Rishi Mrikandu and Marudwati did not have a child even after several years of marriage. The couple then decided to do Shiv Upasana and Tapasya to appease Mahadev.
Lord Shiva was happy with their prayers and asked the couple to make a wish. The couple asked Mahadev to bless them with 'Santan Prapti'.
Lord Shiva gave them the boon but had put forward two conditions :
Either their child will be a very obedient one and towards bhakti but will only have a life of 16 years
Or
The Child will be notorious and lazy but will live for many centuries.
The couple were wise and they decided to choose the former option. After some time they were blessed with a male child named 'Markanday'.
Markanday was an ardent Shiva Bhakta and when his 16th year was about to start he went and held the Maha Mrityunjaya shivling requesting Mahadev to save his life from Kaal.
Lord Shiva obliged his prayers and the Kaal who had come to take back Markanday to Yam Loka was defeated by lord Shiva and he came to be known as ' Maha Mrityunjay' i.e the one who obtained victory.
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