7 CHIRANJIVEES IN HISTORY OF INDIA

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There is disagreement as to whether there are 7 or 8 CHIRANJEEVIS ,

(i.e., beings that will live a very long life, so long that normal humans feel that they live for eternity; they started off as humans, but have received the boon / curse of eternal life; mortals can become Chiranjeevi by good deeds etc., but cannot become AMAR easily unless they drink Amrita of Devas.). 

The 7 CHIRANJEEVIS about whom there is no traditional argument are: 

HANUMAN -- The son of Vayu (by this relationship, he is a brother of Bhima) and Anjani (thus also called Anjaneya). Born near Trimbakeshwara, near Nashik, Maharashtra. He is one of the most important personalities in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. He is devotion personified – he aids Lord Rama in rescuing Sita from Ravana of Lanka. In some cases, Hanuman is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

ASHWATHAMA -- Ashwatthama is the son of Drona, the teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas. He was named Ashwatthwama because as soon as he was born he started neighing like a horse, and "Ashwa" means horse. 

 

PARASHURAMA  -- Parashurama appears many times in Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. He is famous for killing Haihaya-Kshatriyas on the earth 21 times for their arrogance. The most famous Kshatriya, he slew was Kartavirya Arjuna – also called Sahasrarjuna (possessor of a thousand arms) – the king of Mahishmati. He moved the sea back so that he can build a place to live for the growing population -- which is how Konkan / Deccan came into existence. He was also the guru of Bhishma, Drona and later Karna 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

VIBHISHANA -- Also known as Bibhishana, he is the younger brother of Ravana. When Rama was about to leave Ayodhya at the end of his reign, he told Vibhishana to stay on Earth and serve the people and guide them to the path of truth and Dharma.

MAHABALI (King Bali) – The realm of Patala (specifically the Sutala -- see my earlier post "Devavrata becomes Bhishma") is supposed to be the realm of Bali. Every year Bali surfaces on Earth on the day of Bali Pratipada (first day after Lakshmi Puja – Deepavali) and grants favors to people. Also known as Sahastrabahu (one with thousand arms), Bali is a righteous king and is therefore deified. Although he was Asura, he was very religious and pious. He took great care of his subjects and his rule is considered a golden era. 

MAHABALI -- Immortalized because even Vishnu had to humble himself as Vamana to conquer him. He stands out for his valour and charity - two great eternal qualities. Mahabali is believed to have ruled in South India before the Ramayana events and his empire is believed to have extended from the Vindhyas in the north to the far out in the south. His capital was Kerala. In the state of Kerala, the Onam festival is a celebration of the visit of Mahabali to their land. Bali is supposed to return every year to the land of his people, to ensure that they are prosperous. 

MARKANDEYA -- Markandeya is an ancient rishi (sage) from the Hindu tradition, born in the clan of Brigu Rishi. He is celebrated as a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu and is mentioned in a number of stories from the Puranas. He is known to be of great mental prowess and an exemplary narrator of stories (Markandeya Purana). His mention also appears in Mahabharata, where he meets the exiled Pandavas in forest and reduces their burden by telling them stories of earlier kings and gods and demons. 

VYASA (Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa)  -- Vyasa is a central and much revered figure in Hinduism. He is also sometimes called Veda Vyasa – the one who compiled the Vedas. According to the Mahabharata, he was the son of Satyavati, a ferryman's daughter, and the wandering sage Parashara. This was before Satyavati’s marriage to Shantanu and before Devavrata became Bhishma. Hindus traditionally hold that Vyasa categorised the primordial single Veda into four. Hence he was called Veda Vyasa, or "Splitter of the Vedas," the splitting being a feat that allowed people to understand the divine knowledge of the Veda. The word ‘vyasa’ means ‘analyze’. Vyasa is traditionally known as author of Mahabharata. 

KRIPACHARYA  -- Also often called Kripa, was the chief priest at the court of Hastinapura, in the Mahabharata. He comes from the lineage of Rishi Gautam. Gautam had a son called Sharadvan – who was supposedly born with arrows. He was great archer and attained the art of all types of warfare. He bore twins – a boy and a girl – from an Apsara called Janapadi. The twins were found by King Shantanu, who brought them to Hastinapura and called them Kripa and Kripi. Kripa went on to become the high priest of Hastinapura, and also the early teacher of the 100 Kauravas and 5 Pandavas. Kripi married Drona, and gave birth to Ashwatthama. So Kripa was also maternal uncle of Ashwatthama and guru. Very little is known about why he became a Chir .