Chiranjivi
File:A Hanuman sculpture in Singapore.jpg of Hanuman, a popularly recognised Chiranjivi.]]
{{short description|Group of immortals in Hinduism}}
{{about|a group of immortals in Hinduism|the actor|Chiranjeevi|other uses|Chiranjeevi (disambiguation)}}
The Chiranjivi ({{langx|sa|चिरञ्जीवि}}; {{IAST3|Ciranjīvi}}) are a group of immortals who are believed to remain alive on Earth until the end of the current age known as the Kali Yuga, according to Hindu literature.{{Cite book |last=Vanamali |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OIzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT793 |title=In the Lost City of Sri Krishna: The Story of Ancient Dwaraka |date=2018-03-20 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-62055-682-5 |pages=793 |language=en}}
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 (age of Manu), an asura named Hayagriva attempted to become immortal by swallowing the sacred pages of the Vedas, as they escaped from the mouth of Brahma. The scripture was retrieved by the first avatar of Vishnu (Matsya). Other incarnations of Vishnu (Narasimha and Rama) also later fought and killed Hiranyakashipu and Ravana, both of whom tried to become immortal through obeisance to Brahma and Shiva, respectively. In one sense, immortal can mean "to live eternally until the destruction of universes", i.e., all physical bodies are foretold to become immaterial at the end of time, along with the Brahma himself, with the destruction of the universe.Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.32.8–10
List
{{Hindu mythology}}
The extant Puranas, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata generally describe seven immortal personalities in the Hindu pantheon.{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Nanditha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DF_af8_547EC&pg=PT233 |title=Sacred Animals of India |date=2014-05-01 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-182-6 |pages=233 |language=en}} Some scholars opine the count to be eight.{{Cite book |last1=P. Lāl |url=http://archive.org/details/mahabharataofvya09unse |title=The Māhābhārata of Vyāsa, Vol. 09: The Complete Śalya Parva |last2=Veda Vyāsa |date=2008 |publisher=Writers Workshop (Kolkata) |others=Public Resource |pages=689}} Each Chiranjivi represents a different attribute of man, which as long as they live, will exist amongst humanity.Malayalam book Bharata Paryatanam (A journey through the Mahabharata) by Kuttikrishana Marar.
Other individuals who are sometimes additionally included to the list are the following:{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT375 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=2014-04-18 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 |pages=375 |language=en}}
''Chiranjivi Shloka''
The Chiranjivi Shloka is a hymn that names the Chiranjivi and states the effects of their meditation:
अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:।
कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरञ्जीविन:॥
सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्।
जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥
The mantra states that the remembrance of the eight immortals (Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripa, Markandeya, and Parashurama) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.