All we all know , Hinduism is one of the oldest religion of the world . So where there is a religion , there will be definitely some mythology and some mythological stories around it. In Hindu Mythology , people believe that there are 7 people who have given boon or curse by the God to live forever. Hindus call them as ‘Chiranjeevi’ that means permanent living beings and 7 immortals in hinduism.
So today , we will be telling you 7 immortals name and some details about them.
1. Markandeya
Markandeya is an ancient rishi in hindu mythology who has come from clan of Brighu Rishi . His name was metioned in Mahbartha and many other Puranas. Markandeya was the son of rishi Mrikandu and Marudmati. His parents worshipped Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva when got impressed by their devotion decided to gave couple a boon , either they can have a son with long life and low intelligence or a gifted son with short life. As they were rishi (intellectuals) so they opted for gifted son with short life, destined to die at the age of 12.
The messengers of Yama, the god of death were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva. Yama then came in person to take away Markandeya’s life, and sprung his noose around the young sage’s neck. By accident or fate the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever.
So this how Markandeya became an Immortal.
Do you know, Maha Mrityunjaya Stotra is also attributed to Markandeya,
2. Ashwatthama
Out of all 7 immortals , I always find Ashwatthama as quiet fascinating . He is the hero of epic Mahabharata and was the son of Guru Drona . According to Mythology, Aswatthaman means “the horse-voiced”.It probably also means the one having strength of a horse. Dronacharya was the guru of the Pandavas and of the Kauravas in Hastinapur. Ashwatthama was also trained in the art of warfare along with the Pandavas and Kauravas in Hastinapur.
When the fight between Kauravas and Pandvas happened , Ashwatthama tried to kill Pandvas by cheating . He planned to kill all Pandavas during the night when Pandavas will be sleeping in their camps. Coincidently , all pandvas had shifted to some other camp and in their camp there 5 children were sleeping . As there was dark, Ashwatthama has mistankely killed all 5 sons of Pandavas.
On Seeing this dreadful scene , Lord Krishna then placed a curse on Ashwatthama that “he will carry the burden of all people’s sins on his shoulders and will roam alone like a ghost without getting any love and courtesy till the end of Kaliyuga. He will have neither any hospitality nor any accommodation; He will be in total isolation from mankind and society; His body will suffer from a host of incurable diseases forming sores and ulcers that would never heal”.
So this curse made Ashwatthama an immortal
3. Mahabali
Mahabali (IAST: Mahābalī, Devanagari: महाबली) also known as Bali or Māveli was a benevolent Asura King, and the grandson of Prahlada in Indian scriptures. Bali was the son of Devamba and Virochna. Although he was a Asur , he was raised by his grandfather , Prahlada, who instilled strong sense of devotion in him.
With his sheer knowldege of war techniques and bravery , bali was able to win the underworld and heaven from Indra and devas . On suggestion of Gurus, Bali had begun the Ashwamedha Yaga so as to maintain his rule over the three worlds. During the Yaga (Prayer) , a small brahmin boy came and requested Bali to grant him piece of land as much as he can cover with three paces.
Bali’s advisors suggested him not to agree but as he was very kind . So he accepted small Brahmin wish. The small boy Vamana then grew to an immense size, and, with his first pace, traversed the all of the earth and the underworld. With his second pace, he covered Heaven in its entirety. Admitting defeat, and seeing that Vamana has no more room for his last step, Bali offered his own head as a stepping-stone. At this time the asuras spoke out in protest, but Bali silenced them. He explained that all living and non living things are of His creation, and so it was His right to have them back. Lord Vishnu, seeing the devotion of Mahabali, blessed him and raised to him to Suthala, the supreme position in heaven.
As he was pushed down into Patala (a good colony of demons), King Bali made a last request. He requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year to ensure that his people were still happy, well fed and content. Lord Vishnu was pleased to grant Mahabali his wish.
This is how Bali became an immortal
4. Hanuman
After Lord Rama returns to his hometown and becomes King. After blessing all those who helped him in the battle with gifts, he gave Hanuman the finest presents as a reward, but Hanuman immediately threw them away. Many of Rama’s other servants were confused by this action and became angry, thinking that Hanuman was ungrateful. Hanuman explained that he did not need a gift to remember Rama, because Rama and his wife Sita would always be in his heart. Some of the servants were still upset and
demanded that Hanuman prove what he said. So Hanuman took his sword and sliced into his chest, tearing his heart in two. Opening his heart, he showed the other servants that inside was painted a picture of Rama and Sita. Hanuman was dying from the wound in his chest, but he had proven that he was truly devoted to Rama and Sita. Rama cured him and blessed him with immortality – meaning that he would never die.
So this is How Hanuman became an immortal
5 Kripa
Kripa or Kripacharya or Krupacharya, an important chararcter in the epic Mahabartha, is considered as one of the 7 immortals in Hindu Mythology.
Kulguru Kripacharya was a great Brahmarishi who had complete knowledge of the entire Universe and it’s deepest secrets also he was a very impartial teacher with high moral values he never discriminated between his students and was the first ever Guru of both the Pandavas and Kauravas he was the only warrior in entire Kurukshetra field who didn’t used a single Divyastra during the entire Mahabharata war as he followed rules so strictly and as he knew very well that using Divyastras unnecessarily or carelessly was against the natural law of war. Being impressed with such higher level of qualities in him Lord Vishnu himself gifted Kripa the boon of immortality.
6. Parashurama
Parashurama (Sanskrit: परशुराम), (Parashurama), is the sixth avatar of Vishnu, descendant of Brahma and pupil of Shiva. He is son of Renuka and the saptarishi Jamadagni. He lived during the last Treta Yuga, and is one of the seven immortals of Hinduism, or Chiranjivi. He received an axe after undertaking terrible penance to please Shiva, who in turn taught him the martial arts.
7.Vibhishana
Vibhishana IAST: Vibhīṣaṇa or Bibhishan (Sinhala:විභිෂන) was a king who ruled what is part of Sri Lanka today and is also written about in the historical epic Ramayana. He was the younger half brother of the Rakshasa (demon) king Ravana of Lanka. Though a Rakshasa himself, Vibhishana was of a noble character and advised Ravana, who kidnapped and abducted Sita, to return her to her husband Rama in an orderly fashion and promptly. When his brother did not listen to his advice, Vibhishana joined Rama’s army. Later, when Rama defeated Ravana, Rama crowned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka.
8.Vyasa
Vyasa (Devanagari: व्यास, vyāsa) is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is also sometimes called Veda Vyasa (वेद व्यास, veda vyāsa), (the one who classified the Vedas into four parts) or Krishna Dvaipayana (referring to his complexion and birthplace). He is the author of the Mahabharata, as well as a character in it. He is considered to be the scribe of both the Vedas and Puranas. Vyasa is a kala-Avatar or part-incarnation of the God Vishnu.Vyasa was sometimes conflated by some Vaishnavas with Badarayana, the compiler of the Vedanta Sutras, but Badarayana is none other than Sri Krishna Dvaipayana also called as Sri Veda Vyasa, the incarnation of the Supreme Narayana. Vyāsa is also considered to be one of the seven Chiranjivins (long lived, or immortals), who are still in existence according to general Hindu belief. He is also the fourth member of the Rishi Parampara of the Advaita Guru Paramparā of which Adi Shankara is the chief proponent.
Vyasa is also one of the 7 hindu immortals
So In the End Let’s reiterate who 7 immortals of hindu mythology or 7 immortals on earth?
- Markendeya
- Vyasa
- Kripa
- Mahabali
- Hanuman
- Ashwatthama
- Pashurama