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There was a Rishi named Mrikandu. Once he worshipped Shiv Jee and asked for a son in boon. Shiv Jee, pleased with him, gave him a choice between a gifted son with a short-lived tenure on Earth, or a dunce with a long life. Mrikandu chose the former one and was blessed with a son. He named him Maarkandeya - an exemplary son who was destined to die at the age of 16.

Little Maarkandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiv. When he came to the age of 16, his father seemed sad to him. He asked him the reason for his sadness. He told him the whole story. Maarkandeya told him not to worry about it. On the day of his death Maarkandeya continued to worship Shiv Ling with his own written Stotra (Maarkandeya Stotra). The messengers of Yam Dev, the God of Death, came to take away the boy's life, but were unable to take it away as he was engaged in Shiv's worship. Then Yam Raaj himself came to take him away and sprung his noose around the boy's neck. s he threw the noose, it landed around the Shiv Ling and as he pulled it it pulled the Shiv Ling out of the ground.

Shiv Jee emerged from his Ling in all his fury, kicked Yam Raaj and killed Death itself. He then revived the boy under the condition that he will live forever. He revived the Death too for the good of the world. After this Maarkandeya Muni became immortal.

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