This legend relates to the story of Shiva's protecting
Markandeya from the clutches of death.
Mrikandu Muni worshipped Shiva and
sought from him the boon of begetting a son. He was given the choice between a gifted son
with a short lived tenure on earth or a dunce with a long life. Mrikandu Muni chose the
former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of
16.
Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva. On
the day of his destined death Markandeya continued to worship a Shivalingam. The
messengers of Yama, the God of death were unable to take away the lad's
life, given his devotion to Shiva and his being engaged in the act of worship then. Yama
himself came in person to take his life away and sprung his noose around the young sage's
neck. The noose landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his
fury, and kicked Yama and killed Death itself. He then revived him, under the condition
that the devout youth would live for ever.