Chiranjivi

Chiranjivi (As per Itihas-Purana literature)

Most elders bless younger ones as ‘Chiranjivi bhava’. In all memorial services people say ‘’XXX amar rahe’.What is this Chiranjivitva?

The word is a combination of "chiram" (permanent) and jivi (lived) means immortal or eternal. Shastras accept that all living entities are destined to die, all the life forms shall become extinct at the end of the Kalpa (day of Brahma), and all physical bodies are destined to become immaterial along with the creator, Brahma himself at the end of Para ie Mahakalpa (life time of Brahma-100 Brahma years).  Chiranjivi therefore only means- one with very long life.

All humans face uncertainty and finite span of life, though every being yearns for immortality or long life. A few, through their great achievements, become ‘long lived’ in the memories of many generations. A few others can’t be forgotten because they symbolize certain aspects of human characters. They perhaps also can be called Chiranjivi. Our Itihasa-Puranas mentions seven (or eight) Chiranjivis.  

A verse recited by many in the morning

Ashwathaama Balirvyaaso Hanumanshach Vibhishanha I

Krupascha Parshuramascha Saptaitey Chiranjivinaha II

names seven Chiranjivis. There is an addendum to this verse which includes sage Markandeya:

‘Saptaitaan Samsmareynnityam Markandeymathaashtamam I

Jivedvarshshatam Sopi Sarvavyadhivivarjit II

Chronologically the sequence of Chiranjivis is perhaps: Markandeya, Bali, Parashurama, Hanuman, Bibhishana, Vyasa, Krupacharya and Ashvatthma.

Hiranyakashipu, Ravana, Kumbhakarna and many other demons tried to become immortal through boons sought from Shiva or Brahma without success.

Chiranjivis shall live long life till the end of Yuga, Manvantara or Kalpa (Markandeya survived last Kalpaant by grace of boon received from Shiva, he is special).  Most of them achieved chiranjivitva through boons whereas some were born Chiranjivis.

The list perhaps demonstrate rise and fall of human nature starting from Bali evolving through Parshuram and Vibhishan to Hanuman and Vyas and then falling through Kripa to Ashvatthama completing the cycle.

They epitomize certain basic truths, laws and standards of ethical behaviour which transcend time, space, generation and causation. They are eternal, immutable and universal. Their chiranjivitva is therefore not mere long life, it underscores each divine principle they stood for and upheld even in the face of adversity and stress.

May be they represent seven swabahvas or traits of human mind which can be found in every age, all times, irrespective of culture, religions, race, society or erudition.

Name, Parents, Kula and present location (belief)	Character Boon or curse	Events
Ashwatthama born with blessings of Shiva, his Anshavatara. Son of Dronacharya and Kripi. Bhardwaja Kula Present-Wandering forests (Asirgadh fort in MP) asking for butter to apply on his wounds	Hatred, Anger, Indiscretion Eternal suffering, consequences of immoral behaviour (Born Chiranjivi blessed by Shiva & Drona. Boon converted to curse by Shri Krishna)	Born with a gem on his forehead which gave him power over all living beings lower than humans Dronacharya taught all Shastras and Astras, the foremost among warriors. Brahmavidya from Parasurama, Durvasa, Ved Vyasa, Bhishma, Kripa Deeply hurt by father’s death, used Narayanastra, Brahmastra, etc. Killed sleeping warriors Draupadeyas and tried Bhrunahatya (Parikshita in Uttara’s womb) Arjuna defeated and bound him, released by Draupadi. Gem cut from his forehead and Krishna’s words converted boon of immortality in curse.  The gem on Ashwatthama’s forehead removed. the wound caused by the removal of this gem never healed, serving as a reminder of your abhorrent crimes. For 3,000 years thou shalt wander over this earth, without a companion and without being able to talk with anyone. Alone and without anybody by thy side, thou shalt wander, O wretch, thou shalt have no place in the midst of men. The stench of pus and blood shall emanate from thee, and inaccessible forests and dreary moors shall be thy abode!  Ashwatthama will be in search of death every moment, and yet he will never die. In Kaliyuga, his name will be "Suryakanta". At the end of Kali Yuga, Ashwatthama shall meet Sri Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Mahabali Grandson of Pralhad son of Virochana & Devamba Linage of Kashyapa-Diti Meghavanshi Asura Present-Rules Patala and visits his Kerela on Onam day	Valour, charity, (Envy?) devotion, courage, truth and charity (Vamana’s boon)	Fought and defeated Devas. Participated in Amritamanthana and lost the war Again won trilokas Performing Ashvamedha Yadnya at Bhrigukaccha Vamana, the 5th incarnation of Lord sought three steps of land in alms. He granted ignoring advice of Guru Shukracharya. Was sent to rule Paathala the 14 Loka and granted boon as he surrendered his head for the third step. He would rule patala and then became Indra in 8th Manvantara, before final liberation.
Vyasa, Vishnu’s Anshavatara, Great grandson of Vashistha, son of Parashar and Satyavati. Present- Badarikashrama in Himalayas	Scholarship, knowledge, wisdom, vision. (BORN or BLESSED ?)	Vyasa, collated Vedas and gave it to four disciples and Puranas to Suta, composed Mahabharata, Bhagavatam, Brahmasutra, etc Father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Shukadeva Active participation in Mahabharata Every dwapar yug has its own Vyas and   brahma is 1st Vyasa Seen by Shankaracharya and other Acharyas
Hanuman,Anshavatara of Lord Shiva, son of Anjani and Kesari, also called Vayuputra Vanara Present Hanuman is still the caves near Manasarovar and attends Raamakatha wherever narrated	Modesty, selflessness, valour, devotion, power, might, courage, energy, strength intellect, and righteous conduct, Celibacy. Sankatamochana (Blessed by Brahma to live long. When Rama decided to leave Prithwiloka, he asked Hanuman his desire, accordingly was granted a boon to stay on earth to listen Ramakatha. Sitaji also bestowed on him the boon of ever-youthful and energetic  immortality)	Kaikayis payasa snatched by a kite and dropped in the hands of Anjana who ate it and Hanuman born As a child, believing the sun to be a ripe mango, tried to grab it to eat. Indra hit him with Vajra and consequent events earned him so many boons. Surya was his Guru and as Gurudakshina helped Sugriva. Mischievous in his childhood. bothered sages who placed a mild curse on him, by which he became unable to remember his own ability unless reminded by another person. Jambavantha reminds Hanuman of his abilities to go and find Sita Meets Rama during the Rama's 14th year of exile. As Sugriva’s emissary brings about alliance between Rama and Sugriva Searches Sita, flies across the ocean, outwits Surasa, kills Simhika, reaches Lanka, Finds Sita and talks to her, Destroys Ashoka Vatika, Kills Jambumali, Akshaya Kumara, Lanka Dahan. Fetches Dronagiri mountain from the Himalayas for Sanjivani, kills Kalanemi, honours Bharata’s arrow. Killing of illusory Sita by Indrajita Kills Mahiravana/Ahiravan (Panchamukha Hanuman to rescues Rama and Lakshmana) Killed Trishira, Devantaka, Dhumraksha, Akampana, Nikumbha Lakshmana on the shoulder of Hanuman to kill Indrajita  Subdue arrogance of Bhima, Arjuna and Satyabhama During the great battle of Kurukshetra on the flagpost of Arjuna
Vibheeshana son of sage Vishravas and Kaikasi (or Keshini) and Ravana’s brother. Paulastya Brahmin –Rakshasa Present-?	Righteousness, Conviction in what he believed, fearless counselor for right conduct, Devotion (Traitor?). The close relative of powerful enemy can be biggest gain for your strategy to victory. (Blessed by Rama to chiranjeevatva )	Bibhishana advised Ravana to return Sitaji, on getting insulted joined Shri Rama in the great battle. He was crowned at Kelaneeya, Sri Lanka.
Kripacharya son of Shardwana and Janapadi, Gautama extraordinary birth Kripi twin sister Present-?	Generally impartial, truthful, ethical, erudite, teacher of high standards, good warrior, followed sacred laws & principles but mute spectator of injustice-weakness (Blessed by Krishna?)	Adopted and nurtured by Shantanu. Taught Kaurava and Pandava princes Mute spectator of Draupadi-vastraharaana, etc Participated in Virata and Kurukshetra wars Assisted Ashvatthama in night-time massacre Krishna’s boon and guru for Parikshit later of Kalki.
Parashurama, 6th Avatara of Lord Vishnu, son of Jamadagni and Renuka, nephew of Vishvamitra Bhrugu Kula Present- Mahendragiri, Kerla	Guru of martial arts and the knower of all Astras (weapons), Sastras (weapons with program) and tactics of warfare. A great warrior he never wished to be an emperor, eliminated unlawful kshatriyas, never hesitated to admit a mistake. excellence and strength, tempered by humility. Cruel Revenge (Rama blocked his path to heavens, so immortal)	By sage Ruchika’s arrangement his grandson Parashurama had Kshatriyalike qualities Beheaded mother on the order of father and sought her revival Aquired weapons from Shiva Destroyed Kartaviryarjuna to avenge father’s killing and annihilated kshatriyas 21 times. Performed ashvamedha and gave away all the land to sage Kashyapa Reclaimed west-coast from sea and stayed there Challenged Rama, got defeated. Rama  destroyed merit of his penance and blocked his realms of heavens and rendered him chiranjivi to live on Mt Mahendra
Markandeya, son of Mrikunda and Marudmati Bhrigukula Wrote Purana near Yamunotri born in Thirukkadavoor in Tamilnadu Present-?	Devotion (Shiva’s blessing)	Parents worshipped shiva for son and chose to have son with more knowledge and less life span. Studied everything. Became a great devotee of Shiva and on the day of his destined death continued his worship of Shiva in his form of Shivalingam with Mamahamrutyunjaya mantra. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived Markandeya and blessed with immortality. Shiva-Kaalakalaya or Kalantaka meaning 'one who brought death, to death himself'.  Sage Narayana showed him Maya

·        Ashvatthama, Vyasa, Kripa, Parasurama shall help Kalki, 10^th incarnation of Lord     Vishnu at the end of Kali Yuga and shall be Saptarshis of 8^th Manvantara (along with Diptimat, Galava and Rishyasringa). Bali shall be the next Indra.

·        Ashwaththama is also to become the next Ved Vyas in 8^th  Dwapar Yuga once he is alleviated of his sins committed in Mahabharata by the Kalki

·        Amrita obtained through Samudra Manthana rendered devas amar (?) and Shukracharya’s ‘Sanjivani Vidya’ rekindled life in dead daityas-but theses extensions seem to be limited.

·        Jambavan: The king of rikshas (bears) born from Brahma (created by Vishnu?). He was present at the churning of the ocean, and is supposed to have circled Vamana seven times when he was acquiring the three worlds from Mahabali. He was the King of the Himalayas, who incarnated as a bear in order to serve Rama. He had received a boon from Lord Rama that he would have a long life, be handsome and would have the strength of ten million lions. He fought Krishna for twenty-eight days, realizing who Krishna was, Jambavan submitted. He gave Krishna Syamantaka Mani and also presented him his daughter Jambavati, who became one of Krishna's wives.

·        Devapi: Elder brother of Shantanu who retired to the forest took to the path of mystic yoga, lives in Kalapa-grama and will revive the Candra vamsha in the next Satya-yuga

·        Maru: A king of the Iksvaku dynasty, the father of Prasusruta and son of Shighra. He had become chiranjivi by his yogic power. He will revive the Surya Vamsha in the next Satya-yuga. In the meantime he lives in Kalapa-grama

·        Kaka-Bhusunda: An arrogant pupil of the Sage Lomash. Inspite of his ill manners, arrogance and habit of lying, He was Sage Lomash's favorite. Once when he insulted Sage Lomash, Shiva cursed him to be born as the lowest form of creation and be trapped by immortality. Shiva was forced to modify his curse on Sage Lomash's insistence. A crow, Ramabhakta Kakabhushundi narrated Ramayana to Khagapati Garuda (According to another story he was vahana of Devi Alambusha and son of swans who were vahana of Devi Brahmi)

·        Banasur- Son of King Bali received Boon of Shiva for 1000 arms. Defeated by yLord Krishna, prayed Shiva for forgiveness and after bath in Papavinshini Tirtha joined Shiva’s Bhutagana

·        Lomesh maharshi: Boon from Shiva. After every kalpa his 1 body hair(rom) drops and shall live so many kalpas

·     Saptarshis are also very long-living they live for at least one manvantara during which they hold their posts. Current are Kashyapa, Atri, Vashistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. Yadnyavalkya also is to live long and going to be Guru to Lord Kalki.

·        The only eternals are Vishnu (along with Sheshanaaag) or Shiva or Devi-manifestations of Brahman and the four Vedas

Meaning of Yuga, Kalpa, etc

Satya, Treata, Dwapara and Kali Yugas together forms a Mahayuga (4.32 million solar years) after which Yuga Pralaya takes place

71 Mahayugas=Manvantara after each Manvantara Manvantara Pralaya takes place-Change of Manu

Kalpa=Day of Brahma=14 Manvantara (994 Mahayugas)+15 Sandhikalas-equivalent to 6 Mahayugas=1000 Mahayugas. Then Naimittika/Dina Pralaya takes place after Kalpa and the night of Brahma of equal length follows.

Mahakalpa/Para= Two Parardhas=Life of Brahma=100 Brahma years (100X360 Brahma days)- Mahapralaya/Prakrutika pralaya after 100 years of Brahma