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Added duties of Manus
Manvatara (Samskrit : मन्वन्तरम्) is a cyclic unit of macrocosmic time period consisting of 71 Mahayugas. It is called Manvantara as Manu is the ruler of the earth on behalf of Brahma, in each of these periods. Fourteen such Manvantaras make up one Kalpa or a day in the life of Brahma. One of the five characteristics of the Puranas is that it should contain the details of the Manvantaras. Hence Puranas are the source of this information. Astronomy also describes the time periods of Manvantaras.
Manvatara (Samskrit : मन्वन्तरम्) is a cyclic unit of macrocosmic time period consisting of 71 Mahayugas. It is called Manvantara as Manu is the ruler of the earth on behalf of Brahma, in each of these periods. Fourteen such Manvantaras make up one Kalpa or a day in the life of Brahma. One of the five characteristics of the Puranas is that it should contain the details of the Manvantaras. Hence Puranas are the source of this information. Astronomy also describes the time periods of Manvantaras.
== Manvantaras in Bhagavata Purana ==
== Manus in Bhagavata Purana ==
Bhagavata Purana (12.7.15) mentions that each Manvantara is presided over by a Manu as its head, a group of Devatas (Manu's sons), an Indra, Sapta Rshis, and an incarnation of Sri MahaVishnu.<blockquote>मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्राः सुरेश्वराः । ऋषयोंऽशावताराश्च हरेः षड्विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 12.7.15)<ref>Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 12 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>In the Bhagavata Purana, Skanda 8 a detailed description of Manus, the associated devatas, Manu's sons, Indra, Vishnu and Saptarshis of each Manvantara are given in Adhyayas 1, 5 and 13. In a few instances the names of the Saptarishis are filled in from the Harivamsha. They are summarized in the table below.
Bhagavata Purana (12.7.15) mentions that each Manvantara is presided over by a Manu as its head, a group of Devatas (Manu's sons), an Indra, Sapta Rshis, and an incarnation of Sri MahaVishnu.<blockquote>मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्राः सुरेश्वराः । ऋषयोंऽशावताराश्च हरेः षड्विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 12.7.15)<ref>Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 12 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>In the Bhagavata Purana, Skanda 8 a detailed description of Manus, the associated devatas, Manu's sons, Indra, Vishnu and Saptarshis of each Manvantara are given in Adhyayas 1, 5 and 13. In a few instances the names of the Saptarishis are filled in from the Harivamsha. They are summarized in the table below.
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== Vishnu purana ==
== Manu's in Vishnu Purana ==
The following is the list of Manus of one Kalpa given as per Vishnupurana (3.1)<ref>Vishnupurana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Amsha 3 Adhyaya 1])</ref><blockquote>स्वायंभुवो मनुः पूर्वं परः स्वारोचिषस्तथा । उत्तमस्तामसश्चैव रैवतश्चाक्षुषस्तथा ॥ ३,१.६ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.6)</blockquote><blockquote>svāyaṁbhuvō manuḥ pūrvaṁ paraḥ svārōciṣastathā । uttamastāmasaścaiva raivataścākṣuṣastathā ॥ 3,1.6 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.6)</blockquote><blockquote>षडेते मनवोतीताः सांप्रतं तु रवेः सुतः । वैवस्वतेयं यस्त्वेतत्मप्तमं वर्ततेन्तरम् ॥ ३,१.७ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.7)</blockquote><blockquote>ṣaḍētē manavōtītāḥ sāṁprataṁ tu ravēḥ sutaḥ । vaivasvatēyaṁ yastvētatmaptamaṁ vartatēntaram ॥ 3,1.7 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.7)</blockquote>
The following is the list of Manus of one Kalpa given as per Vishnupurana (3.1)<ref>Vishnupurana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Amsha 3 Adhyaya 1])</ref><blockquote>स्वायंभुवो मनुः पूर्वं परः स्वारोचिषस्तथा । उत्तमस्तामसश्चैव रैवतश्चाक्षुषस्तथा ॥ ३,१.६ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.6)</blockquote><blockquote>svāyaṁbhuvō manuḥ pūrvaṁ paraḥ svārōciṣastathā । uttamastāmasaścaiva raivataścākṣuṣastathā ॥ 3,1.6 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.6)</blockquote><blockquote>षडेते मनवोतीताः सांप्रतं तु रवेः सुतः । वैवस्वतेयं यस्त्वेतत्मप्तमं वर्ततेन्तरम् ॥ ३,१.७ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.7)</blockquote><blockquote>ṣaḍētē manavōtītāḥ sāṁprataṁ tu ravēḥ sutaḥ । vaivasvatēyaṁ yastvētatmaptamaṁ vartatēntaram ॥ 3,1.7 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.7)</blockquote>
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|Bhautya (भौत्यः) (alternatively भौमः।Bhauma)||Suchi ('''शुचि'''रिन्द्रः... 3.2.42)
|Bhautya (भौत्यः) (alternatively भौमः।Bhauma)||Suchi ('''शुचि'''रिन्द्रः... 3.2.42)
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== Duties of Manus and their Functionaries ==
The Manus, sons of Manus, the Saptarshis, Indras and group of Devatas - all these five categories of functionaries are under the control of the Supreme Being. Directed by the forms of Mahavishnu (in each Manvantara) such as Yajna and others, Manu and others perform their designated work in the world.
At the beginning of each new Krtayuga, when Kala swallows the vedas, Manus are instructed by the forms of Mahavishnu in the path of Dharma, characteriszed by four feet (tapas, soucha, daya and satya). Thus the Manus themselves controlled in mind, following the dharma or eternal law, propagate the dharmik path all over the world during their period.
Manu's sons themselves and through their descendents protect the path of Dharma to the end of their Manvantara. The Devatas eligible for the share of yajnas enjoy their position. Indra, supported by Mahavishnu, enjoys the leadership of the Devatas, the affluence and becomes the protector of the three worlds, by sending the rains.
Mahavishnu, in every Yuga, assuming various forms of rshis, siddhas teaches the paths of Jnana, Karma and Yoga. Carrying out the work of creation, in the form of Prajapati, he also protects the people from adharma. Possessing different characteristics, in the form of Kala (time), he destroys all. (Bhag. Pura. 8.14)<ref>Tagare, G. V. and Shastri, J. L. ''The Bhagavata Purana, Part 3 (Skandas 7 to 9).'' Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass</ref>
== References ==
== References ==