Mahabharata - Story of Sage Markandeya

Story of Sage Markandeya

After the pralaya or the universal dissolution, Marakandeya alone, with a heavy heart by seeing the destruction and dissolution, roams around over that vast mass of water. Wandering over that huge expanse of water he became fatigued but could see no resting place. Then he came across a gigantic banyan tree. On one branch of the tree there was a conch and a beautiful celestial bed on which was seated a beautiful boy of tender age. At this sight the sage was filled with wonder and he began to think within himself as to wherefrom this boy came. Although the sage was aware of the past, present and future, he could not ascertain anything about the boy. The boy had the mark of Sreevatsa and had eyes as large as petals of lotus and hue of the atasi flower. Seeing the sage the boy told him that he was fatigued after exertion and hence he was invited to take rest within him. The boy opened his mouth and sage Markendeya entered in that mouth as if driven by an irresistible urge. Inside he beheld with wonder all the sights of the very earth before its destruction, as if nothing had changed. He saw the rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, Sarswati, Sindhu, chandrabhaga, Satadru, Godavari and others, he saw kingdoms and cities and villages, the mighty oceans full of sea creatures, the mountains Himalayas and Vindhyas, the Brahmins engaged in sacrifices, Kshatriyas in governing, Vaishyas in trade and agriculture and Sudras in serving. Markandeya became very surprised. He could not ascertain as to how it was possible to have the whole of universe within that child and that too in the form that he saw before the universal dissolution. He saw all animals and the forests, he even saw all the gods with their chief Indra, he also saw the asuras. He dwelt in that body for many years but could never find the end of the universe or of that body. Then humility developed in him and he sought the protection of that divine being. Then when his mind had become purified and tranquil and his anxiety got dispelled through devotion, he suddenly found himself ejected from that body through the mouth. Then he found himself once again on that same branch of the same banyan tree with that young child with sreevatsa mark (of Vishnu), attired in yellow robes. The boy then spoke to the sage saying that, "Oh Markandeya, take some rest, for you have been tired of living in my body." At these words of the boy the cloud of ignorance got dispelled and Markandeya realized at once the divine illusion and got emancipated from the world or samsara. He developed the supreme knowledge and also supreme devotion. He approached that divine boy with reverence and worshipped Him mentally. He wished to know from the divine boy the meaning of the illusion that he saw. The divine boy, who was in reality Vishnu, said that even gods do not know Him properly. He is called Narayana because when the entire universe is submerged in water (causal state or the state where everythings dissolves), Vishnu stays and hence He is called Narayana (Nara - water, ayana - home). He is the source of all things. he is the creator, the preserver and destroyer. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are really the same Supreme Being, the eternal Vishnu who is beyond all space and time. All gods including their chief Indra reside in Him. Vedas and all knowledge originate from Him. He is the originator and also the recipient of all sacrifices. He is the force that holds the earth and all the planets, He is the energy that pervades the universe. He is there in all human beings and He has become Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Shudras, the four orders. He is also the all destroyer flame called Samvartaka. The sun, moon, stars, oceans and all other living and non living objects constitute His great body called Virata. He is really the cause behind everything, all actions. It is His will that is driving this universe, not human will. At times when virtue and morality decreases and sins increase, He appears in new forms for establishing righteousness, for the sake of good and His devotees. When foremost rakshasas and demons take birth on earth, He also takes birth in virtuous homes for exterminating the evil and for reestablishing virtue. There are four ages in which the Lord assumes four different hues, like white (purity) in Krita or Satya, yellow (some purity and some impure action in Treta), red (mostly impure action like wars) in Dwapar and black (darkness, tamas, impurity and inaction) in Kali age. At the end of ages He appears like Rudra, the destroyer. He is the cause of existence of all objects, in Him exists all and in Him returns all at the time of dissolution. One of His innumerable forms is that of divine Vishnu with the conch shell, discuss (Sudarshana), mace and lotus. At the time of universal dissolution when Brahma goes to sleep, Vishnu, taking the form of a little boy stays in that gigantic banyan tree created by His illusion. In Him rests the entire universe. The universe with its immovable and movable objects and creatures remain in seed form within Him, just as the mighty banyan tree is in a tiny seed that sprouts in time. The divine Vishnu then told the rishi to stay with Him as long as Brahma was sleeping. Once Brahma was awakened , the creation would begin all over again.