Chiranjivi's: Immortals of India

CHIRANJIVI : LORD HANUMAN

Chiranjivi is a sanskrit word which means "long lived". A person who is blessed or cursed by gods to live and lead their lifes till the end of this kaliyuga. According to indian texts, there are seven chiranjivi's or immortals present on this earth.

    But according to some texts, there are 8 chiranjivi's alive on this earth. As Maharishi Markandaya also recieved the boon of immortality from Lord Shiva. They are living their lives silently and very well. No one knows where they are.

  The Seven chiranviji's who are living on this earth are :

1. Vedvaysa :

   Maharshi Vedvasya was a great sage who had written the eighteen puranas and Brahma Sutras. His birth name was "Krishna Dwaipayana" which means who was black in complexion and born on a island. He was son of Maharishi Prashara and Devi Satyavati ( daughter of a fisherman ). 

    He had narrated the tale of great Mahabharata without a pause which was written by Lord Ganesha. He has rearranged and compiled the vedas due to which his name became Vedvaysa. Maharishi Vedvaysa had an important part during the time of Mahabharta .

2. Lord Hanuman :

     Lord Hanuman is the greatest devotee of Lord Ram. Due to his devotion ,Lord Ram blessed him that he will remain alive till the end of this world for the welfare of the peoples of this world. 

    He was son of Devi Anjana and Maharaj Kesari. He is also known as Pawan Putra as God of wind is spritual father of him. He is also considered as the 11th rudra avatar of Lord Shiva. He was lord of immense powers.

   He had helped Lord Shree Ram in defeating Demon King Raavana. He finded Devi Sita and single handledly burned lanka with his tail. He teared his chest to give the proof that Lord Shree Ram and Devi Sita is always present in his heart.

3. Lord Parshuram :

    Parshuram was the sixth Avatar of Lord Shree Hari Vishnu. He was son of Maharishi Jamadgni and Devi Renuka. He is known for his anger.He destroyed the Kshatriyas 21 times from this earth. He was great devotee of Lord Shiva and being happy by him Lord Shiva given him a Parsha ( Axe ) and also Lord shiva taught him art of warfare. It is believed that he will taught the his art of warfare to Lord Kalki- Tenth Avatar of Lord Vishnu.

     Shahastrarjuna  once destroyed his father's ashram and taken away kamdhenu- the divine cow from there. For this Lord Parshuram gone and killed Shahastrarjuna . After this sons of Shahastrarjuna killed Lord Parshuram's father and in anger Lord Parshuram took the oath of that will kill all the kshatriyas from this earth.

4. Ashwatthama :

     Ashwatthama is also considered as the Avatar of Lord Shiva. As Guru Dronacharya- father of Ashwatthama did severe penance of Lord Shiva to attain him as his son. He was Son of Guru Dronacharya and Kripi.

   He had a mani on his forhead which made him immortal. He was a great warrior like his father.  when he killed the child who was in the womb of Uttara ( wife of Abhimanyu in Mahabharata ) with his brahamastra. He was cursed by Lord Shree Krishna that he will remain alive on this earth till the end of kalyuga and  smell of pus and blood will come out of your body and  you won't be able to live among humans.

5.  Vibhishana :

    Vibhishan was brother of Demon King Ravana, who helped Lord Rama to defeat his brother. He was a devotee of Lord Rama. He became the king of Lanka after Lord Rama killed Raavana. He was son of Rishi Vishrava and Kakesi. He was blessed by Lord Rama to become a Chiranjivi and live till the end of Kaliyuga.

6. Demon King Bali :

   Bali or Mahabali was grandson of Prahlad( devotee of Lord Shree Hari Vishnu ).He was egoistic of his kingdom,  He was great Danveer but he was a enemy of Deities, he has conquered all the three worlds due to which deities was feared from him. So Lord Vishnu in form of Vamana ( a dwarf brahmin ) asked for three steps of land and bali did the same, he gave the 3 steps of land to Vamana.

    Lord Vamana measured the whole world and sky in 2 steps and he asked bali to give him land for his third step. So for this Demon Bali put his head in front of Lord Vamana, so he can place his foot on his head. 

    Lord Vamana placed his foot on head of  Mahabali and he was gone into patal lok. Lord Vamana got impressed by Mahabali gave him boon of that he will came back on earth once every year. And this day is celebrated as pongal in south India.

7 . Kripacharya :

     Kripacharya was the council member and family priest of Kuru dynasty. He and his twin sister kripi was adopted by King Shantanu. He was a great archer and great warrior. He was also the teacher of Kaurava's and Pandava's. 

   He was one of the surviour of great battle of Kurukshetra .i.e. Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Shree krishna have given him a boon that he will be a chiranjivi who will live until the end of this kaliyuga. At some places it is also believed that he will become one of the Saptrishi of new era .

8. Rishi Markandaya :

      Rishi Markandaya is also believed that he is also blessed with long life like other chiranjivi's by Lord Shiva. He was son of  Rishi Mrikanda and marudmati. Rishi Mrikanda and his wife did penance of Lord Shiva to get a son. Lord Shiva happy with their penance gave him a boon of a child who was righteous but had a shorter life of 16 years.

   Rishi Markandya was great devotee of Lord Shiva due to which at the age of 16 when Yamaraj came to take life of him. Lord Shiva saved him from Yamaraj and gave him a boon of long life. He is also a creator of "Mahamritunjya Mantra".

It is believed that if we take name of these chiranjivi's we will also be blessed  with long life and all diseases stays away from us.

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