Kaithi is an utterly beautiful place on the Ganga-Gomati Sangam. Site of the famed Markandeya Mahadeva Mandir, Kaithi is on the road from Varanasi to Ghazipur and lies before Saidpur.
I had been trying to visit Kaithi for quite a few years but couldn't manage it. Had to get off the taxi at one time because a guest arrived.
As I have said before, you visit a Mandir only on the day that the Devata or Devi ordains. I finally managed a visit to Kaithi and what a visit it was.
We started from my home at 3:30 AM in the morning and reached Kaithi some 10 minutes before sunrise. We witnessed sunrise at the Ganga-Gomati Sangam and that is just a wonderful sight.
The Markandeya Mahadeva Mandir is on the banks of the Ganga and the whole sangam area is full of flower plantations that adds immensely to the ambience.
The Markandeya Mahadeva Mandir is dedicated to Rishi Markandeya. Rishi Markandeya was the son of Rishi Mrikandu and his wife Devi Marudavati. The couple had no children and they worshipped Bhagwan Shiva and asked for a child. Shiva agreed but asked them to choose a son from 2 options.
1. A normal son with a long lifespan
or
2. An extraordinary son with a short span. The couple chose the latter and Rishi Markandeya was born.
At the age of 16 Yamaraja came for the life of Markandeya Rishi but Shiva appeared and saved the child. The Mandir is situated at that very spot.
