Surendra Sharma: reworked content based on references

2026-03-28T16:03:30Z

reworked content based on references

imported>245CMR: Undid revision 1031609347 by 49.207.198.199 (talk)

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Undid revision 1031609347 by 49.207.198.199 (talk)

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{{short description|Sage in Hindu scriptures}}
{{other uses|Markanda (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| father = [[Mrikanda]]
|image = Raja Ravi Varma, Markandeya.jpg|type = hindu
|caption = Shiva protects Markendeya from [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]
|affiliation = [[Chiranjivi]]
}}
{{Hindu scriptures}}

'''Markandeya''' ({{lang-sa|मार्कण्‍डेय}})( IAST: Mārkaṇḍeya) is an ancient [[rishi]] (sage) born in the clan of [[Bhrigus|Bhrigu]] Rishi. The [[Markandeya Purana]] especially, comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage called [[Jaimini]], and a number of chapters in the [[Bhagavata Purana]] are dedicated to his conversations and prayers.<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/12/8/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 12, Chapter 8: Markandeya's Prayers to Nara-Narayana Rishi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314234023/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/12/8/en1 |date=14 March 2008 }}</ref> He is also mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]]. Markandeya is venerated within all mainstream Hindu traditions.

Today, Markandeya Tirtha, where the sage Markandeya wrote the Markandeya Purana is situated on a trekking route to the [[Yamunotri]] Shrine in the [[Uttarkashi district]], [[Uttarakhand]].<ref name=utt>[http://uttarkashi.nic.in/aboutDistt/Temple.htm Yamunotri Temple] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731232226/http://uttarkashi.nic.in/aboutDistt/Temple.htm |date=31 July 2009 }} [[Uttarkashi district]] website.</ref>

==Rescued by Kalantaka-Shiva==
{{main|Kalantaka}}

One legend relates the story of how Shiva protected Markandeya from the clutches of death, personified as [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]].

The great sage [[Mrikanda|Mrikandu rishi]] and his wife Marudmati worshipped Shiva and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. As a result, he was given the choice of either a righteous son, but with a short life on earth or a child of low intelligence but with a long life. Mrikandu rishi chose the former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of 16.

Markandeya grew up to be a great [[bhakta|devotee]] of Shiva and on the day of his destined death he continued his worship of Shiva in his aniconic form of [[lingam|Shivalingam]]. The messengers of Yama, the [[Deva (Hinduism)|god]] of death were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva. Yama then came in person to take away Markandeya's life, and sprung his noose around the young sage's neck. By accident or fate the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of ''death'', Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever. For this act, Shiva was thereafter also known as [[Kalantaka]] ("Ender of Death").

This event, it is said, took place on the bank of river Gomati in Kaithi, Varanasi. An ancient temple Markandeya Mahadeva Temple is made on this site. It's the place where river Ganga and river Gomati merge so being a Sangam area, its sacredness increases. Alternatively, another story states that this event happened in Kerala, at the site of [[Triprangode Siva Temple]] where the Markandeya ran up to the Shiva Linga at the temple to escape from Yama.

As sourced from Sati Purana, a secret portion of Markandeya Purana, Goddess Parvati also gave him a boon to write a text on veera charitra (Brave character) on her, the text is famously known as Durga Saptashati, a valuable portion in Markandeya Purana.<ref>Sati Purana | David Kinsely English translation | 2012 edition</ref>
The place is known as Yamkeshwar.

===Eternal life===
Another story which deals with Markandeya's long life gives an account of how he lived past the death of the previous world and watched it end through gaining knowledge from Lord Vishnu.

==Bhagavata Purana==
[[Image:Shesh shaiya Vishnu.jpg|thumb|Markandeya prays to Vishnu]]
A tale from the [[Bhagavata Purana]] states that once sage Markandeya visited Narayana rishi and asked him for a boon. Markandeya prayed to the sage Narayana to show him his illusory power or Maya since sages Nara-Narayana are incarnation of Supreme Lord [[Narayana]]. To fulfill his wish, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a child floating on a leaf, and declared to the sage that he was ''Time'' and ''Death''. Sage Markandeya entered into his mouth and saved himself from the surging water. Inside the boy's stomach Markandeya discovered all the worlds, the seven regions and the seven oceans. The mountains and the kingdoms were all there. So were all living beings. Markandeya did not know what to make of all this. He started to pray to Lord Vishnu. No sooner had he started, than he came out of the boy's mouth. Lord Vishnu now appeared before him and blessed him. The sage spent a thousand years with Lord Vishnu. He composed the [[Bala Mukundashtakam]] at this moment.<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/12/9/en1 Bhagavata Purana, Canto 12, Chapter 9]: Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛiṣhi Sees the Illusory Potency of the Lord Narayana</ref> He taught [[Bhishma]] duties of Yatis.

==Markandeya Purana==
The [[Devi Mahatmya]] section of the [[Markandeya Purana]] is one of the most important texts of Shakti tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.freeindia.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=339 |title=Biographies,Sages, Rushis And Saints at FreeIndia |access-date=18 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316025706/http://www.freeindia.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=339 |archive-date=16 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Films on Markandeya==
* {{IMDb title|id=0244063|title=Markandeya}} (1922)
*''Shri Markandeya Avtaar'' (1922)
*''[[Markandeya (1935 film)|Markandeya]]'' (1935)
* ''Bhakta Markandeya'' (1938)
* ''[[Bhaktha Markandeya|Bhakta Markandeya]]'' (1956)
*''Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya'' (1982)

==See also==
*[[Narada]]
*[[Prahlada]]
*[[Four Kumaras]]
*[[Hindu calendar]]
*[[Saptarishi]]
*[[Chiranjivins]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola
* ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism,'' Chapter 1, pg 13

==External links==
*[https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-markandeya-purana/ The Markandeya Purana (English) by F. E. Pargiter; Online HTML]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080314234023/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/12/8/en1 Markandeya's Prayers from the Bhagavata Purana]
*[http://markandeyasasthatemple.blogspot.com/en1 Markandeya Sastha Temple]
*[http://www.markandeya.in Markandeya Temple Mumbai(Worli)]

{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Markandeya - Revision history

Surendra Sharma: reworked content based on references

imported>245CMR: Undid revision 1031609347 by 49.207.198.199 (talk)