Markandeya

MARKANDEYA. The son of Mrkandu. He was a great devotee of Siva.

1) Genealogy. Bhrgu, son of Brahma, begot of his wife Khyati a daughter named Laksmi and two sons named Dhata and Vidhata.

Dhata and Vidhata married Ayati and Niyati daughters of Mahameru. Dhata begot of his wife Ayati a son named Prana and Niyati bore Vidhata a son named Mrkandu, Markandeya was the son of Mrkandu and Vedas iras was the son of Markandeya.

2) Birth. Mrkandu did not have sons for a long time and so he performed penance for several years to please Siva to get a son. Siva appeared before him in person and asked him thus “Do you desire to have a virtuous, wise and pious son who would live up to sixteen years or a dullwitted evil-natured son who would live long ?” Mrkandu chose the first type and soon a son was born. He was named Markandeya. Even from boyhood Markandeya knew all the Vedas and sastras. His pleasing manners got the approval of his teachers and the boy was liked by one and all. But the parents were sad and whenever they looked at their son a gloom spread over their face. The secret of the short span of his lift, was hidden from him.

The sixteenth year was fast approaching and one day unable to control their grief they wept before him. Markandeya asked them the reason why they wept. Mrkandu with tears running down his cheeks told him the story. From-that day onwards Markandeya started performing penance wearing barks of trees for his dress and growing matted hair. The boy was soon engrossed in severe austerities.

The day of his death came and the boy sat before the idol of Siva in deep meditation. The servants of the god of Death could not approach Markandeyafor the radiation from him was too hot for them. So Yama, the god of Death, himself came to fetch him. Then Markandeya crying loudly for help embraced the idol before him. Yama threw his rope in a loop and it went and circled round the idol also. Angry Siva rose from the idol and

coming down killed Yama to save the child. From that day onwards Siva got the names Mrtyunjaya and Kalfi.k5la. After that at the request of the devas Siva gave life to Yama again and made Markandeya to be of sixteen years for ever.

3) Penance of Markandeya. The Puranas state that after getting the blessing from Siva, Markandeya lived for ten crores of years. While he was in deep meditation six Manvantaras passed away. When Markandeya continued his meditation to the seventh Manvantara Indra got frightened and he made an attempt to abort the penance of Markandeya. Indra sent his troops of Gandharvas, nymphs, Manmatha and Vasanta to the asrama of Markandeya. The asrama of Markandeya was at a place which was on the northern side of the Himalayas and was famous by the presence there of the river Puspabhadra and the rock Citra. The agents of Indra came there and tried to entice him with many temptations. Beautiful celestial maidens danced around the asrama. Flowers fell from their hair when their waists shook by the v eight of their heavy breasts. Enchanting girls played with balls here and there. As they played the bracelets on their waists fell down and the thin garments that hid their bodies flew up showing an alluring nakedness. Kama (God of Love) sent his arrows at that time against the sage. But Markandeya sat unconcerned as rigid as a rock and Indra accepted defeat. When Indra and his troops returned disappointed Mahavisnu with many sages went to Markandeya. He awoke from his meditation and worshipped Visnu.

4) Vision of Pralaya. On one evening at dusk Markandeya was sitting at Puspabhadratira when from somewhere a wind began to blow. The wind increased in strength and the sky became covered with clouds. The place resounded with peals of thunder and soon it began to rain. Rains became heavy. Rivers became flooded and water-level in the oceans rose. Everything around was submerged in water and Markandeya alone stood there with his matted hair swinging in the wind. It was impossible to know the directions and Markandeya started walking. He fell into whirlpools but was the next instant thrown up on to the top of surging waves. Then he saw on the,top of a high wave a banyan tree. On a branch on the north-east of the tree he saw an infant lying, devouring the darkness by its effulgence. He was attracted to the infant by its vital force and went inside the infant as it inhaled. Inside the belly of the kid Markandeya had a vision of the entire universe. He saw the sky, the horizon, the stars, the oceans, the mountains expanses of land, Suras, Asuras, forests and all that the universe contained in its proper set-up. He saw passing before his eyes the elements, the Yugas and the Manvantaras. After some time he was thrown out by an exhalation of the infant. He stood on the waters. The old banyan tree was still there. An infant was still lying on a leaf on that tree. Markandeya then knew it was Mahavisnu. He rushed to embrace the child; but the child disappeared before he reached it. Markandeya praised Mahavi snu.

5) Parvati and Paramesvara come to Mdrkandeya. When Mahavisnu disappeared from his vision he felt he was sitting at Puspabhadratira and he again went into meditation. At that time Parvati and Paramesvara came that way and appeared before Markandeya. The sage worshipped them and they botl. blessed Markandeya and said “Every desire of yours will be fulfilled. You will never be rugous or grey-haired and will live virtuous and famous till the end of the world. Omniscience will be an asset for you”, After having said so much Parvati and Parame~ Vara disappeared. The Puranic belief is that the realised soul of Mdrkandeya is moving about in the universe. (10th Skandha, Chapters 8 to 11, Bhagavata) .

6). Details from Mahdbhdrata relating to Mdrkandeya.

(1) This sage shone in the court of Dharmaputra. (Sloka 15, Chapter 4, Sabha Parva).

(ii) He sits in the court of Brahma and worships him (Sloka 12 , Chapter 11, Sabha Parva).

(iii) Once Markandeya gave Dharmopades a to the Pandavas. (Chapter 25, Vana Parva).

(iv) Markandeya sitting on the banks of the river Payosni sang praises about river Payosni and king Nrga. (Sloka 5, Chapter 88, Vana Parva) .

(v) Once Markandeya narrated to Dharmaputra stories about Kings and Rsis. (Chapters 186 to 232, Vana Parva).

(vi) Markandeya had a vision of the great deluge. (Chapter 188, Vana Parva).

(vii) This sage entered the belly of Balamukunda. (Sloka 100, Chapter 188, Vana Parva).

(viii) Markandeya gave a description of Kaliyuga. (Sloka 7, Chapter 190, Vana Parva).

(ix) He described at another time the incarnation of Kalki. (Sloka-93, Chapter 19, Vana Parva).

(x) Once Markandeya narrated the story of Tripuravadha to Dharmaputra. (Sloka 2, Chapter 33; Karna Parva).

(xi) Markandeya was also one among the several sages. who visited Bhisma lying on his bed of arrows. (Sloka 11, Chapter 47, Santi Parva).

(xii) Markandeya learnt Sahasranama (thousand names) of Siva from Naciketas and taught the same to Upamanyu. (Sloka 79, Chapter 17, Anusasana Parva). (xiii) Once Mdrkandeya discussed with Narada topics on many different subjects. (Mksinatya Patha, Chapter, 22, Anus asana Parva).

(xiv) Once Markandeya explained the evils of taking flesh as food. (Sloka 37, ‘Chapter 115, Anusasana Parva) .

(xv) The name of the wife of Markandeya was Dhumorna. (Sloka 4, Chapter 146, Anu~asana Parva) .

(xvi) Yudhisthira worshipped Markandeya also when he worshipped great sages before commencing the Mahaprasthana. (Sloka 12, Chapter 1, Prasthana Parva, M.B. ).

(xvii) Mahabharata gives the following synonyms for Markandeya :-Bhargava, Bhargavasattama, Bhrgukula9ardula, Bhrgunandana, Brahmarsi and Viprarsi.

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