[3] As per his destiny, the messengers of Yama came to take away Markandeya's soul, but failed to approach him as he ceaselessly repeated Shiva's name.

The wrathful Yama assumed a fearsome form and threw his noose to capture Markandeya, who hugged the lingam tightly.

When the noose touched the lingam, Shiva emerged from it in all his wrath and struck Yama with his Trishula and kicked his chest, killing the Lord of Death.

[3] Sages, gods and other beings appeared to praise Shiva, who blessed Markandeya to remain a youth of 16 for seven kalpas (aeons).

[2] A relief of Kalantaka in Chidambaram Temple has been turned into a shrine and is offered special worship on Kartik Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika.

[5] Thirukkadavoor or Thirukadaiyur or Tirukkatavur or Tirukkadavur or Katavur (as named in Tevaram) is one of the Atta-virattam, the eight sites of the heroic acts of Shiva.

[6] In Tamil Tevaram poetry, Shiva's feet as often praised as the ones who kicked Death, alluding to the Kalantaka legend.

Appar narrates how Markandeya worshipped Shiva at Thirukkadavoor with devotion and the deity appeared to save him from Death.

[8] The legend of Shiva's manifestation of Kalantaka is believed in local tradition to have happened at Triprangode, Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala where the Kalasamharamurthy Temple is situated.

The right foot should be rested on a lotus-pedestal (padma-pitha) and the left leg lifted to kick Yama, just touching his chest.

Shiva, depicted red in anger, should have a third eye on the forehead, a jatamukuta (a crown of matted hair), lateral tusks and four or eight arms.