Markandeya: Maharshis of Ancient India

By Dr. K.L. Shankaranarayana Jois

In ancient Bharatha, 64 arts were taught in the gurukulas, history being one of them. In these pages of history, we come across the enthralling account of the lives of great Maharshis, Sage Markandeya being one of them. He also figures among the Puranapurushas. He was born in the Bhrigu clan and was also called Bhargava, Bhrigunandana, and so on. He was an intellectual giant from birth and mastered the Vedas and Shastras. He also developed all the great qualities expected of a good human being and turned out to be a paragon of virtues. Unfotunately, he was destined by Lord Brahma to live a short but meaningful life. However, the saptharishis blessed him with a long life which was not in accordance with the creator's blessings. So when the day of his doom actually arrived, Markandeya chanted the Mrithyunjaya Manthra, prayed hard to Lord Sankara and chanted 'Aum' with a pure heart. Lord Yama himself came to take him when Lord Sankara came out of the Sivalinga which young Markandeya held in an embrace. Yama had to beat a hasty retreat after being told by Sankara that the young boy had conquered death by severe tapas. Needless to say that the young boy's worried parents were supremely happy at the turn of events. Markandeya was such a great tapasvi that Indra felt threatened. So, when he sent Kamadeva, Vasantha and a few apsaras to distract him, they failed. At the end of his tapas, Lord Nara-Narayana himself appeared before him and blessed him to experience the Vaishnavi maya. Markandeya was ensnared by the tentacles of Lord Mahavishnu's maya and he spent thousands of years struggling in the sea of deluge. This is when he had a strange experience, that of the Lord's Vaishnavi Maya – he was sucked into a child's body where he saw the entire creation of the Lord and then was thrown out by the force of the child's breathing. Lord Siva felt that people like the sage had the capacity to make others pure by their very darshan. After this , Markandeya wrote a famous epic which came to be known as Markandeya Purana. He got initiated to Shiva Sahasranama and composed Skandanama Sankeerthana and Sri Krishnamahima. Sage Markandeya remained by the side of the Pandavas whenever they were in trouble and infused confidence into them. He was present when Bhisma cast away his mortal body. He believed that only one force was true and real on earth and that was Sri Krishna. He believed that clean words, clean work and clean water (source of life) can raise man from being mundane to divinity. In short, sage Markandeya was a beacon for all ages, a true friend, and a model personality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana
• Release date: May 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9789389020243

Book preview

MAHARSHIS OF ANCIENT INDIA

Markandeya

Written by

Dr. K.L. Shankaranarayana Jois

Translated by

Prof. G. S. Mudambadithaya

© Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana, Bengaluru. All rights reserved.

Published by:

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Sri Ranga Sadguruve Namah

Bharatha Samskruti Prakashana, which has the major objective of acquainting our children with Bharathiya culture in its true form has brought out a number of books based on two of our great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. The chief among them are the Epic Characters of the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana. These beautiful books have come out in a number of languages and have been welcomed by educational institutions, the government and the public wholeheartedly. We are delighted to learn that the Bharatha Samskruti Prakashana has brought out another set of ten books on Great Maharshis of Bharatha.

These books acquaint the society with the great sages who built our great culture. They are great souls who have found out truth and devoted their life, energy and experience for the welfare of the people of this planet. They were extraordinary human beings having great wisdom, vast experience and character worthy of imitation. They gifted everything to the world without seeking fame or any kind of gain. Welfare of the world was their sole object. (Lokassamastah Sukhino Bhavantu). A few among such great men are introduced to us through these books. By a study of these books let our young boys and girls develop qualities such as faith in truth and good character and become vibrant individuals and useful citizens of this great land of Bharatha.

Let Bharatha Samskrithi Prakashana bring out many such useful books and help people become better citizens and make our country great among the nations of the world. May God bless the scholars who have written these books and those who edited them and brought them out in attractive forms. We pray to God for the good of all.

Ashtanga Yoga Vijnana Mandiram

Shravana Sukla Dwitiya

With Narayanasmaranas

Sri Sri