சிவபெருமான் மார்க்கண்டேயர் காப்பாற்றிய 1300 வருட பழமையான எல்லோரா சிற்பம்

 Ellora : Dasavatara and Kailasa caves depicting Bhagavan Shiva as 'Kalakaala' .

'அன்றடற் காலனைப் பாலனுக்காய்ப்

பொன்றிட வுதைசெய்த புனிதன்... '

- திருஞானசம்பந்தர் பெருமான்.

 

பாலனா ராருயிர் பாங்கினால் உணவருங்
காலனார் உயிர்செகக் காலினாற் சாடினான்” (3:28-6)

என்று வேதச் சமயத்தவரான திருஞானசம்பந்தர் மூன்றாம் திருமுறையில், திருமழபாடி பதிகத்தில் பாடியுள்ளார்.

 இவரே, ‘கரிதரு காலனைச் சாடினானும் கடவூர்தனுள்’ (3:79) என்றும் பாடியுள்ளார் (கடவூர் - திருக்கடையூர். அபிராமி அம்மன் கோவில்).

 மேலும், மார்க்கண்டேயர்க்காக இறைவன் மழுவேந்தி நடனமாடிய தலம் என்று அவர் திருமழபாடியைக் (இவ்வூர் திருச்சியிலிருந்து திருத்தவத்துறை (லால்குடி) வழியாகத் திருவையாற்றினுக்குச் செல்லும் தடத்தில் உள்ளது) குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார் (2ஆம் திருமுறை, ஒன்பதாம் பதிகம்). 

இதேசெய்தியைத், திருநாவுக்கரசர் வழிமொழிந்து, ‘மார்க்கண்டர்க்காக அன்று காலனை உதைப்பர் போலும் கடவூர் வீரட்டனாரே’ (4:12) என்றும் ‘கொலையான கூற்றங் குமைத்தான் கண்டாய்’ (6:394) என்றும் ‘கொன்றாடுங் கூற்றை யுதைத்தார் தாமே’ (6:774) என்றும் பதிவுசெய்துள்ளார். 

அவ்வாறே, சுந்தரமூர்த்தி நாயனாரும் ‘கொன்றாய் காலன்உயிர் கொடுத்தாய் மறையோனுக்குமான்’ (7:281) என்று பாடியுள்ளார்.

Illustrations of Siva rescuing Markandeya from Dasavatara Cave, Cave XV, at Ellora from James Burgess' 'Original Drawings [of] Elura Cave Temples Buddhist and Brahmanical.' The spectacular site of Ellora, in Maharashtra, is famous for its series of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples excavated into the rocky façade of a cliff of basalt. The works were done under the patronage of the Kalachuri, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta dynasties between the sixth and the ninth centuries. The Dashavatara Cave was started as a Buddhist monastery, but in the eight century was converted into a Hindu sanctuary under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga (r.c.730-55). It consists of an open court with a free-standing monolithic mandapa in the middle and a two-storeyed hall at the back, the original Buddhist monastery, the walls of which are covered with reliefs illustrating Hindu mythology. The columns are decorated with elaborate pot and foliage motifs carved on the shafts. Inscribed: 'From the Das Avatra Elura'

One legend relates the story of how Shiva protected Markandeya from the clutches of death, personified as Yama.

The great sage Mrikandu rishi and his wife Marudmati worshipped Shiva and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. As a result, he was given the choice of either a righteous son, but with a short life on earth or a child of low intelligence but with a long life. Mrikandu rishi chose the former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of 16.

Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva and on the day of his destined death he continued his worship of Shiva in his aniconic form of Shivalingam. The messengers of Yama, the god of death were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva. Yama then came in person to take away Markandeya's life, and sprung his noose around the young sage's neck. By accident or fate the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever. For this act, Shiva was thereafter also known as Kalantaka ("Ender of Death").

This event, it is said, took place on the bank of river Gomati in Kaithi, Varanasi. An ancient temple Markandeya Mahadeva Temple is made on this site. It's the place where river Ganga and river Gomati merge so being a Sangam area, its sacredness increases. Alternatively, another story states that this event happened in Kerala, at the site of Triprangode Siva Temple where the Markandeya ran up to the Shiva Linga at the temple to escape from Yama.

As sourced from Sati Purana, a secret portion of Markandeya Purana, Goddess Parvati also gave him a boon to write a text on veera charitra (Brave character) on her, the text is famously known as Durga Saptashati, a valuable portion in Markandeya Purana.[3] The place is known as Yamkeshwar.