Markandeya: Safe in Shiva's Embrace

Sage Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati performed severe penance to Lord Shiva for a child. Shiva appeared and offered them a choice: a foolish son who would live a long life, or an exceptionally brilliant and devoted son who would die at the age of sixteen. They chose the latter, and Markandeya was born.

Markandeya grew into a radiant, deeply devoted boy. As his sixteenth birthday approached, his parents wept and revealed his fate. Undeterred, Markandeya went to the temple, sat before the Shiva Linga, and began intense meditation, chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.

When his time came, Yama's messengers tried to take his soul, but the intense spiritual heat of his devotion repelled them. Finally, Yama himself arrived on his buffalo, wielding his deadly noose.

Yama threw the noose, which encircled both Markandeya and the Shiva Linga he was fiercely hugging.

The moment the noose touched the Linga, the earth shook. The Linga split open, and Lord Shiva emerged in his terrifying Kalantaka (Ender of Death) form. Furious that Yama had dared to cast a noose over His devotee and His own symbol, Shiva kicked Yama in the chest, killing the God of Death.

With the balance of the universe disrupted, the gods pleaded with Shiva to restore Yama. Shiva agreed, but on one condition: Markandeya would remain sixteen forever, beyond the reach of time and death.