{{short description|Group of immortals in Hinduism}} {{about|a group of immortals in Hinduism|the actor|Chiranjeevi|other uses|Chiranjeevi (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} [[File:A Hanuman sculpture in Singapore.jpg|thumb|{{lang|sa-Latn|Mūrti}} of Hanumān, a popularly recognised chiranjivi.]] In Hinduism, the '''''Chiranjivi''''' ({{langx | sa | text = चिरञ्जीवी {{gcl|SG.NOM|singular nominative}}, <small>romanized</small> {{transliteration|sa|IAST|cirañjīvī}}, {{IPA|sa|t͡ɕi.ɾɐɲ.d͡ʑiː.ʋiː|pron}}; चिरञ्जीविनः {{gcl|PL.NOM|plural nominative}}, <small>romanized</small> {{transliteration|sa|IAST|cirañjīvinaḥ}}, {{IPA|sa|t͡ɕi.ɾɐɲ.d͡ʑiː.ʋi.n̪ɐh|pron}} | translation = long-living, immortal }}) are a group of immortals set to remain alive on Earth until the end of the current epoch, the {{lang|sa-Latn|Kali Yuga}}.<ref>{{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=20 March 2018 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-62055-682-5 |pages=793 |language=en}}</ref>
==Etymology and scriptural context== The Sanskrit nominal stem {{lang|sa|चिरञ्जीविन्}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|cirañjīvin}}) {{gloss|long-living; one who lives for a long time}} is a {{transliteration|sa|IAST|tatpuruṣa}} compound composed of the adjective {{lang|sa|चिर}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|cira}})—here in its adverbial form {{lang|sa|चिरम्}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|ciram}}) {{gloss|for a long time}}—and the noun {{lang|sa|जीविन्}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|jīvin}}) {{gloss|one who lives}}, itself derived from the verbal root {{lang|sa|√जीव्}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|√jīv}}) {{gloss|to live}}. The specific forms {{lang|sa|चिरञ्जीवी}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|cirañjīvī}}) and {{lang|sa|चिरञ्जीविनः}} ({{transliteration|sa|IAST|cirañjīvinaḥ}}) are, respectively, the masculine nominative singular and nominative plural inflections of this stem.
The term {{lang|sa-Latn|cirañjīvin}} denotes a being with a lifespan of an entire {{lang|sa-Latn|kalpa}} {{gloss|mode=def|aeon}}, distinct from the concept of {{lang|sa-Latn|amaratva}}, which signifies absolute immortality. The distinction is illustrated in mythological narratives: at the end of the last {{lang|sa-Latn|manvantara}} {{gloss|mode=def|age of Manu}}, the {{lang|sa-Latn|asura}} 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 == {{Hindu mythology}} The extant Purāṇas, the ''Rāmāyaṇa'', and the ''Mahābhārata'' generally describe seven immortal personalities in the Hindu pantheon.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishna |first=Nanditha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DF_af8_547EC&pg=PT233 |title=Sacred Animals of India |date=1 May 2014 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-182-6 |pages=233 |language=en}}</ref> Some scholars opine the count to be eight.<ref>{{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}}</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>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ ! 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>{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdkswFlJtjQC&pg=PA173 |title=Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent |date=24 April 2003 |publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co |isbn=978-0-89281-870-9 |pages=173 |language=en}}</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>{{Cite book |last=Pintchman |first=Tracy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-9Hq-DOXnEC&pg=PA62 |title=Guests at God's Wedding: Celebrating Kartik among the Women of Benares |date=18 August 2005 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=978-0-7914-8256-8 |pages=62 |language=en}}</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">{{cite book |author=J. P. Mittal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&pg=PA447 |title=History of Ancient India (A New Version) |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |year=2006 |isbn=8126906162 |accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref> He was born towards the end of the {{lang|sa-Latn|Treta Yuga}}. |- | Hanumān | A great {{lang|sa-Latn|vānara}} devotee of Rāma.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lutgendorf |first=Philip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fVFC2Nx-LP8C&pg=PA280 |title=Hanuman's Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey |date=11 January 2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-804220-4 |pages=280 |language=en}}</ref> A {{lang|sa-Latn|brahmacārin}}, he stands for selflessness, courage, devotion, intelligence, strength, and righteous conduct. |- | Vibhīṣaṇa | A brother of Rāvaṇa. A {{lang|sa-Latn|rākṣasa}}, Vibhīṣaṇa defected to Rāma's side before the Laṅkā War owing to his devotion to {{lang|sa-Latn|dharma}}. He was later crowned the King of Laṅkā after Rāvaṇa's death. He stands for righteousness.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.scoerat.856thesanatanadharma |title=dli.scoerat.856thesanatanadharma |pages=89}}</ref> |- |Kṛpa |The royal {{lang|sa-Latn|guru}} 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>{{Cite book |last=Menon |first=Ramesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uA-2_WMhpzoC&pg=PA449 |title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering |date=July 2006 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-0-595-40188-8 |pages=449 |language=en}}</ref> |- | Paraśurāma | The sixth avatar of Viṣṇu. He is knowledgeable in the use of all the divine weapons ({{lang|sa-Latn|astra}}) and the treatises ({{lang|sa-latn|śāstra}}). The ''Kalkipurāṇa'' states that he will reemerge at the end of time to be the martial guru of Kalki. He is stated to instruct the final avatar to undertake penance to receive celestial weaponry, required to save mankind during the end times.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Wendell G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ghjHEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA294 |title=End of Days: An Encyclopedia of the Apocalypse in World Religions |date=14 July 2017 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-4408-3941-2 |pages=294 |language=en}}</ref> |} Other individuals who are sometimes additionally included to the list are the following:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT375 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=18 April 2014 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 |pages=375 |language=en}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ ! 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>{{Cite book |last=Jansen |first=Eva Rudy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1iASyoae8cMC&pg=PA114 |title=The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning |date=1993 |publisher=Binkey Kok Publications |isbn=978-90-74597-07-4 |pages=114 |language=en}}</ref> |- | Kākabhuśuṇḍi | A devotee of Rāma, he narrates the story of the ''Rāmāyaṇa'' to Garuḍa in the form of a crow.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tulsidas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zDznEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA163 |title=The Sea of Separation: A Translation from the Ramayana of Tulsidas |date=13 February 2024 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-29566-7 |pages=163 |language=en}}</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>{{Cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA341 |title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=1 January 2015 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |pages=341 |language=en}}</ref> |- | Agastya | A great sage. He is the composer of many hymns in the ''Ṛgveda'' and is regarded the father of Siddha medicine.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zimmermann |first=Marion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H9uhs9snzwAC&pg=PA6 |title=A Short Introduction: The Tamil Siddhas and the Siddha Medicine of Tamil Nadu |date=September 2007 |publisher=GRIN Verlag |isbn=978-3-638-77126-9 |pages=6 |language=en}}</ref> |- | Nārada | A mind-born son of Brahmā and sage-divinity. He travels to different worlds and delivers tidings carrying his {{lang|sa-Latn|vīṇā}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA423 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo |date=1987 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 |pages=423 |language=en}}</ref> |}
==Cirañjīviśloka== The '''Cirañjīviśloka''' ({{script|Devanagari|चिरञ्जीविश्लोक}}) is a hymn that names the Chiranjivi and states the effects of their meditation: {{verse transliteration-translation |lang=sa
|originalHeading = Original Sanskrit: |अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषणः। कृपः परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरञ्जीविनः॥ सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्। जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोऽपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥
|transliterationHeading = Transliteration: |aśvatthāmā balirvyāso hanumāṃśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ. kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaitai cirañjīvinaḥ. saptaitān saṃsmarennityaṃ mārkaṇḍeyamathāṣṭamam. jīvedvarṣaśataṃ soʼpi sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ.
|translationHeading = English translation: |Aśvatthāmā, Mahābalī, Vyāsa, Hanumān, Vibhīṣaṇa, Kṛpa, and Paraśurāma are the seven chiranjivi. One who remembers these seven daily, along with Mārkaṇḍeya as the eighth, Will live for a hundred years, free from all ailments.}} The {{lang|sa-Latn|mantra}} states that the remembrance of the eight immortals (Aśvatthāmā, Mahābalī, Vyāsa, Hanumān, Vibhīṣaṇa, Kṛpa, Paraśurāma, and Mārkaṇḍeya) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Chiranjivins