Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.643

c8.643

2) Birth. Mṛkaṇḍu did not have sons for a long time and so he performed penance for several years to please Śiva to get a son. Śiva appeared before him in person and asked him thus "Do you desire to have a virtuous, wise and pious son who would live up to sixteen years or a dull-witted evil-natured son who would live long?" Mṛkaṇḍu chose the first type and soon a son was born. He was named Mārkaṇḍeya. Even from boyhood Mārkaṇḍeya knew all the Vedas and śāstras. His pleasing manners got the approval of his teachers and the boy was liked by one and all. But the parents were sad and whenever they looked at their son a gloom spread over their face. The secret of the short span of his life was hidden from him. The sixteenth year was fast approaching and one day unable to control their grief they wept before him. Mārkaṇḍeya asked them the reason why they wept. Mṛkaṇḍu with tears running down his cheeks told him the story. From that day onwards Mārkaṇḍeya started performing penance wearing barks of trees for his dress and growing matted hair. The boy was soon engrossed in severe austerities.