Markendaya
Not on view
Markendaya was a great devotee of Shiva, but unfortunately his death at the age of 12 was foretold. Here, Yama (the god of death) on his buffalo came to take the boy’s life, but when he cast his noose it fell around Shiva’s linga, enraging the god who is shown here emerging to do battle with Yama. Ultimately Shiva wins and revives Yama, who is at the point of death, after he promises that Markendaya will live forever. After this confrontation Shiva is also known as Kalantaka (“defeater of death” or “ender of death”). This event is understood to have taken place at Thirukkadaiyur in Tamil Nadu. Like other Ravi Varma’s prints, this work is based on an earlier oil painting.
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