Chiranjeevi- 8 Immortals from Indian Mythology
According to Indian Mythology there are 8 Chiranjeevi or immortals who are still alive even today and are collectively referred to as the Asta Chiranjeevi. Before we dive into the characters, we need to ask ourselves, who are the chiranjeevis? Chiranjeevis are a group of eight immortal beings in Indian mythology who are believed to live on earth until the end of the current cosmic cycle. The eight Chiranjeevis are:
Vyasa – He is considered to be the author of the epic poem Mahabharata and is believed to reside on the banks of the Ganga river in modern day Uttarakhand in India.
Hanuman – He is the iconic monkey god in Hinduism and the son of Vayu the wind god. He is said to live in India even today by manifesting himself in multiple locations at once.
Vibhishana – He is the brother of Ravana who defected to Lord Rama’s side before the war. He is not a true Chiranjeevi but was one of the very few people who was awarded the boon of immortality.
Parashurama – He is an avatar of Vishnu who did not die but continues to live in a meditative state in the Mahendra Mountains in Orissa even today. He is said to come back as the guru of Kalki in the final yuga
Ashwathama – He is the son of Drona and along with Kripa is one of the only 2 people alive who fought in the Kuruksketra war. He is immortal but cursed to live a painful life.
Kripa – He is one of the teachers of the Princes in Mahabharata and was blessed with immortality for showing impartiality to all his students. He is believed to be living in one of the forests of Northern India.
Mahabali – He is the revered ruler of Kerala and an Asura who was exiled by the Vamana avatar of Vishnu to maintain the cosmic balance. He still visits Kerala during the Onam festival.
Markandeya – He is one of the oldest rishis that is mentioned in Hindu scriptures and Indian mythology. He is believed to live near the Markandeya Thirtha in Uttrakhand even today.
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