Sage Mrikandu and his wife had no children. They performed penance to Shiva. Shiva offered a choice: a wise son with a short life, or a long-lived but dull-witted son. The sage chose the wise son, whose life was said to be sixteen years.
The son was named Markandeya. He was a devotee of Shiva from childhood. As he grew, his parents worried because his sixteenth year was near. When Markandeya learned of it, he did not panic and increased his worship of Shiva.
On the last day of his sixteenth year, Yama’s messengers came for him, but Markandeya clung to the Shivalinga, absorbed in prayer. The messengers could not approach him. Then Yama himself came and threw his noose, which fell on Markandeya and also on the Shivalinga.
According to the story, Shiva appeared from the Shivalinga and stopped Yama. He said, “How dare you cast your noose at my devotee?” Yama begged forgiveness and Shiva blessed Markandeya with immortality.
Since then Shiva is called Mrityunjaya and the Lord of Death itself. The story of Markandeya shows that before true faith, even fear is defeated.