Markandeya

Markandeya is a sage mentioned in Hindu scriptures. He is the son of sage Mrikanda and his wife Manasvini. The Markandeya Purana, attributed to him, features a dialogue with sage Jaimini. He also appears in the Bhagavata Purana and the Mahabharata. Markandeya is revered in all mainstream Hindu traditions. A key legend tells of Shiva saving Markandeya from Yama, the god of death, leading to Shiva being called Kalantaka. Another story from the Bhagavata Purana describes Markandeya's deep meditation and a vision of universal dissolution (pralaya) granted by Vishnu, followed by blessings from Shiva. Markandeya is considered one of the Chiranjivis, the eight immortals of Hinduism. The Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram mentions him and attributes longevity and freedom from ailments to his remembrance. His veneration sites include Markandeya Tirtha in Uttarakhand and several temples across India. He is also the subject of various films.