Page 75 - IAT
P. 75

Vibhishana: The brother of Ravana, he is granted
         longevity for his loyalty to Lord Rama during the
         Ramayana. His story highlights the importance of
         righteousness and moral choices in achieving a long
         life.


         Krupa (Krupacharya):  A sage from the
         Mahabharata, Krupacharya is considered immortal,
         representing wisdom and knowledge as keys to
         longevity.


         Markandeya: Markandeya’s encounter with Lord             nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, etc. Whether an
         Shiva  led  to  his  immortality.  His  tale  emphasises   individual will get this care is also destined.
         devotion and the power of faith in overcoming
         death.                                                   Longevity or lifespan is also influenced by the
                                                                  Yuga Cycle. The Yuga Cycle has four stages:

         Bali: The life of Bali, the demon king who was           Krita Yug (Satyug), Treta Yug, Dwapara Yug
         granted immortality by Lord Vishnu after he showed       and Kali Yug. We are in Dwapara Yug (the age
         humility and devotion,  teaches that humility can        of technology), while most people may think we
         lead to divine favour and longevity.                     are in Kali Yug.


         Parashurama: The sixth avatar of Vishnu, known           As  per  Bhavishya  Puran,  the  average  age  in
         for his fierce dedication to dharma (righteousness),     Dwapara Yug is 1,000 years, in Treta Yug 10,000
         Parashurama is believed to be immortal due to his        years, in Krita Yug 100,000 years, and in Kali
         commitment to justice.                                   Yug 100 years, which will gradually go down
                                                                  to 35 years. By Siddhi, one can extend the age

         Dhanvantari: An incarnation of Lord Vishnu,              to virtual eternity. There is also the concept of
         Dhanvantari is regarded as the god of medicine           Chiranjeevees, viz., those who live forever. A
         and healing. He emerged during the churning of           few thousand years back, there was minimal
         the ocean (Samudra Manthan) with the nectar              pollution and air, water, and food were pure.
         of  immortality  (amrita),  symbolising  health  and     Individuals in those days were physically more
         longevity through Ayurveda.                              active, and their bodies were fine-tuned to live
                                                                  long.
         Ashwini Kumaras: They are twin gods associated
         with health, healing, and well-being. They are
         often invoked for their ability to cure ailments and
         promote longevity through their divine powers.

         Surya: Surya, the sun god, is also linked to longevity,
         as his rays are believed to have healing properties
         that enhance vitality and health. Rituals like Surya
         Namaskar (sun salutation) are performed to harness
         these benefits.

         The Astrological Perspective


         Astrologically, longevity is determined based
         on the count and the manner of breath destined
         (Prarabdha) for an individual in the natal chart.
         However, the longevity of an individual can be
         influenced  by  the  self-care  one  takes.  This  would
         include healthcare, proactive medical attention,

        INTERNAL AUDIT TODAY                                                          OUT OF THE BOX  | 71
   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80