Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Brahma Vaivarta Puranama describes Sage Markandeya a fervent devotee of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
When there was Pralaya, (destruction - deluge) there was no sun or moon, everywhere in the Earth was covered with darkness. The thunder and lightening crushed the mountains into powder. There were brief streak of lights from meteor. All the water sources were dried up. The entire universe and its living beings burnt into fire and the fire slowly gulped the three world. At this incident, deities and demons were also evacuated. At this point of time, Sage Markandeya only survived in the Universe, since he was completely engrossed in Tapasya (penance). Though he felt hunger and thirst due to the gigantic burst out of fire, it dared to swallow him. Sage Markandeya realized that there was a banyan tree which was untouched by the mass of fire. He moved under the shade of the Banyan tree and started to pray to Lord Vishnu.
The weather has changed abruptly, the thick clouds started to pouring down heavily. It created massive flood and the heavy rain continued for twelve years. Sage Markandeya started to float on the water and continued to pray to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu replied ' I will protect you Markandeya'. Markandeya did not understand where the reply comes from. Suddenly he noticed a Banyan leaf was floating on the water and a baby boy in a Nidra (pretend to Sleep). The baby boy addressed Sage Markandeya and asked him to take shelter in His body. As soon as the Sage Markandeya entered into the body of the baby boy through his mouth, he could see the Seven world, Seven ocean, Seven region, mountains and kingdoms along with the living beings.
Markandeya continued to pray to Lord Vishnu, he came out of the baby boy's body through his mouth and there he could envision Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu pleased with the prayers of Markandeya and offered him boon. Sage Markandeya requested Lord Vishnu that he wanted to build a temple for Lord Shiva - Bhuvaneshwara ( The Lord of the Universe) in Purushothama Kshetram in order to reveal His devotion to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu thereby divulge the Eternal Truth to the world that Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are one and the same.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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