॥ चिरञ्जीवी महर्षि मार्कण्डेय नमः ॥

Rishi Markandeya

(ऋषि मार्कण्डेय)

Era: Puranic Antiquity • Chiranjivi Tradition Tradition: Markandeya Purana • Shakta & Saiva Upasana Region: Varanasi, Western Ghats & Sacred Narmada Basin Wikidata Authority

Immortal Chiranjivi seer whose unwavering devotion to Mahadeva conquered death, and who codified the divine Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) in the Markandeya Purana.

Hymns in Library

Vedic & Classical Sanskrit

Literary Languages

Anushtup, Trishtubh, Vedic Padapatha

Associated Chhanda

Peer-Verified

Recension Integrity

AITIHASIKA PARICHAYA

Scholarly Biography & Historical Recensions

Rishi Markandeya is one of the eight deathless Chiranjivis of Sanatana Dharma. Born to Sage Mrikandu with a foreordained lifespan of only sixteen years, young Markandeya embraced the Shiva Linga in constant recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra as the god of death (Yama) approached. Pleased with his absolute surrender, Lord Shiva intervened as Kalantaka (the Destroyer of Time and Death), granting Markandeya eternal youth and immortality.

Beyond his association with the Rigvedic Maha Mrityunjaya healing mantra, Rishi Markandeya is the revealer and narrator of the 700 sacred verses of the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), embedded within chapters 81 to 93 of the Markandeya Purana.

His teachings form the foundational bedrock of both Shakta and Saiva philosophy, illuminating how the Supreme Divine Mother manifests to protect cosmic balance (Dharma) and how sincere devotion grants deliverance from the fear of mortality.

GRANTHAVALI

Sacred Hymns by Rishi Markandeya in Our Library

Each hymn below has been collated against authoritative classical printed critical editions (Gita Press, Chowkhamba, and BORI), featuring Devanagari text, Roman IAST transliteration, line-by-line English meanings, and free downloadable A4 vector PDFs.

Maa Durga Vedic & Classical Anushtubh