Chiranjivi

The Chiranjivi (; ) 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 texts.

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Etymology and scriptural context The term चिरञ्जीविन् () is a Sanskrit compound derived from the adverb चिरम् (), meaning "for a long time" or "permanently", and the nominal stem जीविन् (), which means "living" or "one who lives". The specific form चिरञ्जीवि () is the neuter singular of this compound. While this term denotes profound longevity, often extending for an entire kalpa (aeon), it is distinct from the concept of अमरत्व (), which signifies absolute immortality and true deathlessness.

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 Pralaya. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.32.8–10

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List The extant Purana, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata generally describe seven immortal personalities in the Hindu pantheon.

Nanditha Krishna (2014). 9788184751826, Penguin UK. . ISBN 9788184751826

Some scholars opine the count to be eight. 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.

+ ! Name ! Description
Ashwatthama	The son of Drona. Drona performed many years of severe penance to please Shiva to obtain a son who possessed the same valour as the deity. He is regarded to be an avatar of one of the eleven . He was cursed to be immortal by Krishna for the attempted murder of Parikshit, suffering from incurable painful sores and ulcers. Devdutt Pattanaik (2003). 9780892818709, Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. . ISBN 9780892818709
Mahabali	The king of the asuras, he was regarded to be a benevolent ruler. He overran the Trailokya and overthrew Indra. He was exiled to the realm of Patala (the netherworld) by the Vamana avatar of Vishnu to restore cosmic order, Tracy Pintchman (2005). 9780791482568, State University of New York Press. . ISBN 9780791482568 and was blessed with immortality by the deity.
Vyasa	The sage and author of the Mahabharata. He represents erudition and wisdom. He is the son of sage Parashara and Satyavati, a fisherwoman. J. P. Mittal (2025). 9788126906161, Atlantic Publishers & Dist. . ISBN 9788126906161 He was born towards the end of the Dwapara Yuga.
Hanuman	A great vanara devotee of Rama. Philip Lutgendorf (2007). 9780198042204, Oxford University Press. . ISBN 9780198042204 A Brahmacharya, he stands for selflessness, courage, devotion, intelligence, strength, and righteous conduct.
Vibhishana	A brother of Ravana. A rakshasa, Vibhishana defected to Rama's side before the Lanka War owing to his devotion to dharma. He was later crowned the King of Lanka after Ravana's death. He stands for righteousness.
Kripa	The royal guru of the princes in the Mahabharata. Along with his nephew Ashwatthama, he was among the lone survivors of the Kaurava warriors who fought in the Kurukshetra War. Ramesh Menon (2006). 9780595401888, iUniverse. . ISBN 9780595401888
Parashurama	The sixth avatar of Vishnu. He is knowledgeable in all astras (divine weapons) and Shastra (treatises). The Kalki Purana 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 Eschatology. Wendell G. Johnson (2017). 9781440839412, Bloomsbury Publishing USA. . ISBN 9781440839412

Other individuals who are sometimes additionally included to the list are the following:

Roshen Dalal (2014). 9788184752779, Penguin UK. . ISBN 9788184752779

+ ! Name ! Description
Markandeya	A sage and the author of the Markandeya Purana. Fated to be an exemplary child who would die at the age of sixteen, his devotion to Shiva rescued him from an early death from Yama, the god of death himself. The deity blessed him with immortality for his ardent faith. Eva Rudy Jansen (1993). 9789074597074, Binkey Kok Publications. . ISBN 9789074597074
Kakabhushundi	A devotee of Rama, he narrates the story of the Ramayana to Garuda in the form of a crow. Tulsidas (2024). 9780674295667, Harvard University Press. . ISBN 9780674295667
Jambavan	The king of the bears. He was born from the yawn of Brahma and was already six manvanataras old during the period of the Ramayana. He assisted Rama in his quest to rescue his wife in the epic. Vettam Mani (2015). 9788120805972, Motilal Banarsidass. . ISBN 9788120805972
Agastya	A great sage. He is the composer of many hymns in the Rigveda and is regarded the father of Siddha medicine. Marion Zimmermann (2007). 9783638771269, GRIN Verlag. . ISBN 9783638771269
Narada	A mind-born son of Brahma and sage-divinity. He travels to different worlds and delivers tidings carrying his veena. Amaresh Datta (1987). 9788126018031, Sahitya Akademi. . ISBN 9788126018031

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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 seven immortals (Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripa and Parashurama) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.

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