Among the many figures who have shaped India’s history, these “7 immortals of Indian mythology” stand out as a symbol of enduring inspiration and unwavering impact on the nation’s cultural and political landscape.
Ashwatthama
Ashwatthama the son of Dronacharya, the royal guru of Kauravas and pandavas. He was fighting on behalf of the Kauravas, decided to assassinate the five pandava brothers in their camp at midnight, despite the fact that it was against the ethics of war to attack after sunset, as the battle of Kurukshetra.
Ashwathama killed the Pandava sons while they were out of the country because he mistook them for the five brothers. When the Pandavas returned home and saw what had happened, they were furious and set to kill Ashwathama.
In self-defense, he attempted to attack the Pandavas with the most powerful weapon the Brahmastra. Arjun did the same but when Lord Krishna saw he asked them to stop otherwise it could have cataclysmic event that would have destroyed the planet. In response Arjuna disarmed but Ashwatthama didn’t, he aimed the weapon at a single target, who turned out to be Uttara, Arjuna’s pregnant daughter-in-law and caused the loss of the unborn child, bringing and end to the Pandava family dynasty.
In this context, Aswatthama’s immortality is not a blessing but rather a form of punishment, reflecting a tragic and perpetual existence rather than divine favor. His immortality is thus tied to his curse and his consequences of his actions in the epic.
Parshuram
The sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is the son of Renuka and the Saptarishi Jamadagni. He was rewarded with an axe nown as a Parshu, and Shiva was the one who instructed him in the ways of the martial arts.
His father was murdered by the powerful monarch Kartavirya Arjuna, Parshuram became famous for destroying Kshartriyas as he could find over the world. He has a notable impression of both Ramayana and Mahabharata and in later one he served as a guide for Bhishma, Karna and Dronacharya.
According to legend, Parshuram will serve as a mentor and teacher to Kalki, the last and most powerful Vishnu Avtar. Parshuram will help Kalki in performing duties so that he might obtain celestial supernatural weapons and knowledge that will be helpful in saving mankind in the present yuga.
Mahabali
AKA Bali, the son of Devamba and Virochana and ruled the “daitya” kingdom that included modern-day Kerala. He succeed his grandfather Prahlad who gave him firm grounding of devotion, as king of the Asuras, and the kingdom would enjoy a period of stability. he was so powerful that even overthrew Indra and the Devas to take control of the afterlife and the heavens.
After being defeated by Bali, Devtas went to Lord Vishnu, and pledged him to give them back control of heaven. On the other side Bali was performing Ashwamedha yagna, and feeling very charitable and granting wisher for his people, meanwhile Lord Vishnu appeared as a young Brahmin who is the fifth incarnation of Vishnu ji. The young Brahmin asked the three paces of land measured in footstep from king Bali. When his request was granted, Vamana grew to an enormous size and, with only two steps, wiped out everything in the living world and the three worlds, that is heaven, earth and hell.
Bali understood everything, he bowed before him for the third and final time and asked him to place the third feet, since they were all that left to him. And Vamana reached the final step, taking him to Suthala, the highest heaven. After witnessing his kindness and loyalty, Vamana agreed to Bali’s request and allowed him to return to Earth once a year to check on the welfare of his followers.
This is why many people in southern India celebrates Onam every year to honour king Bali.
Veda Vyasa
Originally named Krishna Dvaipayana, born in Treta Yuga, lived through the Dvapara and Kali Yugas. Vyasa wrote Mahabharata and the eighteen main Puranas. Intent an ascetic lifestyle, left Satyavati, his mother, but pledged to return if she has any need. Fortunately, Satyavati eventually married the world ruler, Shantanu, and the two of them had a son each. Since the deaths of her husband and two sons, the kingdom has been without a king.
There was no stability in the kingdom and in the world if there wasn’t an heir to the throne, so Satyavati scrambled to find a solution. Satyavati summoned her eldest son and commanded him to procreate with the women left behind by her deceased sons. Vyasa agreed and with his supernatural powers then, he had sons by each of the widows and by a maidservant, for a total of three, before going back to his monastic lifestyle.
According to Hindu scriptures, Vyasa is immortal who decided to stay on Earth till the end of the present Kali Yuga in order to continue helping humanity. Guru Purnima, is held on Veda Vyasa’s birthday since he was the father of the vast spiritual literature used by most of Hindu’s significant texts.
Vibhishana
The younger son of sage Vishrava and brother of Kumbhakarna and Ravana, the lord of Lanka.
Despite his demonic heritage, he was a devout man who considered himself a Brahmin because his father has an innate respect for the religion. Vibhishana had a good heart and encouraged Sita’s abductor, Ravana, to bring Sita back to her husband. But Ravana refused his advise and he joined Ram’s army.
After the drastic battle, Vibhishana was crowned king of Lanka. He was a man of pure heart and deed. He had been fixated on the Lord’s name since he was a young child. When Brahma finally showed up, he granted him any wish he had. His intention was pure, Vibhishana’s only desire was to keep his thoughts centred on the Lord’s feet.
Kripacharya
Before Dronacharya, the Pandavas and Kauravas had a royal teacher in the form of Kripa, an archer born to a sage. Kripa’s father Sharadvan came into the world armed to the teeth with arrows, proving his natural talent as an archer. He practiced a lot and became unbeatable.
The gods (devtas) understood the forthcoming danger. King Indra was the one who sensed the greatest danger. To distract Sharadvan, Indra dispatched an attractive divine nymph (Apsara) from the heaven to divert Sharadvan’s attention of the saint’s vow of celibacy.
In the beginning, he was focused but later he lost it at the sight of the stunning woman, and his bow and arrow fell on the ground. The weeds by the roadsides split in half when his sperm landed on them, giving birth to a boy and a girl. The saint himself abandoned the monastery, went to jungle. His children were named Kripa and Kripi by the king Shantanu. Young Kripa, now known as Kripacharya, was tasked with instructing the princelings in the art of battle. Kripa grew up to become the most prominent priest at Hastinapur’s royal court.
He was one of the major characters from the Mahabharata era to survive the conflict and its aftermath, having fought on the side of the Kaurvas. Later he gained eternal life by Lord Krishna.
Lord Hanuman
Known for his immense strength, unwavering devotion, and selfless service to Lord Rama, epitome of loyalty and intelligence, is loved and devoted by millions. In his childhood, he mistook the rising sun for a delicious fruit and soared towards it, only to be struck down by Indra, the king of gods. In response, Lord Hanuman’s father, Kesari, requested Vayu, the lord of wind, to withdraw his life force from the universe until Lord Indra revived him. Mata Sita gave him blessing to become immortal.
Thus Lord Hanuman became invincible, gaining immortality and eternal youth. This is why Lord Hanuman is believed to be still alive, eternally dwelling among us. On the saying of Lord Rama, he stayed on Earth for mankind, it is believed that he still between us.
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Great blog
I just loved the way, you have compiled the facts😀