Ajay Kumar at 18:01, 18 September 2023

2023-09-18T18:01:45Z

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{{short description|Eight immortal living beings in Hinduism}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=September 2020}}
'''Chiranjivi''' ({{lang-sa|चिरञ्जीवि}}, {{IAST3|ciranjīvi}}) are the eight or nine (if Jambavan included) [[List of people claimed to be immortal in myth and legend|immortal]]s who are to remain alive on [[Earth]] until the end of the current [[Kali Yuga]], according to Hinduism. The Sanskrit term Chiranjivi means “immortal”, even though it does not correspond with “eternal”.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-20|title=Chiranjeevis: 8 Immortals of Hindu History|url=https://www.newsgram.com/chiranjeevis-8-immortals-journey-through-hindu-Histtory|access-date=2021-12-27|website=NewsGram - Lens to India from Abroad|language=en}}</ref> The term is a combination of "chiram" (forever) and jivi (lived).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-23|title=Astha Chiranjeevi - The Eight Immortals of Hindu Dharma|url=https://vedicfeed.com/astha-chiranjeevi-the-eight-immortals/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=vedicfeed.com|language=en-US}}</ref>{{multiple image
| perrow = 3/3/3
| total_width = 555
| image1 = Vyasa telling Drupada about the previous lives of the Pandavas and Draupada.jpg
| image2 = Parashurama.jpg
| image3 = Ravivarmapress.jpg
| image4 = Markandeya, ensnared by Yama’s pasha (noose), embraces a tall garlanded and bejewelled mukhalinga (a linga with a face)..jpg
| image5 = Kripa and shikhandi.jpg
| image6 = Vibhishana Is Installed as King of Lanka.jpg
| image7 = Jambavan.jpg
| image8 = Asvattama was arrested and brought to Draupadi by Arjuna.jpg
| direction = horizontal
| caption1 = [[Vyasa]] telling [[Drupada]] about the previous lives of [[Pandavas]].
| caption2 = [[Parashurama]] with his axe given by [[Shiva]]
| caption3 = [[Hanuman]] showing [[Rama]] in his heart.
| caption4 = [[Markandeya]] escaping from [[Yama]]'s [[Pasha]], by [[Shiva]] as [[Kalantaka]]
| caption5 = [[Kripacharya]] and Shikhandi in Battle
| caption6 = [[Vibhishana]] as King of Lanka
| caption7 = [[Jambavan]]
| caption8 = [[Asvatthama]] was Arrested and brought to [[Draupadi]] by [[Arjuna]]
| image9 = Vamana Bali Shukra.jpg
| caption9 = [[Mahabali]] serves [[Vamana]] and Shukra tries to stop it.
| align = none
}}

==Etymology and scriptural context==
The term is a combination of ''chiram'', or 'permanent', and ''jīvi'', or 'lived'. It is similar to ''amaratva'', which refers to true immortality. At the end of the last [[Manvantara]], a demon attempted to become immortal by swallowing the sacred pages of [[Vedas]], as they escaped from the mouth of [[Brahma (god)|Brahma]]. The scripture was retrieved by the first avatar ([[Matsya]]) of [[Vishnu]]. Incarnations of [[Vishnu]] ([[Narasimha]] and [[Rama]]) also later fought and killed two [[asura]]s, [[Hiranyakasipu]] and [[Ravana]], who tried to become immortal through obeisance to [[Brahma]] and [[Shiva]], respectively. In one sense immortal can mean "to live [[eternity|eternally]] until the destruction of universes", i.e., all physical bodies are foretold to become immaterial at the [[Hindu eschatology|end of time]], along with the [[Brahma]] himself, with the [[Pralaya|destruction of the universe]].<ref>''[[Bhāgavata Purāṇa]]'' 3.32.8–10</ref>

==Attributes==
The extant [[Purana]]s, the [[Ramayana]], and the [[Mahabharata]] describe seven long-lived personalities in the [[Hindu pantheon]]. There are others as well, which are not included in the one particular ''shloka''. Each represents a different attribute of man, which as long as they live, will exist amongst humanity.<ref name="Paryatanam">Malayalam book Bharata Paryatanam (A journey through the Mahabharata) by Kuttikrishana Marar.</ref>

==The Seven Chiranjivis==
*'''[[Ved Vyasa|Vyasa]]:''' The sage who composed the ''Mahabharata''. He represents erudition and wisdom. He is the son of sage [[Parashara]] and [[Satyavati]], a fisherwoman.<ref name="parashar">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&pg=PA447|title=History of Ancient India (A New Version)|author=J. P. Mittal|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|year=2006|isbn=8126906162|accessdate=2020-10-13}}</ref> He is also the great-grandson of the sage [[Vashishtha]]. He was born towards the end of [[Dwapara Yuga|Dvapara Yuga]], and saw the initial phase of [[Kali Yuga]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aastikin|date=2017-05-21|title=The Eight immortals (Chiranjivi) according to Hindu Mythology: Who Will Remain Alive Throughout The kaliyuga|url=https://aastik.in/8-immortals-chiranjivi-according-hindu-mythology-will-remain-alive-throughout-kaliyuga/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Aastik.in|language=en-US}}</ref>
*'''[[Hanuman]]:''' One of the greatest [[brahmacharya|brahmachari]], he served [[Rama]]. He is the most ardent [[vanara]] devotee of Rama. He stands for selflessness, courage, devotion, intelligence, strength, celibacy and righteous conduct.{{cn|date=November 2022}}
*'''[[Parashurama]]:''' The sixth [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. He is knowledgeable in all [[Astra (weapon)|astras]], [[Shastra|shastras]], and divine weapons. The [[Kalki Purana]] writes that he will reemerge at the [[Eschatology|end of time]] to be the martial guru of [[Kalki]]. He will then instruct the final avatar to undertake penance to receive celestial weaponry, required to save mankind during the [[Eschatology|end times]].{{cn|date=November 2022}}
*'''[[Vibhishana]]:''' The brother of [[Ravana]]. Vibhishana defected to Rama before his battle with Ravana. He has later crowned the King of [[Lanka]] after Ravana was killed by Rama. He stands for righteousness. Vibhishana is not a true Chiranjivi, as his boon of longevity is to remain on the earth only until the end of the [[Yuga Cycle|Maha Yuga]]. {{cn|date=November 2022}}
*'''[[Ashwatthama]]:''' The son of [[Drona]]. Drona performed many years of severe penance to please Shiva in order to obtain a son who possessed the same valour as the deity. Ashwatthama is the avatar of one of the eleven [[Rudra]]s. [[Kripa]] and he are believed to be the lone survivors still living who had fought in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He is immortal, but [[Krishna]] bestowed upon him a curse that "''he would live forever but with his body covered with painful sores and ulcers that would never be cured".<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent|date = 24 April 2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdkswFlJtjQC|publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear & Co|page=173|isbn = 9780892818709}}</ref>''
*'''[[Mahabali]]:''' The ruler of the asuras, he is still revered in present-day [[Kerala]]. His son was [[Banasura]]. He was the virtuous emperor of the three worlds and son of [[Virochana]], and grandson of [[Prahlada]], who were also of [[asura]] descent. He was exiled to the ''[[Patala|Patalaloka]]'' (the underworld) by the Vamana avatar of [[Vishnu]] to restore cosmic order. Every year, on the day of [[Onam]] (a major festival of [[Kerala]]), he is held in popular tradition to descend upon the earth from the heavens to visit his people.{{cn|date=November 2022}}
*'''[[Kripa]]:''' The royal guru of the princes in the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. His sister was [[Characters in the Mahabharata|Kripi]], who married [[Drona]]charya. He was blessed with long life because of impartiality among his students, and because he treated them as his own children. He, along with his nephew Ashwatthama, are the lone survivors of all warriors who actually fought in the [[Kurukshetra War]].{{cn|date=November 2022}}

==Literature==

The Ashta Chiranjivi Stotram is a mantra that is featured in [[Hindu texts|Hindu literature]]:

{{Blockquote|text=अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:। कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरजीविन:॥ सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्। जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥

aśvatthāmā balirvyāsō hanumāṁśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ {{!}} 
kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaitē cirañjīvinaḥ {{!}}{{!}} 
saptaitān saṁsmarēnnityaṁ mārkaṇḍēyamathāṣṭamam {{!}} 
jīvēdvarṣaśataṁ prājñaḥ apamṛtyuvivarjitaḥ {{!}}{{!}} |title=Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram}}

The mantra states that the remembrance of the eight immortals ([[Ashwatthama]], [[Mahabali]], [[Vyasa]], [[Hanuman]], [[Vibhishana]], [[Kripa]], [[Parashurama]] and [[Markandeya]]) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/general.htm#6 Ciranjivas]

{{HinduHistory}}

[[Category:Chiranjivins| ]]

Chiranjivi - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 18:01, 18 September 2023