Eight Chiranjivi according to Hindu Mythology - 8 Immortals

The word 'Chiranjivi' is often confused with immortals. Chiranjivi means 'long lived' and not immortal. Devas (demigods) are immortals because they drank the nectar of immortality which came out from churning the ocean (Samudra Manthan)   Whereas The Hindu Trinity :Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are eternal.

Even in Hindu tradition when the elders bless younger ones as 'Chiranjivi Bhava' which means 'May you live long'.

The Characters who are recognized as chiranjivi live long because of a boon or a curse. There are 8 chiranjivis which are as follows:

1] Ashwatthama:  Ashwatthama was blessed with a gem on his forehead which would protect him from disease, weapon and snakebite. He tried to kill the unborn son of Abhimanyu and Uttara. Due to this crime, Krishna ordered to cut off the gem from his forehead and cursed him that the wound will never heal and he shall live on this earth till the end of Kaliyuga. Ashwatthama is Ansha avatar (partial incarnation of Shiva) and he will be Shaptarshi in next Manavanatara.

2] Bali (Mahabali): He was granted the boon of chiranjivi by Vishnu's Vamana Avatar. King Bali is son of King Virochana and Kamalakshi(daughter of Kamalaksh and Grand daughter of Tarakasur). King Bali is Grand son of Bhakt Prahalad and Great Grand Son Of Daitya Hiranyakashyap. King BalI is King of "Suitaal" named Patal (Underworld) in Current Manavantara (Seventh Manavanatara:- Vaivasvan Manavantara). King Bali will be Indra of Heaven in Next Manvantara (Eight Manavanatara).

3] Ved Vyasa: The author of Mahabharata. He is said to live wherever truth and faithfulness exist.

4] Hanuman: Hanumanji shunned the heavens and requested to remain on Earth as long as Lord Ram is venerated by people, to reside wherever the name of Ram is taken. Hanuman will be the next 'Brahma' after the tenure of current Brahma ends.

5] Vibhishana: He is the brother of Ravana and was granted boon of longevity for his morality and righteousness. Vibhishana was also live at Mahabharat time. After completing 18 day's war of Mahabharata Yuddhisthir did Ashvamegh Yagn (horse sacrifice) and Shahdev went in South Direction till Sinhal Dwip(Sri Lanka) and at that time he met to Vibhishana and they became friends mensioned in Mahabharata. From Sri Ram to Mahabharata time 37 generation were passed in Suryavansha (Ikshvakuvansha).

6] Kripa: Known as Kripacharya is a chiranjivi for his impartiality towards his students. Kripacharya will be Saptarshi in next Manavanatara (Eight Manavanatara).

7] Parshurama: The sixth avatar of lord Vishnu was entitled to be a chiranjivi for continuing his work of exterminating the irreligious kings who neglected their duties. God Parashurama is doing tapasya in Himalaya since completed Mahabharat war (BCE 3238) and he will become Guru of Kalki Avatar which will be in end of this Kaliyug. Kaliyug has 4,32,000 years and in A.D. 2015 Kaliyug has been completed 5,117 years.

8] Markandeya: He is a devotee of shiva and was granted to live long at the age of sixteen in fight between Shiva and Yama.

अश्वत्थामा बलिव्र्यासो हनूमांश्च विभीषण:। कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तएतै चिरजीविन:॥ सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्। जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जित।।

The above lines means that by remembering all the 8 chiranjivis everyday, one can be free from all problems and live for 100 years.

Each of them descended on this earth in a different yug and they are said to be alive till the end of time. It’s also said that they are the eight warriors who will defend mankind during the end of time. While most of them were blessed to be alive forever, Aswatthama was cursed by Sri Krishna to live forever with leprosy.

Each of them will contribute to ensure that the mankind survives when the Kali yug ends. If seen from a philosophical point of view, each of them, stand for a virtue, which will sustain mankind to go through change of times. Hence, even post the Kali Yug ends and the Satya Yug starts, they will stick around to ensure that mankind thrives and survives.

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Disclaimer : All information is collected from various Hindi Dharma Granth ( Hinduism Texts )