According to the Puranas, Chandra, the Moon God, favored his wife Rohini over his other wives, angering their father, Daksha. As punishment, Daksha cursed Chandra to lose his brilliance. Desperate, Chandra sought the blessings of Lord Shiva, who softened the curse but could not remove it entirely.

As a result, the Moon would forever wane into darkness on Amavasya and then regain its radiance until Purnima—creating the eternal cycle of the New Moon and Full Moon that we witness to this day.

The young sage Markandeya was destined to die at the age of sixteen who was devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva, he spent his final moments praying before a Shiva Lingam. When Yama, the God of Death, arrived to claim his life, Markandeya embraced the Lingam and refused to leave. As Yama cast his noose, it accidentally fell around the Lingam as well. Enraged by this act, Lord Shiva emerged from the Lingam and confronted Yama. A fierce battle followed, and Shiva defeated Yama, saving Markandeya from death. This story symbolizes the power of devotion, faith, and the triumph of divine grace over death itself.

In Hindu mythology, this phrase usually refers to the story in which Sage Bhrigu curses Vishnu, leading to consequences such as Vishnu taking birth on Earth in human incarnations and experiencing separation from his wife in some traditions.