Maharshi Markandeshwar Mandir is situation in Shahabad Markandesh, Kurukshetra in Haryana, North India. Markandeshwar  Markandeshwar is associated with Maharishi Markandeya, a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Shahbad Markanda is on the banks of the river Markanda, a tributary of the Ghaggar, and a part of the ancient Vedic Saraswati River basin system. The Markandeshwar river is named from Maharishi Markandeya.

The walls of the Markandeshwar Mahadev temple carry a scene depicting Lord Shiva saving Rishi Markandeya from Yamraj, the Hindu God of death.

Markandeya was destined to die at the age of 16. Markandeya grew up as a great devotee of Lor Shiva and on the day of his destined death continued his worship of Shivalingam. The messengers of Yama (the God of death), Yamadootas were unable to take away his soul because of his great devotion and worship of  Lord Shiva. Finally, Yama had to come to take Markandeya's life away and sprung his noose around the young sage's neck. By mistake, the noose  of Yama landed around the Shivalingam and out of it, Lord Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death,  Lord Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the young Markandeya would live forever. Thus, the Maha Mrityunjaya Stotra is attributed to Maharishi Markandeya.

The Markandeya Purana comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage called Jaimini and a number of chapters in the Bhagavata Purana are dedicated to his conversations and prayers. Maharishi Markandeya is also mentioned in the Mahabharata.

HINDU MYTHOLOGY AND LEGEND OF MAHARSHI MARKANDEYA

The Markandeshwar Mahadev temple is supposed to be the place where the young Markandeya was praying to Shiva in order to win over his destiny. This is where Shiva fought with Yama and blessed Maharishi Markandeya with the boon of immortality. The original temple dated back to pre-Mahabharat times and was founded in the third millennium B.C. The current structure is more recent and dates back to the early 20th century.

Number of Pilgrims arrive to visit the Markandeshwar Mahadev temple in large numbers on Sundays and during the month of Shravan. The Prasad of Mishree (Sugar) is distributed to the Yatries (Devotees). The temple can be reached easily located at 20 KM. south of Ambala on the Ambala-Delhi National Highway of the famous Grand Trunk Road.