HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Markandeya"

Word

Markandeya

Sanskrit

मार्कण्डेय

IAST

mārkaṇḍeya

In General

Markandeya is always identified as a young and energetic ascetic. Authrship of the famous text Markandeya Upanishad and co-authership of Markandeya Purana is attributed to him. The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptasati), the most important text of Saktaism are chapters 81-93 of the Markandeya Purana. He was a contemporary of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Markandeya’s father was Mrkandu Maharshi, the son of Dhata, who in turn was the son of Bhirgu and Khyati. Narada purana says, Markandeya was born to his parents at the end of a long tapasya in which Vishnu born himself as their son.

Purana

The Markanadeya Purana was told by Markandeya to Sage Jaimini, after the Mahabharata war. The story goes like this: once Jaimini, a deciple of Vyasa visit Markandeya to clear some doubt in Mahabharata. Markandeya directed Jaimini to wise birds living in Vindhya Mountains as he is busy with his prayers and some other works. To Jaiminis surprise, the birds spoke and that is the beginning of the great work, the Markanadeya Purana.

There is an incidence in Mahabharata that Markandeya telling Yudhishthira the story of Kausika and also advising of Rajaneeti, the rule of governance. linga Purana version of Shiva Sahasranama is Lord Krishna’s teaching to sage Markandeya on 1008 names (qualities or attributes) of Lord Shiva. We can also find Markandeya in Ramayana as he attended the wedding of Sita Devi and Sri Rama. He was also referred in Bhagavata Purana.

Markandeya was called Mrtyunjaya as he had conquered death by clinging to Sivalinga with full childish innocence and heart full of devotion, doing japa “Chandrasekhara Chandrasekhara Chandrasekhara Pahi Mam; Chandrasekhara Chandrasekhara Chandrasekhara Raksha Mam…”,. When Yamaraja have come to take his life of Markandeya he was not able to take him because of Lord Siva. Markandeya was therefore called a Chiranjiva and he was always 16 years old.

http://www.markandeya.in/markandeya-aboutmarkandeya-history-english.php

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