Long, long ago, it is said that the Hindu sage Mrikanda performed austerities and sacrifices to Lord Shiva, and after years of this devotion, Lord Shiva granted the sage a boon. Mrikanda asked Shiva to grant him and his wife a son, and he was offered a choice: a virtuous and pious son who would have a short life, or a dull witted, malicious child who would have a long life. The sage chose the former, and was granted Markandeya, a fine and exemplary son who was destined to die at the age of 16.

Of brilliant mind and pious character, Markandeya mastered the sacred Vedas and the Shastras, and became a devotee of Lord Shiva. When his sixteenth birthday was approaching, he learned his fate from his parents, and immediately began to engage in severe austerities.

On the day he was supposed to die, Markandeya continued his devotions to a lingam of Lord Shiva, and when the messengers of Yama, the lord of death, came for him, they were unable to take him away for he was protected by his faith.

Then Yama himself came to take Markandeya, but the young sage clung to the lingam, praying fiercely to Shiva. Yama threw his noose around Markandeya, but it also encircled the lingam, and Shiva, furious at the disrespectful act, appeared in a flash and slew Yama on the spot.

Then Devas intervened and begged Shiva to restore Yama, but he would only do so if Markandeya would remain 16 years of age for ever. This was accepted, and thus Shiva conquered both death and time for the sake of his devotee.