an ascetic life in a forest. His wife was Marudhvathi. They had no children for a long time. Mrikandu performed intense tapas for several years to please Lord Shiva to have children.

Lord Shiva in all his glory appeared before him.

He said: "I am pleased with your devotion. Ask me for any blessing you desire." Mrikandu was delighted. He prayed to Lord Shiva like this: "O Lord! I have no children. Grant me a son."

The Lord said in response, "Do you desire to have a virtuous, wise, and godly son who will live to sixteen or a foolish and evil son who will live a long time?"

Sage Mrikandu did not hesitate to choose. I didn't want a worthless child. He prayed only for the short-lived son of whom he could be proud. Lord Shiva granted his devotee's request and left.

After some time, Marudhvathi conceived and gave birth to a son.

The parents were very happy with the newcomer they called "Markandeya".

When Markandeya was five years old, Mrikandu organized her studies. Even in childhood, Markandeya dominated all the Vedas and Shastras. His pleasant manners made him loved by his teachers. The boy was to everyone's liking.

But the parents were sad at heart and every time they looked at their child a sadness spread across his face. They didn't tell Markandeya that she wasn't meant to live long.

The sixteenth year was fast approaching. One day, unable to control his pain, they cried before him. Markandeya was surprised. He kindly asked them the reason for their pain. Mrikandu, tears running down his cheeks, said, "Oh, my son! According to the blessing of Lord Shiva, you are destined to live only sixteen years. How can we put up with this? We're helpless and don't know what to do."

Markandeya comforted her parents by saying that death was not something wise people should fear. It's as natural as birth.

When he turned twelve, his parents organized his Upanayana. He was initiated into the chanting of the mystical Gayatri Mantra. The child was very regular in performing Sandhya Vandana, which pleased his parents and other elders. So he spent his days very happily, delighting everyone with his charming appearance and pleasant demeanor.

The next day, the boy approached them and said, "Dear father and mother, don't worry about me. I hope to overcome death. Pray, bless me so that I can succeed in my company. Allow me to do severe penances to please the Lord." The parents blessed him wholeheartedly and sent him to penance.

Markandeya was to complete the sixteenth year on a given day. Yama knew that Markandeya's life would come to an end. As usual, Yama's servants came to take his life. But they couldn't get close to him because the radiation from him was too intense for them.

Then, Yama, the God of Death, came himself on his usual black buffalo. He had in his hand the well-known rope with a bow to take the young man's soul out of his body and take it away. Yama saw the young devotee dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Yama could not allow worship to be completed if his duty as God of Death was to be fulfilled correctly.

Markandeya could not be allowed to live another minute after she turned sixteen. Normally invisible to human eyes, this time Yama had been forced to show himself to the young man by virtue of the latter's intense piety and devotion to God. Yama threw his rope with the bow and went and surrounded Markandeya's neck and also the Shiva Linga.

The Shiva Linga immediately split in two and Shiva came out, trident in hand. He pushed Yama aside and killed him to save the boy. From that day on, Markandeya was given the names Mrityunjaya and Kalakala.

After that, at the request of other gods, Shiva gave Yama back to life. Then, turning to the young devotee, with whose piety he was very pleased, Lord Shiva blessed him with immortality. He told Markandeya, "All your wishes will be fulfilled. You will never be old or graying. You will live virtuous and famous until the end of the world. Omniscience will be an asset in you."

To this day, Hindus regard Markandeya as one of their immortals. Markandeya is said to be a great Chiranjivi, one who lives with the body forever and whose body always looks young, beautiful and holy due to his yogic powers. Markandeya has become proverbial for a long life. The blessing of the elders even today is: "May you live like Markandeya, always young and beautiful." People believe that, even now, they live somewhere in the Himalayas in a deep meditation for the good of the world.