asvatthama balir vyaso hanumans ca bibhisanah
krpah parasuramas ca saptaite ciranjivinah
Ashwatthama - He was the was the son of guru Dronacharya. A man cursed to immortality and eternal suffering without love from anybody for his role in the murder of the five sons of the Pandavas and his attempted murder of Arjuna's grandson. The curse was given by Krishna for his misconduct. Ashwatthama also had to surrender a valuable gem, Mani, set on his forehead, the wearer of which ceases to have any fear from weapons or disease or hunger, and ceases to have any fear of gods, Danavas and Nagas. This was taken from him by Krishna before his exile and presented to the Pandava king Yudhisthira.
During the fight, Ashwatthama invoked the 'Brahmastra' against Arjuna and Arjuna in response invoked the 'Pashupatastra'. Fearing the destruction of the world, the sages advised both to take back their weapons. While Arjuna could do so, Ashwathama could not (the Brahmastra is a weapon that cannot be revoked once it has been invoked) and was given the option of choosing any single target to destroy. Out of spite, Ashwathama directed the weapon at the wombs of Pandava women.
At this time, Uttara was carrying the unborn Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu, who upon birth would be the future heir to all the Pandava brothers. The Brahmastra weapon was successful in fatally burning the foetus, but Krishna revived the stillborn child and cursed Ashwatthama with leprosy and to roam the world for many years as an unloved castaway till the end of the Kali Yuga.
Kripacharya Kripa (Kṛpa in IAST transliteration), also often called Kripacharya, was the chief priest at the court of Hastinapura, in the Mahabharata.
He was the son of Sharadvan and Janapadi. His twin sister Kripi married Drona, the weapons master to the court.
He fought in the great battle of Kurukshetra for the Kaurava side. Afterwards, he was appointed to be the teacher and preceptor of Parikshita, the grandson of Arjuna.
Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana, or Veda Vyasa, not only wrote the Mahabharata but also played a key role in it. Veda Vyasa was the biological father of the brothers whose children fought against each other in the Great War. Later Vyasa dictated the epic to Ganesh. At one point Ganesh’s quill broke while he was writing. He then broke one of his tusks and continued writing. This is the reason that Ganesh is always depicted with one tusk.
after giving birth to Veda Vyasa, Satyavati married King Shantanu of Hastinapura. They had two children, Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya. Chitrangada died in battle while Shantanu was still alive, and Vichitraveerya was crowned king after Shantanu’s death. Vichitraveerya married Ambika and Ambalika, the princesses of Kashi. But unfortunately he died of tuberculosis without leaving behind any issues. The royal race had to be propagated. Satyavati called Veda Vyasa, who produced a son each through Ambika and Ambalika. Ambika gave birth to Dhritarashtra and Ambalika to Pandu. But after the death of Pandu, the animosity between his children and those of Dhritarashtra escalated. Vyasa came to Hastinapura and told Satyavati that she will not be able to bear what is to follow. He took Satyavati, Ambika and Ambalika to his hermitage in the forests, where they spent their last days. The animosity between the children of Pandu and Dhritarashtra resulted in the Mahabharata war.
The Mahabharata is the narrative that contains all narratives. A verse from the epic reads, "What is found here, may be found elsewhere. What is not found here, will not be found elsewhere."
Markandeya Rishi Mrikandu Munivar worshipped Shiva and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. He was given the choice between a gifted son with a short lived tenure on earth or a dunce with a long life. Mrikandu Munivar chose the former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of 16. Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva. On the day of his destined death Markandeya continued to worship a Shivalingam. The messengers of Yama, the God of death were unable to take away the lad's life, given his devotion to Shiva and his being engaged in the act of worship then. Yama himself came in person to take his life away and sprung his noose around the young sage's neck. The noose landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury, and kicked Yama and killed Death itself. He then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live for ever.
This legend of Shiva killing death itself, is frozen in metal and held in worship at Tirukkadavur.
In Bhagavata Purana there is a story that tells when the earth was about to be swallowed by water, Markandeya prayed to Vishnu to rescue him. Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a child floating on a leaf, and declared to the sage that he was Time and Death. Vishnu demanded the sage to enter into his mouth and save himself from the surging water. Markandeya went inside the mouth of Vishnu. He saw inside Lord Vishnu along with the entire cosmos, all the gods and deities. The sage came out after some time, Vishnu was still floating seated on the leaf and this is how his life was saved.
Hanuman After the war, and after reigning for several years, the time arrived for Rama to depart to his heavenly abode. Many of Rama's entourage, including Sugriva, decided to depart with him. Hanuman, however, requested to remain on earth as long as Rama's name was venerated by people. Sita accorded Hanuman that desire, and granted that his image would be installed at various public places, so he could listen to people chanting Rama's name.
Vibhishana When Vibhishana attained the position of the King of Lanka, he turned his subjects from the path of evil to the path of good and Dharma (righteousness). His wife, Queen Sarma also aided him in this effort.
When Shri Rama was about to leave Ayodhya at the end of his reign, Lord Rama in his original form of Shri Vishnu ordered Vibhishana to stay on earth and serve the people and guide them to the path of truth and Dharma. Hence, Vibhishana is considered one of the seven immortals, or Chiranjeevins. Lord Vishnu also ordered Vibhishana to pray the family deity of Rama's natal Sun Dynasty, Lord Ranganatha.
Parashurama The sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was a son of Jamdagni a sage. His name Parashurama is derived from his weapon - Axe which is 'Parshu' in Sanskrit. He went round the earth 21 times and punished the evil-doers who were harassing the subjects. He was the preceptor of great Acharyas like Bhishmas and Drona. He even taught the art of Archery to Karna from Mahabharata. He is supposed to be one of few immortals on this earth.
Mahabali, a righteous demon king who conquered heaven, earth, and the underworld, but was forced to give it back by Vamana.
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