Markanday Mahadev Temple, kaithi, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh India.

 Markanday Mahadev Temple, Kaithi, Varanasi, UP, India

Markanday Temple

Markanday Shinlingam

Location 

Markanday Mahadev temple is located in Kaithi village, which is 30 km away from Varanasi, near the confluence point of Ganga and Gomti rivers. This temple is the centre of belief for having a child or descendant to a couple.

Kaithi is supposed to be the 2nd Kashi established by the king of Kashi named Debodas.

Story behind the Temple

Mrikandu was a saint in the ancient times. The name of his wife was Marudwati. Unfotunately the couple had no issue. Sage Mrikandu was a great devotee of god and used to meditate at Nemisharanaya Sotapur, where the other sages were also doing meditation.

The saint Mrikandu left the place and came to Vindhychal. Here, the saint performed tough meditation. Being pleased with his meditation, Lord Brahma appeared before him and told the way through which he could have a child. He also advised him to pray and meditate hard for Lord Shiva, because he is the only god who can alter the future happenigs decided by me. 

Then Mrikandu couple came at the confluence point of Ganga and Gomti rivers and performed hard meditation. Being pleased with his meditatation Lord Shiva appeared before Mrikandu and asked about his will. Sage Mrikandu requested Lord Shiva to bless him with a child.

Lord Shiva then blessed him with a son.. Shiva asked the couple if they want an ordinary son who will lead a long healthy life or an exceptional son who would lead a short life but with extraordinary intelligence. The couple opted for the second one.

As the time passed, his wife had a child and named him Markanday. The child was very intelligent and of religious nature. Intellegence within him was god gifted and became a devotee of Lord Shiva. He was the master of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and he became famous and a accomplished Sage quite early in his childhood.

At the age of sixteen, his existing time on earth came to an end. The Yamraj (god of death) came to take him away from the earth. At that time Markanday was worshiping before the Shivlingam. Seeing the Yama, out of fear he grabbed and holded Shiva Lingam with his both arms and prayed Lord Shiva to protect him. Yama then threw the noose (Bandhan) towards the child sage which encircled the Shiva Lingam too.

After that the Shiva Lingam burst with a roar and flashes like a thunder and Lord Shiva appeared. Shiva blessed Markanday with eternal life and proclaimed that he shall live forever as a sixteen year old. He also declared computation of time will be according to my time, means the heavenly time computation process.

Since, that day the village Kaithi became famous in the name of Markanday and Mahadev came to be known as Markanday Mahadev.

Here, large number of people come to get their wished fulfilled and to get mental peace. According to the Hindu mythology, Mahadev is considered as God of Gods.and so, this place attracts everybody. Here, the priests are the owners of this place and take the offering from the devotees and serve the God. The Priests belong to the Goswami community.

It is believed that the famous sage Shringi Rishi did Yagna named Putrayeshti yagna at this place in Treta Yuga by which King Dashratha had four sons. This is also the place, where king Raghu did Parayana (to complete ) of Haribans Purana ( a holy book ), after that he got the descendant of his family.

Thus, the devotees who pray to Markanday Mahadev, with the core of his heart, must receive the blessings and the wishes fulfilled.

Festivals

Shivratri festival is celebrated in which not less than 5 lakhs devotees gather here. Special arrangements made by the devotees and Swayam Sevi Sansthan’s to manage the crowd.

How to reach

Varansi city is a world renowned place. Anyone can reach here easily.

From Varanasi one can hire a taxi and reach Kaithi by road. Kaithi is on the national highway connecting Varanasi and Gazipur.

Where to stay

There are so many Dharamshalas, guest houses, hotels available at Varanasi for comfortable stay.

It is advised to stay at Varanasi, from there one can go to Kaithi by road.

Places to visit nearby

Varnasi is the nearest city and a famous Hindu religious place, regarded as the spiritual capital city of India. Along with its winding streets are 2000 temples including Kashi Vishwanath, the golden temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Varanasi is situated on the bank of holy river Ganga. There are so many ghats along the bank in which few are worth seeing. Given below the list of some ghats and temples which are of religious as well as of tourism importance ;-

Temples

• Sarnath Temple 

• Sankat Mochan Mandir

• Tulsi Manas Temple 

• Bharat Mata Mandir 

• Banaras Hindu University

• Annapurna Temple 

• Kal Bhairav Temple 

Ghats

• Manikarnika Ghat 

• Dasashwamegh Ghat   

• Harishchandra Ghat  

• Panchganga Ghat