Markandeya(Sanskrit:मार्कण्डेय,romanized:Mārkaṇḍeya) is arishi(sage) featured inHindu literature.He is the son of the sageMrikandaand his wife, Manasvini.[1]TheMarkandeya Purana(one of theeighteen Mahāpurāṇas in Hinduism), attributed to the sage, comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage calledJaimini.A number of chapters in theBhagavata Puranaare dedicated to his conversations and prayers.[2]He is also mentioned in theMahabharata.Markandeya is venerated within all mainstream Hindu traditions.
| Markandeya | |
|---|---|
| Member ofChiranjivi | |
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| Affiliation | Chiranjivi |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
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Legend
editRescue by Kalantaka-Shiva
editOne legend relates the story of howShivaprotected Markandeya from the clutches of death, personified asYama.
SageMrikandaperformed penance to propitiate Shiva for several years and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. The deity offered him the choice of either a virtuous and pious son who would have a short life, or a dull-witted or malicious child who would have a long life. Mrikanda chose the former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of sixteen. Markandeya mastered theVedasand theShastrasand grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva. Learning his fate from his distressed parents shortly before his sixteenth year, he started to engage in severe austerities. On the day of his destined death, he continued his worship of Shiva in the deity's aniconic form of alingam.ThemessengersofYama,the god of death, were unable to take away his life because the power of his devotion to Shiva shielded him against them. Yama came in person to take away Markandeya's life, even as the sage embraced the lingam, crying for help. Yama sprung his noose around the young sage's neck, which also circled the lingam. Angered, Shiva emerged from the lingam, attacking Yama to save his devotee. After slaying Yama, Shiva revived him under the request of thedevas,under the condition that Markandeya remain sixteen years old forever.[3]For this act, Shiva acquired the epithetkalantaka(destroyer of time and death).
Vision of Pralaya
editTheBhagavata Puranadescribes Markandeya worshippingVishnufor sixmanvanataras(an age ofManu). Alarmed by the sage's prowess,Indratasked a number ofapsaras,gandharvas,and the god of love,Kamadeva,to disrupt his ascetic practice. The celestial beings travelled to thehermitageof the sage, located on theHimalayasalong the banks of the river Pushpabhadra. The sage remained undisturbed by the songs, dances, and attempts of seduction by the beings, after which they fled. Impressed by Markandeya, Vishnu appeared before him in his form of the sage-brothersNara-Narayana.Markandeya extolled the sage-brothers, and requested that he be granted a sight of Vishnu'smaya(illusion), which was granted. One evening, while Markandeya prayed, he experienced a vision of thepralaya,the dissolution of the universe. A great deluge submerged the earth, destroying all living beings, and the sage found himself being the only creature left alive, thrashed by the waters. Even as the torrent propelled him, the sage observed abanyantree, upon whose branch he saw a dazzling baby upon a leaf. Markandeya marvelled at the sight of its wondrous form. Entering the form of the baby, he witnessed the entire universe, the passage of the ages, all living beings, as well as a vision of his own hermitage. Leaving the baby's form and returning to the vision of the pralaya, the sage attempted to hug the baby, knowing it to be Vishnu himself. The baby vanished, and the maya was subsequently dispelled, returning Markandeya back to his hermitage. Even as Markandeya extolledVishnu,ShivaandParvatiappeared before the sage, and the latter sang their praises. Pleased by the sage, Shiva offered him a boon. The sage asked for the devotees of Vishnu and Shiva to be blessed. Shiva granted this boon, declaring that Markandeya would also be immortal, gain greatreligious merit,and also blessed with the authorship of aPurana.[4][5]
Veneration
editToday, the Markandeya Tirtha, where the sage Markandeya is regarded to have written the Markandeya Purana, is situated on a trekking route to theYamunotrishrine in theUttarkashi district,Uttarakhand.[6]
The legend of Shiva saving Markandeya is said to have taken place on the bank of river Gomati in Kaithi, Varanasi. An ancient temple known as the Markandeya Mahadeva Temple is made on this site. Alternatively, another story states that this event happened inKerala,at the site ofTriprangode Siva Templewhere the Markandeya ran up to the Shiva Linga at the temple to escape from Yama. A source also claims that this incident took place at theParli Vaijnath Jyotirlingain theBeeddistrict of Maharashtra. It is also believed to have happened in either of two temples inTamil Nadu,ThirukkadaiyurorThiruvanmiyur.Khandya which is in Chikmaglur district of Karnataka. Also houses a shrine dedicated to Markhandeya Shiva - Mrityunjaya and legend (Sthala Purana) says that Markhandeya held on to this Shiva Linga. There are marks of a child clinging on to the Linga here. The name "Khandya" is also the short form of Markhandeya. People do 'Asthi Visarjan' here as the river Bhadra flows westerwardly direction (Paschimavaahini).
Literature
editSapta Chiranjivi Stotram
editThe Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram is a mantra that is featured inHindu literature:
अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:।
कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरञ्जीविन:॥
सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्।
जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥
aśvatthāmā balirvyāsō hanumāṁśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ।
kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaitai cirañjīvinaḥ॥
saptaitān saṁsmarēnnityaṁ mārkaṇḍēyamathāṣṭamam।
jīvēdvarṣaśataṁ sopi sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ॥— Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram
The mantra states that the remembrance of the eight immortals (Ashwatthama,Mahabali,Vyasa,Hanuman,Vibhishana,Kripa,Parashurama,andMarkandeya) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.
The Markandeya Purana
editTheMarkandeya Puranais one of the eighteen majorPuranasof Hinduism. It is narrated by sage Markandeya himself to sageJaiminiand contains many topics such ascosmology,cosmogony,philosophy,theology,dharma,andkarma.Detailed descriptions of sacred places and rituals are in this Purana as well. The Markandeya Purana presents LordShivato be the supreme deity and includes many stories to show his divine virtues and characteristics. Moreover, it includes theDevi Mahatmya,which emphasizes goddessDurga's virtues such as her role as the embodiment ofShaktiand her ability to destroy evil for the protection of her devotees.[7]
Films on Markandeya
edit- MarkandeyaatIMDb(1922)
- Shri Markandeya Avtaar(1922)
- Markandeya(1935)
- Bhakta Markandeya(1938)
- Bhakta Markandeya(1956)
- Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya(1982)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Books, Kausiki (24 October 2021).Markandeya Purana: English Translation only without Slokas.Kausiki Books. p. 444.
- ^Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 12, Chapter 8: Markandeya's Prayers to Nara-Narayana RishiArchived14 March 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^Mani, Vettam (1975).Puranic encyclopaedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.Robarts - University of Toronto. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 488.ISBN978-0-8426-0822-0.
- ^Gita Press.Bhagavata Purana Gita Press.pp. 698–710.
- ^Mani, Vettam (1975).Puranic encyclopaedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.Robarts - University of Toronto. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 488.ISBN978-0-8426-0822-0.
- ^Yamunotri TempleArchived31 July 2009 at theWayback MachineUttarkashi districtwebsite.
- ^Sharma, Saagar (1 May 2024).SAAT CHIRANJEEVI The Eternal Guardians of Hinduism.Abhishek Publications.ISBN978-93-5652-581-8.
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend(ISBN0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism,Chapter 1, pg 13