Chiranjeevis: How ancient Hindus, Chinese, and Egyptians shared the idea of being immortal

In Saat Chiranjeevi: The Eternal Guardians of Hinduism, author Saagar Sharma writes, “These immortal figures are mentioned in Hindu scriptures like the Mahabharata and Ramayana where they play significant roles in shaping the cosmic order and aiding the gods in their endeavors.” For instance, in the film Kalki, Ashwatthama as a Chiranjeevi serves as a living link to the events of the Mahabharata, setting the stage for the arrival of Kalki, Lord Vishnu’s tenth avatar.

Hindu scriptures also include references to immortal plants and animals, like Kaka Bhushundi, the immortal crow who narrates the Ramayana to Narada; Akshaya-vat, the banyan tree that will survive pralaya or the great deluge; and, Sesha, the immortal serpent who binds the oceans in his coils. These examples show the wide-reaching nature of the concept of immortality in Hindu thought.

In one of his blogs titled ‘The Immortals’ (2016), author and popular mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik offers insight into why these immortal characters are important. He suggests that they reveal something deeper about the culture that created them. “For a culture that grappled with impermanence in the world, these characters reveal a deep hidden yearning for permanence and immortality,” he said.

From China to Egypt: A fascination with Chiranjeevis

This concept of immortal beings is also found in the ‘The Eight Immortals’, a group of legendary figures in Chinese mythology. W Perceval Yetts, who was a professor of Chinese Art and Archaeology at the University of London, writes about their origin. “Some sources say the idea of the Eight Immortals as a group started during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). However, there are hints that groups of eight immortals were known much earlier, perhaps even during the Tang dynasty (618-907),” he says, as per The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1916.

Each of the eight immortals has a special power and symbol. They are important in Chinese culture because they represent different kinds of people – men and women, rich and poor, old and young. These legendary figures appear in many stories, paintings, and decorations, and are considered symbols of good luck and long life.

The concept of immortal beings extends to the ancient Egyptian civilisation as well. Historian and author Paul Pierret in his article The Dogma of the Resurrection among the Ancient Egyptians (1885) notes that ancient Egyptians were deeply fascinated with life after death, believing that people could become immortal beings, living forever in the afterlife. This belief profoundly influenced their culture, art, and daily life. They conceived the soul as comprising several parts: the Ba (personality), the Ka (life force), the Akh (immortal spirit), and the Khou (intellect). These elements combined to form a complete being in both life and death (The Old Testament Student, Feb 1885).

Immortality was not guaranteed for all and had to be earned through righteous living and passing posthumous tests. Central to this was the ‘weighing of the heart’ ceremony in the Hall of Ma’at, where a deceased person’s heart was weighed against a feather representing truth. Passing this test allowed one to join the divine realm of Osiris, travel with Ra, become a star, or change forms at will.

Thus, the narratives of immortal beings in various mythologies offer a glimpse into humanity’s fascination with eternal life and reflect our collective yearning for permanence in an impermanent world.

As modern interpretations like Kalki 2898 AD demonstrate, these ancient concepts continue to captivate our imagination, bridging the gap between myth and contemporary storytelling. They serve not only as entertaining tales but also as windows into the philosophical and spiritual concerns of diverse cultures throughout history.

Shivani Jamloki is an intern with Indianexpress.com