Markandeya

Once upon a time in a small village in India, there lived a little boy named Markandeya. He was ten years old and loved to pray to Lord Shiva every day. Markandeya's devotion was so strong that he would spend hours in the temple. His parents were very proud of him and encouraged his devotion. Markandeya believed that Lord Shiva was always watching over him.

One day, Markandeya's parents received a prophecy from a wise sage. The sage said that Markandeya would only live until he turned sixteen. This news made his parents very sad, but Markandeya remained calm. He continued to pray to Lord Shiva with even more devotion, hoping for a miracle. He believed that Lord Shiva would protect him.

As Markandeya's sixteenth birthday approached, the god of death, Yama, came to take him away. Markandeya was praying to Lord Shiva when Yama arrived. Yama tried to take Markandeya, but the boy clung to the Shiva Lingam, a sacred symbol of Lord Shiva. Markandeya cried out to Lord Shiva for help. Suddenly, a bright light filled the temple.

From the bright light, Lord Shiva appeared and stopped Yama. Shiva was impressed by Markandeya's unwavering devotion. He blessed Markandeya with eternal life, making him immortal. Yama had no choice but to leave without the boy. Markandeya's faith and devotion had saved him, and he continued to live a long, happy life, always devoted to Lord Shiva.