A devotee of Shiva
There once lived a sage called as Mrikandu. He and his
wife Marudvati were strong devotees of Lord Shiva. They were very happy singing
the songs of the Lord and sharing his stories everywhere. However, the two of
them had a regret: They did not have any children.
A severe penance
Therefore, the sage and his wife decided to perform
severe penances to win the favour of Lord Shiva. Finally, pleased with their
penances, Lord Shiva appeared before them. “Mrikandu, Marudvati, open your
eyes!” said the three-eyed God.
A meeting with Shiva
Mrikandu and Marudvati opened their eyes and were stunned
to see the handsome Lord Shiva standing before them. 'You have come...Lord',
Mrikandu whispered, as both of them immediately fell on the Lord's feet, unable
to contain themselves…
A wish for a child
Lord Shiva rejoiced to see the devotion in the couple’s
eyes. Smiling at them, he spoke: “I am very pleased with your penance! I wish
to grant you a boon. What do you desire, tell me, Mrikandu and Marudvati?”
Marudvati looked at the Lord with a smile in her face. 'Lord, all I want is a
child...' She looked at her husband, who looked at her encouragingly, 'Lord...'
she continued, 'I wish for a child who is blessed by you...'
A special kind of child
Lord Shiva remained silent for a few minutes, considering
something. He then looked at the two of them, 'What sort of a child do you
want?' Mrikandu and Marudvati looked at each other, puzzled. What sort of
question was that? They both turned and looked at Shiva, waiting for him to
explain.
A Gifted one or a
Foolish one?
Lord Shiva continued, 'What I meant was that, do you wish
for a gifted child or a foolish child?' Mrikandu and Marudvati still did not
speak, their confusion increasing. What sort of a person would choose a foolish
child. Realising that there was a catch somewhere, Mrikandu spoke slowly, 'I do
not understand, my Lord.'
An uneasy choice
Lord Shiva said plainly: “Do you wish for a gifted child
with a short lifespan, or a foolish child who would live a very long life?”
Mrikandu and Marudvati looked at each other with troubled eyes. They realised
that this was some sort of a test for them and that they had to make a choice!
Lord and Sage
Marudvati looked at her husband and remembered how they
had prayed for a child. She turned at looked at the Lord. 'Lord, I wish for a
gifted child with a short lifespan' she said. She then turned to her husband,
who was looking at her alarmed. She nodded her head, 'It is okay. We will be
happy with him for as long as he is with us…”
In agreement
Mrikandu realised the truth in her words and turned
towards Lord Shiva, nodding his head in agreement. The two of them then fell at
Lord Shiva's feet. Lord Shiva then blessed them and without another word,
vanished.
A Gifted Child
In time, Marudvati gave birth to a boy. The couple named
the child Markandeya. Markandeya was a very gifted child. He learnt all the
Vedas and the scriptures very fast. He also loved his parents very much. Having
observed his parents since his childhood, Markandeya too became a staunch
devotee of Lord Shiva. He loved singing bhajans for Lord Shiva and would lose
himself singing and thinking about the Lord.
Something’s not right
However, being a very intelligent child, Markandeya
sensed that his parents were unhappy about something. No matter how hard he
tried, his parents remained unhappy. They seemed to put on a happy face when he
was around, but deep inside, he could sense their sorrow.
The sixteenth birthday
Finally, on the eve of his sixteenth birthday, Markandeya
talked to his parents. “Father, why do you always look so sad? I mean...have I
done something to make you so unhappy?” Hearing these words, Mrikandu looked
horrified that his son could even think like that, 'We love you, son. You have
made us so proud...You are everything that a parent would want in their
child...' Mrikandu said, with a bittersweet tone in his voice. Marudvati too
broke down crying, 'No...No...How could you even think we are unhappy with
you?”
A secret sorrow
Markandeya looked at his parents silently, waiting for an
answer. Mrikandu and Marudvati looked at each other, each hesitating to tell
Markandeya what their secret sorrow was. Finally, Marudvati broke the silence.
The burden of love
Marudvati began: '…We got you as a boon from Lord
Shiva...' Slowly, with the help of Mrikandu, she told her sons the entire
story. Markandeya heard them patiently and did not interrupt until both his
parents had finished. He felt sorry for his parents. They had loved and
nourished him while carrying a secret burden, knowing that they were going to
lose him...He looked at them proudly. Yes, they were the bravest people he
knew.
Destinies can change
Markandeya was, however, not worried. He knew his parents
had changed their destiny and got him as a child. With a knowing smile that
changing destinies was nothing new to their family, Markandeya looked at his
parents lovingly.
Faith in the Lord
“Father, Mother...Please do not be worried. I will pray
to the Lord...” Markandeya said with steely determination. “I am sure the Lord
will not let anything happen to me...” His parents could not help but feel
optimistic when they heard the words of the boy. Mrikandu hugged his son and
blessed him. “Go on son! I am sure you will overcome whatever comes in your
way.” Marudvati also blessed her son.
The power of prayer
Armed with the blessings of his parents, Markandeya
immediately sets out. He reaches the sea-shore and feels peace seeping into
him. “If I am to meet my end, I want it to be here...” he thinks, and sitting
down on the seashore, lovingly builds a Shiva Linga there. After building a
Shiva linga, Markandeya begins praying to his beloved god.
Yama sends emissaries
Meanwhile, Yama - the god of Death – realising that
Markandeya's time on earth was up, sends two emissaries to collect Markandeya's
soul.
Deep in Meditation
However, by the time they reach Markandeya’s side, he was
so deep in meditation that a strange fierce light emerged from him. The light
from him was burning so bright that the servants of Yama could not get close to
him. Try as they might, they could not approach him.
Yama informed
Facing failure, the emissaries return crestfallen to
their Master. “Master, we could not approach him. There was something coming
from him. Something very bright...” The servants shook their head, “It was so
bright that it almost burnt us...”
Yama approaches
Yama nodded, 'It is okay. I will take care of this…' Yama
then picks up his noose and sits on his buffalo and approaches Markandeya. Yama
realises that Markandeya has led a pure and good life, which was the aura
protecting him.
God of Death
But Yama being the God of Death, good man or not, nobody
can escape him when their time is up. Yama then made himself visible.
“Markandeya,” Yama spoke in his deep voice, “your time on earth is up...”
Markandeya then opened his eyes and looked at Yama. However, there was no fear
in his eyes on seeing the lord of death. Looking at Yama in the eye, Markandeya
says, “I will not go with you...My Lord will protect me...”
Yama argues
Yama says, “Your time on earth is up. I have come to take
you...” Markandeya, however, shakes his head and hugs the Shiva Linga tightly.
Realising that he had no choice, Yama threw his noose around Markandeya's neck
to pull out his soul. Unfortunately Yama's noose fell around both Markandeya
and the linga. Markandeya closed his eyes tightly, saying “ Save me, my
Lord...”
Linga Moves
Markandeya was surprised to feel the linga moving. He
opened his eyes in astonishment. Markandeya is thrilled to see the three-eyed
Lord before him. His wish had, indeed, been fulfilled. He had seen Lord Shiva
now... Markandeya suddenly felt like as if he was inside a protective shield.
Nothing could hurt him now...not even death!
Shiva to the rescue
Shiva then raised his trident and pointed it at Yama, who
had dropped the noose and backed away in fright. Yama tried dodging the
trident, but the weapon pierced his chest. He falls down dead. Imagine - the
Lord of Death himself dead!
Devas rush to the scene
Immediately, Lord Indra and other Devas appear on the
scene, before Lord Shiva, who was still glaring at Yama. Lord Indra looked at
peaceful face of Markandeya with astonishment. The boy had done what no one had
done before. Indra turned and bowed to Lord Shiva, 'Lord Shiva...We need to
have a Lord of Death... Without death, there would be no balance on
earth...People would continue to be born and never die. That is not the way of
life. Life is not meant to be this way. Please Lord...Give Yama his life back.
So that the balance of life can be restored...' Indra said, pointing to
the dead form of Yama.
Shiva agrees
Hearing Indra's words, Lord Shiva was pacified. He nodded
slowly, 'Yes...Yama shall have his life back, if...Markandeya is
spared...Markandeya will live forever. He will be the one who has conquered
death...' The Devas realised that this was a fair deal and accepted the
condition.
Yama returns
empty-handed
Yama opens his eyes as the wound in his chest healed.
Yama looked at Markandeya, smiled and disappeared from there. Markandeya then
falls at the feet of Lord Shiva, 'Lord, I want nothing more, I have seen
you.'
Shiva blesses Markandeya
Lord Shiva smiles, “Go back to your parents, Markandeya.
Look after them for their entire life. You will remain 16 for all eternity”
Markandeya goes back to his parents, who are overjoyed to learn of their son’s
fate.
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