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Chiranjivins (Sanskrit nominative sing. ciranjīvī, चिरंजीवी) are immortals in Hinduism.

[edit] Etymolgy

The term is often written Chiranjeevin in English. The word is a combination of "chiram" (long) and jīvi (lived). This word is often confused with immortality ("amaratva").

[edit] Few immortals

The Sapta-Chiranjivins ("Seven Immortals"):

Mahabali, a righteous demon king who conquered heaven, earth, and the underworld, but was forced to give it back by Vamana.
Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu.
Vibhishana, Ravana's brother who was made King of Lanka by Rama.
Hanuman, who served Rama.
Vyasa, a sage who narrated the Mahabharata, he was also a sage in the epic.
Kripacharya, a teacher of the princes in the Mahabharata.
Ashwathama, a man cursed to immortality and eternal suffering without love from anybody for his role in the murder of the five sons of the Pandavas and his attempted murder of Arjuna's grandson.

There are several other personages known as chiranjivins, like Jambavantha (Jambavan)and Markandeya, a great rishi.

[edit] Meaning

In Hinduism, "immortal" does not mean eternal. Even immortal things are dissolved at the end of the universe, including its secondary creator Brahma^[1]. The only eternal being is Shiva (according to Saivism), or Vishnu (according to vaishanavism).

At the end of one universe, i.e. ending of one Kalpa and the beginning of another, a demon attempted to become eternal by "swallowing" the Vedas as they escaped from Brahma's mouth, but the Vedas were restored by Vishnu's avatara, Matsya. Vishnu also killed other asuras like Hiranyakasipu and Ravana who tried to become immortal by obtaining boons from devas.

[edit] Seven immortals

In Hindu mythology, it has been expounded in several puranas and epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana that seven super humans are immortal also known as Seven Immortals. It means they are free from death's inevitability. In Mrityuloka (The earth) they have been considered as exceptions. They were there in olden ages - Satyuga, Traita, Dwapar and are still there in Kaliyuga. The mantra which has been said to give human beings good luck, fame & long life if recited everyday is: -

"Ashwathaama Balir Vyaso Hanumanash cha Vibhishana Krupacharya cha Parashuramam Saptatah Chirjeevanam"

Which means that Ashwathama, King Bali, Ved Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana (Ravana's Brother), Krupacharya and Parashurama are death-defying or imperishable personalities.

[edit] References

^ Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.32.8-10

[edit] External links

Ciranjivas

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[0] Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.32.8-10

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