English Literature – Short Stories – ☆ Story of Sage Markandey ☆ – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

We present a very interesting Story of Sage Markandey…. We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author  Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji, who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit,  English and Urdu languages for sharing this classic poem.  

☆ Story of Sage Markandey… ☆

Pooja Archana…🙏🌷🌹

This is the famous temple situated at Kaithi the confluence of Ganga and Gomati rivers in Varanasi, India… where even the Death God Yamaraj had to go back empty-handed…

Story goes like this…

Sage Mrikandu and his wife Marudvati dedicated their life to the worship of the lord, and their only regret was that they had no child to pass on their piety to.

One day, Lord Shiva himself appeared before Mrikandu in response to his prayers, and said, “Mrikandu, I am very happy with you and your wife. I have decided to grant you your dearest wish – a child. However, you have a choice. Do you want a son who will be smart and intelligent, but will only live for 11 years, or do you want a long-lived, but foolish son?”

Mrikandu Rishi Chose the first Option and lord Shiva Granted their wish.

So Markendey Rishi was born and within 10 years of age he became highly educated knowing all the Vedas, Purana and Shastras.

As his eleventh birthday drew near, Sage Mrikandu and Marudvati started becoming apprehensive, remembering Shiva’s wordings and fearing that they would soon lose the son whom they loved so much.

Markandeya noticed his parents’ sadness and asked them the reason for their sadness. Sage Mrikandu explained to him the circumstances of his birth, the conditions laid down by Lord Shiva, and his approaching death.

Markandeya went to the river bank, and, making a Shivling with sand, started praying to it with all his heart and created Maha Mritunnjay mantra.

Om Trayambakam Yajamahe,

Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam,

Urva Rukamiva Bandhanan,

Mrityor Mokshiye Maamritat

Meaning :- We worship the three-eyed one who is fragrant, and who sustains all living beings. May he liberate us from death. May he lead us to immortality, just as the cucumber is released from its bondage.

Days passed, and Markandeya was immersed in his prayers, when Yamraj, the lord of Death, arrived to take his soul from his body. Seeing the fearful form of yamraj, Markandeya hugged the Shivling, tightly.

Yamaraj said “ Nothing and no one can save you now.” Saying this, he threw his noose over the boy, but he was so close to the Shivling that the noose encircled the Shivling along with Markandeya.

As soon as the noose touched the Shivling, Shiva was enraged, and burst out of the Shivling, and kicked Yamraj. “How dare you throw your noose on me!” he shouted . Caught off-guard, Yamraj tried to explain that it was his duty, but Shiva was furious . He said, “This boy has come to me for protection, and he shall have it. Yamraj, you can never touch him. He will be immortal.”

Yamraj was disappointed, but had no choice and thus chastised, left for his abode. Shiva blessed Markandeya not just with a long life, but also with immense knowledge.

Maha Mrituyunjay Mantra is recited to have a long life and to become fearless about death. This mantra  helps in escaping from very bad diseases.

Photos  courtesy: Facebook Page – Markandey Mahadev Temple Kaithi Varanasi – UP / Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi

© Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM