Tales froM Indian Mythology

Author(s): A S Raman
Publisher: Kutub Popular

Page 83

Yama and Markandeya
55
birthdays.” “My son!” replied Mrikandu, "I admire your faith and fortitude. You may seek the protection of your Creator and our blessings are with you. How one reaches him we do not know, since each devotee follows his own path. But the learned such as you know all the roads leading to Heaven." "Father," replied Markandeya, "I have no desire to go to Heaven. I insist that the gods descend to Earth. So pray for my safe and early return, mother. Bless me, father.” He prostrated himself before them. With their asirvad, he started on his pilgrimage without caring to decide what his destination should be.
At last Markandeya found himself on the shore of the southern sea. He made a lingam (the symbol of Shiva) with sand, and to him it assumed a benign living aspect because he believed in it. He concentrated all his worship on it. He would rise with the sun, bathe in the sacred sea waters, pluck flowers that should please Shiva, sit in front of the lingam and sing the praises of the Great Lord, strictly as stipulated in the scriptures. At last, he would dance round the lingam in sheer ecstasy. Senses ceased to make their demands on him. There was only one problem for him now and that was: How best to dedicate his learning to the service of God. What mattered most to him thus was the simple joy in his own faith.
It was his sixteenth birthday. He was absorbed in his midday meditation in front of the Shiva symbol. There was a sudden outburst of flame on the southern rim of the horizon and he felt its warmth. Yama, the God of Death, leapt forth from it and thundered his arrival. Markandeya