Kalesvaram Shiva Temple is located in the Thiruvananthapuram
district of Kerala. There is a Vishnu Temple on the western side of this known
as Altharamoodu Sri Krishna Swamy temple. Both these temples have significant
places in the story of Markhandeya who won over the death with his dedicated
devotion.
Saint Mukunda was worried as he did not have a child even
years after his marriage. He underwent penance to appease Lord Shiva and in the
end, Lord appeared in front of him. When the saint revealed his ambition, Shiva
gave him two choices to choose from. Shiva told him that either he can have a bright
and intelligent child who will live only up to the age of sixteen or a foolish
child with a larger life span. Saint did not spend a second to think over it and
he asked for the intelligent and bright child with a short life span. Thus he has
blessed with a son and he named his son as Markhandeya.
Markhandeya was very intelligent and brilliant and he
learned all the Sastras and Vedas at a tender age. Everybody liked him very
much because of his good behaviors and vast knowledge. He was a role model for
others to point out. However, his parents got worried as he was nearing his
sixteenth year. Brilliant and intelligent Markhandeya could make out that his
parents are worried a lot and he asked for the reason. Unable to withstand the
pressure they told him the truth. They told him that Lord Shiva gave him only
sixteen years and now the time is fast reaching for him to end the life.
However, Markhandeya did not worry after hearing and he
consoled his parents saying that he can win over the death with selfless
devotion of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. He started worshipping them ardently
from that day onwards. The fateful day approached and Markhandeya saw two
soldiers of Yama, the god of death approaching him. He ran to nearby Vishnu
Temple and prayed. Immediately Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him and asked
him to move fast to the nearby Shiva temple and pray to Lord Shiva. Vishnu gave
him a handful of sand and ask him to keep it within his hand till he enters the
temple so that the soldiers of Yama cannot catch him.
He ran to the nearby Shiva temple and entered inside it. He
directly went near the Shiva Linga Consecrated there and held it tightly with
both the hands. Seeing that, the soldiers of Yama went back as they do not have
the power to fight with Lord Shiva. They returned to the Yama Loka and informed
Yama about the happenings. Angry Yama, who was very strict in carrying out his
duty went himself to catch Markhandeya.
When Yama approached Markhandeya, he was praying to Lord
Shiva, chanting the Panchakshari Manthra and holding the Shiva linga tightly
with both the hands. Yama did not care about it and throw the rope to tie
Markhandeya. The rope got tied around the Shiva linga too and when Yama pulled
it with all the force, Lord Shiva got angry. He appeared there and killed Yama
and blessed Markhandeya that he will live for another hundred years. Later
Shiva gives rebirth to Yama on the request of other gods.
The Vishnu Temple in this story is believed to be the
Altharamoodu Sree Krishna Temple and the Shiva Temple is Kelapuram Shiva
Temple. As this myth is strongly placed in the minds of people, Mruthyunjaya
Homam being done in this temple is believed to have great powers. Many people
have been protected from unnatural and untimely deaths with the help of
Mruthyunjaya Homam at this temple. Another point to clarify the relation of
this temple with the story of Markhandeya is the western side gate of the
temple. It will be kept open on Shivarathri and believed to be doing so for
Markhandeya.
No comments:
Post a Comment