Manvantara

Manvantara or age of a Manu, the progenitor of humanity, is an astronomical period of time measurement. Manvantara is a Sanskrit word, a compound of manu and antara, manu-antara or manvantara, literally meaning the duration of a Manu, or his life span. Each Manvantara is created and ruled by a specific Manu, who in turn is created by Brahma, the Creator himself. Manu creates the world, and all its species during that period of time, upon whose death, Brahma creates another Manu to continue the cycle of Creation, Vishnu on his part takes a new Avatar, and also a new Indra and Saptarishis are appointed.

Fourteen Manus and their respective Manvantaras constitute one Kalpa or a ‘Day of Brahma’, according to the Vedic Time Cycles. At the end of each Kalpa, there is a period as long as a Kalpa of dissolution or Pralaya, wherein the most worlds are destroyed and the universe lies in a state of rest, which is called the, ‘Night of Brahma’. After the end of that night, Brahma starts his cycle of creation, throughout his life span which is 100 Brahma Varshas.

The seven Rishis, certain (secondary) divinities, Indra, Manu, the king and his sons, are created and perish in one interval equal to seventy-one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas, with some additional years: this is the duration of the Manu, the (attendant) divinities, and the rest, which is equal to 852,000 divine years, or to 306,720,000 years of mortals, independent of the additional period. Fourteen times this period constitutes a day of Brahmá; the term (Bráhma) being the derivative form. The Brahma life span is 100 Brahma varshas.

The 14 Manvantaras of the current Shveta Varaha Kalpa are described below. Almost all literature refers to the first 9 Manus with the same names but there is a lot of disagreement on names after that, although all of them agree with a total of 14.

1. Svayambhuva: His two daughters, namely Akuti and Devahuti, gave birth to two sons, named Yajna and Kapila respectively. Svayambhuva Manu, along with his wife, Satarupa, went into the forest to practice austerities on the bank of the River Sunanda. At some point in time, Rakshasas and asuras attacked them, but Yajna, accompanied by his sons the Yamas and the demigods, killed them. Then Yajna personally took the post of Indra, the King of the heavenly planets. Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vasisht were the Saptarshis, and Yajna was the Avatar.
2. Svarochisha: The second Manu, whose name was Svarocisha, was the son of Agni, and his sons were headed by Dyumat, Sushena and Rochishmat. In the age of this Manu, Rochana became Indra, the ruler of the heavenly planets, and there were many demigods, headed by Tushita. There were also many saintly persons, such as Urjastambha. Among them was Vedasira, whose wife, Tushita, gave birth to Vibhu. Vibhu instructed eighty-eight thousand dridha-vratas, or saintly persons, on self-control and austerity. Ujrastambha, Agni, Prana, Danti, Rishabha, Nischara and Charvarivan were the Saptarshis and Vibhu was the Avatar.
3. Uttama: Uttama, the son of Priyavrata, was the third Manu. Among his sons were Pavana, Srinjaya and Yajnahotra. During the reign of this Manu, the sons of Vasishta (Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Shankha, Pravahita, Mita and Sammita), headed by Pramada, became the seven saintly persons. The Satyas, Devasrutas and Bhadras became the demigods, and Sushanti became Indra. From the womb of Sunrita, the wife of Dharma, the Lord appeared as Satyasena, and He killed all the Yakshas and Rakshasas who were fighting with Satyajit.
4. Tapasa: Tapasa/Tamasa, the brother of the third Manu, was the fourth Manu, and he had ten sons, including Prithu, Khyati, Nara and Ketu. During his reign, the Satyakas, Haris, Viras and others were demigods. The seven great saints were Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara, headed by Jyotirdhama. Trisikha became Indra. Harimedha begot a son named Hari (who was an Avatar) by his wife Harini. Hari saved the devotee Gajendra. This incident known as gajendra-moksha.
5. Raivata: Vaikuntha came as Raivata Manu, the twin brother of Tamasa. His sons were headed by Arjuna, Bali and Vindhya. Among the demigods were the Bhutarayas, and among the seven brahmanas who occupied the seven planets were Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhaman, Parjanya, and Mahámuni. Vaikuntha will be he Avatara.
6. Chakshusha: Ajita came as Chakshsusa Manu, the son of the demigod Chakshu. He had many sons, headed by Puru, Purusa and Sudyumna. During the reign of Chakshusa Manu, the King of heaven was known as Mantradruma. Among the demigods were the Apyas, and among the great sages were Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhináman, and Sahishnnu.
7. Vaivasvata (Current): The seventh Manu, who is the son of Vivasvan, is known as Sraddhadeva. He has ten sons, named Iksvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrsta, Saryati, Narisyanta, Dista, Tarusa, Prsadhra and Vasuman. In this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the demigods are the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, Maruts, Asvini-kumaras and Rbhus. The king of heaven, Indra, is known as Purandara. During this period of Manu, Vishnu appears from the womb of Aditi in his incarnation as the son of Kashyap. Saptarshis are: Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja
8. Savarni: In the period of the eighth Manu, the Manu is Savarni. His sons are headed by Nirmoka, and among the demigods are the Sutapas. Bali, the son of Virochana, is Indra. The seven sages will be Diptimat, Galava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa, and Rishyasringa.
9. Daksha Savarni: In the period of the ninth Manu, the Manu is Daksha-savarni. His sons are headed by Bhutaketu, and among the demigods are the Maricigarbhas. Adbhuta is Indra, and among the seven sages is Dyutiman. In this period of Manu, the incarnation Rishabha is born of Ayushman and Ambudhara. Saptarshis will be Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishmán, and Satya
10. Brahma Savarni: In the period of the tenth Manu, the Manu is Brahma-savarni. Among his sons is Bhurishena, and the seven sages are Havishman and others. Among the demigods are the Suvasanas, and Sambhu is Indra. The incarnation in this period of Manu is Vishvaksena, who is a friend of Sambhu and who is born from the womb of Vishuci in the house of a brahmana named Visvasrashta. Saptarshis will include: Havishmán, Sukriti, Satya, Apámmúrtti, Nábhága, Apratimaujas, and Satyaket.
11. Dharma Savarni: In the period of the eleventh Manu, the Manu is Dharma-savarni, who has ten sons, headed by Satyadharma. Among the demigods are the Vihangamas, Indra is known as Vaidhrita. In this manvantara, the incarnation is Dharmasetu, who is born of Vaidhrita and Aryaka. The Saparshis will be Niśchara, Agnitejas, Vapushmán, Vishńu, Áruni, Havishmán, and Anagha
12. Rudra Savarni: In the period of the twelfth Manu, the Manu is Rudra-savarni, whose sons are headed by Devavan. The demigods are the Haritas and others, Indra is Ritadhama, and the seven sages are Tapomurti and others. The incarnation in this manvantara is Sudhama, or Svadhama, who is born from the womb of Sunrita. His father's name is Satyasaha. Tapaswí, Sutapas, Tapomúrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhan will be the Saptarshis.
13. Deva Savarni: In the period of the thirteenth Manu, the Manu is Deva-savarni. Among his sons is Chitrasena, the demigods are the Sukarmas and others, Indra is Divaspati, and Nirmoka is among the sages. The manvantara-avatara is Yogeshwara, who is born of Devahotra and Brihati. Nirmoha, Tatwadersín, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas will be the Saptarshis.
14. Indra Savarni: In the period of the fourteenth Manu, the Manu is Indra-savarni. Among his sons are Uru and Gambhira, the demigods are the Pavitras and others, Indra is Suci, and among the sages are Agni and Bahu. The incarnation of this manvantara is known as Brihadbhanu. He is born of Satrayana from the womb of Vitana. Agnibáhu, Śuchi, Śhukra, Magadhá, Gridhra, Yukta, and Ajita will be the Saptarshis.