Tamil Nadu: Unique Lord Siva icon to mark Mahasivarathri fest
From that day onwards, Markandeya got the names Mrityunjaya and Kalakala and his name also signifies immortality.
CHENNAI: A unique avatar of Lord Siva - Kalanai vendra Sivan kolam, depicting the Lord saving his devotee Markandeya from Yama, the God of Death, will be the major highlight of the Mahasivarathri celebrations on February 13 at the ancient Sri Tripurasundari sametha Sri Chandramouleeswarar temple, Nagari, near here.
The massive idol, in which the scene of the Lord coming out of the Sivalingam to rescue Markandeya, is made of 800 kg of sandal dust mixed with about 25 litres of rose water.
“Every Mahasivarathri, the devotees of Lord Chandramouleeswarar create images to inspire the devotees of the Lord’s beneficence. This year, the devotees have planned to enact the scene from the last minutes of the boy-rishi whose life was to have tragically ended when he attained 16 years,” V. Subramanian of Jan Kalyan, who was instrumental in resurrecting the once abandoned temple, said.
When Yama did not want Markandeya to live a minute longer, and attempts to take away his life, Lord Siva appears from the Sivalingam, shoves Yama aside and slays him with his trident and saves the lad. From that day onwards, Markandeya got the names Mrityunjaya and Kalakala and his name also signifies immortality.