![]() ![]() Pleased with the Putrakameshti (literally: desiring a child) tapasya (meditation involving one pointed concentration towards the almighty with the desire of obtaining a boon) of Rishi Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati, Lord Shiva appeared before them and asked which boon did they desire for. Now let us begin our journey to decrypt the iconography and decipher the complex ideology expressed through subtle images and stories. It was the destiny of Markandeya to live despite Lord Shiva stating his death post 16 summers from his birth. Even the gods are bound to her and hence we have the phrase ‘ Vidhi ka Vidhaan’ (legislation of fate) not ‘Eeshwar ka Vidhan’ (legislation of God). ![]() God is the creator of destiny (fate) but destiny (fate) has no author. When we ponder over this idea of ‘ Vidhi’, we tend to question that if she is not answerable to either the creation or the creator, then how Lord Shiva can change her while saving Markandeya? Is fate beyond the bounds of God, is destiny shackled in the high heavens? To analyze these questions we need to understand the etymology of the word author and creator. ![]() Some call her destiny while some identify her as fate. Ancient texts speak of Vidhi, who is beyond the creation and the creator. The Vedas or the primeval eternal ideology of truth, speak of a supreme personality Brahman, identified as Lord Brahma, when the creation commences as Lord Vishnu, when creation is protected, and as Lord Shiva when the creation ceases to exist. The stories mentioned in the article may/may not differ from the numerous representations of the legend despite the central idea being the same. Decrypting the legend and iconography of MarkandeyaĭISCLAIMER: The following article aims to comprehend the legend and iconography of Markandeya from the author’s point of view and does not intend to hurt the sentiments of any individual or group. ![]()
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