How Did Markandeya Triumph over Death?
Mrikandu a great rishi and his wife Marudvati had no children.
The rishi prayed to God Shiva. God Shiva appeared to him, and said, "I am pleased with you, Mrikandu. Tell me,
- Do you want one hundred sons, who will live for a long time, but will all be foolish?
- Or, do you want one very intelligent son, who will live for only sixteen years?"
The rishi at once said, "God, give me that one intelligent son." God Shiva said, "Good! You shall have him."
Soon the rishi got a son and named him Markandeya. The boy grew to be very intelligent and handsome. The rishi invested him with the sacred thread. Markandeya learnt the Vedas and other scriptures easily. Everyone liked him.
As the boy was getting closer to being sixteen years old, Rishi Mrikandu’s worry started increasing by the day. Markandeya noticed it and one day he asked his father: "Father, why do you look so sad?"
The rishi said, "Son! What shall I say? When God Shiva gave you to me, He said you would live only sixteen years. You are now about to reach that age. How can your mother and I bear to lose you so soon?"
Markandeya said, "Father! Is that the reason? God Shiva is very kind to His devotees. You made me aware of this reality. He has saved many from death before. I have read about it in the Puranas. I shall therefore worship God Shiva day and night from today. I am sure, He will save -me too! “
Rishi Mrikandu was very happy to hear his son’s determination. Markandeya built a Shiva-Linga at a spot on the sea-shore. He started worshipping Shiva morning, noon and night. He sang bhajans, and often danced in joy. On the day of his sixteenth birthday, Markandeya was singing bhajans, when Yama, the God of Death, came to him riding on the buffalo. Holding a noose in his hand, he roared, "Markandeya! Stop your bhajan since your present life is over.”
Markandeya was not afraid. He clung to the Shiva-Linga as one clings to one's mother.
Yama threw his noose round the boy's neck, and pulled him along with the Shiva-Linga.
At this the Shiva-Linga burst open and God Shiva came out of it, and said, "Yama, go away! Don't touch this boy. He is my beloved devotee. He will live forever!"
Moral: A true devotee is never afraid of anything, because God Himself protects His devotees all the time. Even personified death becomes powerless in front of such a surrendered devotee.