But Shiva’s conquest over Yama does not give us the complete picture of Mrityunjaya, for even in his aspect as the ruler of death, Shiva is deeply nurturing as well as fearsome. And some say it is this aspect of Shiva’s being that Markandeya was worshipping on his sixteenth birthday. To Markandeya he is Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror. He is the Lord of Yogis, established in meditation. Yet he remains unaffected by the world’s charms and temptations as he silently holds all that moves in an unmoving presence. He manifests the universe and exists in it like a net into which every particle and being is woven. With tenderness and a sure hand, he guides those who aspire to self-realization and he relieves the suffering that exists in the universe. He is a shelter of kindness and the giver of boons. This aspect of Shiva is reflected in his ancient name Rudra, “one who howls.” The more familiar name Shiva, on the other hand, means “auspicious, gracious, or kind.” Here compas-sion is Shiva’s nature. He is the inner controller and the dissolver, bringing compulsive pursuits of passion, and even life itself, to its natural end. He guards the universal order with ferocious resolve, destroying attachments and freeing his devotees from ignorance. The story of Markandeya opens doors to a vast spiritual heritage with the mysterious figure of Shiva at its core. The ancient belief is that the realized soul of Markandeya is still moving in the universe.
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But he pointed out that Markandeya’s devotion had protected him, and he was therefore blessed to remain a sixteen-year-old sage eternally. Fearing that Yama’s death would upset the order of the universe, they implored Shiva to bring him back to life-and in the end, Shiva complied. Yama was killed with a blow from Shiva’s foot as the other gods looked on in dismay. Yama had thrown his noose too far, for he had no authority to encircle Shiva himself. Yama threw his noose to gather Markandeya in, but the noose encircled the lingam as well, and immediately, Shiva, dwelling in the image, split the lingam open and emerged in a rage. He urged Markandeya to follow the natural laws of life and death, and to come willingly, but Markandeya wrapped his arms around the shiva lingam and surrendered himself to its protection.
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So Yama himself traveled to the temple to accomplish the task. Returning to Yama, they described their dilemma. When the messengers of Lord Yama, the lord of death, arrived to take him away, they found him so absorbed in his prayers, they could not complete their mission. On the day of his sixteenth birthday Markandeya took refuge in a temple and sat next to a shiva lingam (a symbol of divine consciousness) to do his worship and meditation. Already an accomplished yogi, Markandeya rededicated himself to his practice. And when he asked them to explain their downcast mood, they told him what Lord Shiva had said. The couple decided not to tell him that he would have a short life span, but as he approached his sixteenth birthday his parents’ growing sadness betrayed them. They chose the child with spiritual virtue, and in time Marudvati gave birth to a boy they named Markandeya. After hearing their request, Lord Shiva told them they could either parent a child who would be a brilliant spiritual light but whose life would be a scant sixteen years, or they could raise a long-lived child who would be witless and self-absorbed.
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They were rewarded with a vision of Lord Shiva, their ishtadevata (the deity of their hearts). But his story begins before his birth.Ĭhildless, the forest-dwelling sage Mrikandu and his wife, Marudvati, undertook a long penance, hoping to earn merit and the boon of a child.
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Markandeya is also acclaimed for his vision of the cosmic deluge, and in the Mahabharata he is an honored guest at the forest encampment of the heroic Pandava brothers. His text is remembered especially for its account of the glory of the Divine Mother. Great personages appear in these tales, among them the sage Markandeya, whose teachings are found in the Markandeya Purana. The scriptures of ancient India are filled with stories, myths, and legends in which philosophy is entwined with devotion. In this article, spiritual teacher and author Rolf Sovik unveils one of yoga’s most powerful, nourishing mantras. Hailed by the sages as the heart of the Vedas, the maha mrityunjaya mantra can help you tune into the healing force that is always at work within you, supporting your growth, lifting you up in times of trouble, and reminding you of the higher aim of life.