Chiranjivi
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In Hinduism, the Chiranjivi (Template:Langx) are a group of immortals set to remain alive on Earth until the end of the current epoch, the Template:Lang.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Etymology and scriptural context
The Sanskrit nominal stem Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) Template:Gloss is a [[Sanskrit compounds#Tatpuruṣa_(determinative)|Template:Transliteration compound]] composed of the adjective Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration)—here in its adverbial form Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) Template:Gloss—and the noun Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) Template:Gloss, itself derived from the verbal root Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) Template:Gloss. The specific forms Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) and Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) are, respectively, the masculine nominative singular and nominative plural inflections of this stem.
The term Template:Lang denotes a being with a lifespan of an entire Template:Lang Template:Gloss, distinct from the concept of Template:Lang, which signifies absolute immortality. The distinction is illustrated in mythological narratives: at the end of the last Template:Lang Template:Gloss, the Template:Lang Hayagrīva attempted to attain immortality by swallowing the Vedas as they escaped from the mouth of Brahmā, but the scriptures were retrieved by Viṣṇu in his Matsya incarnation. Likewise, other avatars of Viṣṇu—Narasiṃha and Rāma—slew Hiraṇyakaśipu and Rāvaṇa, respectively, both of whom had sought immortality through devotion to Brahmā and Śiva. In this context, "immortal" can signify not absolute eternity but rather survival until the cosmic dissolution, when all embodied beings, including Brahmā himself, are destined to lose their material form with the destruction of the universe.<ref>Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.32.8–10</ref>
List
Template:Hindu mythology The extant Purāṇas, the Rāmāyaṇa, and the Mahābhārata generally describe seven immortal personalities in the Hindu pantheon.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Some scholars opine the count to be eight.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Each chiranjivi embodies a distinct attribute of humankind; that attribute persists among humankind for as long as the chiranjivi lives.<ref name="Paryatanam">Malayalam book Bharata Paryatanam (A journey through the Mahabharata) by Kuttikrishana Marar.</ref>
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Aśvatthāmā | The son of Droṇa. Droṇa undertook prolonged and austere penance in order to propitiate Śiva, seeking thereby a son endowed with the valour of the deity himself. He is regarded to be an avatar of one of the eleven Rudras. He was cursed to be immortal by Kṛṣṇa for the attempted murder of Parīkṣit, suffering from incurable painful sores and ulcers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Mahābalī | The king of the asuras, he was regarded to be a benevolent ruler. He overran the three worlds and overthrew Indra. He was exiled to the realm of Pātāla, the netherworld, by Vāmana, an avatar of Viṣṇu, to restore cosmic order,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was blessed with immortality by the deity. |
| Vyāsa | The sage and author of the Mahābhārata. He represents erudition and wisdom. He is the son of sage Parāśara and Satyavatī, a fisherwoman.<ref name="parashar">Template:Cite book</ref> He was born towards the end of the Template:Lang. |
| Hanumān | A great Template:Lang devotee of Rāma.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A Template:Lang, he stands for selflessness, courage, devotion, intelligence, strength, and righteous conduct. |
| Vibhīṣaṇa | A brother of Rāvaṇa. A Template:Lang, Vibhīṣaṇa defected to Rāma's side before the Laṅkā War owing to his devotion to Template:Lang. He was later crowned the King of Laṅkā after Rāvaṇa's death. He stands for righteousness.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Kṛpa | The royal Template:Lang of the princes in the Mahābhārata. Along with his nephew Aśvatthāmā, he was among the lone survivors of the Kaurava warriors who fought in the Kurukṣetra War.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Paraśurāma | The sixth avatar of Viṣṇu. He is knowledgeable in the use of all the divine weapons (Template:Lang) and the treatises (Template:Lang). The Kalkipurāṇa states that he will reemerge at the end of time to be the martial guru of Kalkin. He is stated to instruct the final avatar to undertake penance to receive celestial weaponry, required to save mankind during the end times.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
Other individuals who are sometimes additionally included to the list are the following:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Mārkaṇḍeya | A sage and the author of the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa. Although fated to be an exemplary child who would die at the age of sixteen, he was rescued from an early death at the hands of Yama, the god of death, by his devotion to Śiva. The deity blessed him with immortality for his ardent faith.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Kākabhuśuṇḍi | A devotee of Rāma, he narrates the story of the Rāmāyaṇa to Garuḍa in the form of a crow.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Jāmbavān | The king of the bears. He was born from the yawn of Brahmā and was already six manvantaras old during the period of the Rāmāyaṇa. He assisted Rāma in his quest to rescue his abducted wife, Sītā, in the epic.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Agastya | A great sage. He is the composer of many hymns in the Ṛgveda and is regarded the father of Siddha medicine.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| Nārada | A mind-born son of Brahmā and sage-divinity. He travels to different worlds and delivers tidings carrying his Template:Lang.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
Cirañjīviśloka
The Cirañjīviśloka (Template:Script) is a hymn that names the Chiranjivi and states the effects of their meditation: Template:Verse transliteration-translation The Template:Lang states that the remembrance of the eight immortals (Aśvatthāmā, Mahābalī, Vyāsa, Hanumān, Vibhīṣaṇa, Kṛpa, Paraśurāma, and Mārkaṇḍeya) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.