Manvantaras (मन्वन्तराणि)
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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
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.
मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्राः सुरेश्वराः । ऋषयोंऽशावताराश्च हरेः षड्विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 12.7.15)[1]
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.
| No | Manu | Son of | Indra | Saptarshis | Mahavishnu | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Svayambhuva (स्वायंभुवः) | Brahma | Yajna (Avatar of Vishnu) | Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vashishta | Yajna | Matsyavatara |
| 2 | Svarochisha (स्वारोचिषः) | Agni | Rochana | Urja, Stambha, Prana, Brhaspati, Datta, Atri, Cyavana | Vibhu (Son of Vedasiras and Tushita) | |
| 3 | Uttama (उत्तमः) | Priyavrata | Satyajit | Pramada and other sons of Vashishta | Satyasena (Son of Dharma and Sunrta) | |
| 4 | Tamasa (तामसः) | Priyavrata | Trishikha | Jyoti, Dhaama, Prthu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Dhanada and Pivara. | Hari (Son of Harimedhas and Harini) | Gajendra Moksham |
| 5 | Raivata (रैवतः) Adhyaya 5 | Priyavrata | Vibhu | Hiranyaroma, Vedasiras, Urdhvabahu, and others | Vaikuntha (Son of Subhra and Vikuntha) | Stories of Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu |
| 6 | Chakshusha (चाक्षुषः) | Chakshus | Mantradyumna | Havishmat, Viiraka, Sumedhas, Anuttama, Madhu, Atinaaman, Sahishnu | Ajita (Son of Vairaaja and Sambhuti) | Samudra Manthana and Devasura sangrama |
| 7 | Sraddhadeva or Vaivasvata (वैवस्वतः) Adhyaya 13 | Vivasvaan and Samjna | Purandara (the present Indra) | Kasyapa, Atri, Visvamitra, Vashishta, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja | Vamana (Kasyapa and Aditi) | |
| 8 | Savarni (सावर्णिः) | Vivasvaan and Chaya | Bali | Galava, Parasurama, Asvatthama, Krpa, Rshyashringa, Badarayana | Sarvabhauma (Son of Devaguhya and Sarasvatii) | |
| 9 | Daksha Savarni (दक्षसावर्णिः) | Varuna | Adbhuta | Dyutimat | Rshabha (son of Ayushmat and Ambudhara) | |
| 10 | Brahma Savarni (ब्रह्मसावर्णिः) | Shanti | ||||
| 11 | Dharma Savarni (धर्मसावर्णिः) | Vrsha | ||||
| 12 | Rudra Savarni (रुद्रसावर्णिः) | Rtudhama | ||||
| 13 | Rauchya Savarni (रौच्य) | Divaspati | ||||
| 14 | Bhautya (भौत्यः) (alternatively भौमः। Bhauma) | Suchi |
Vishnu purana
The following is the list of Manus of one Kalpa given as per Vishnupurana (3.1)[2]
स्वायंभुवो मनुः पूर्वं परः स्वारोचिषस्तथा । उत्तमस्तामसश्चैव रैवतश्चाक्षुषस्तथा ॥ ३,१.६ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.6)
svāyaṁbhuvō manuḥ pūrvaṁ paraḥ svārōciṣastathā । uttamastāmasaścaiva raivataścākṣuṣastathā ॥ 3,1.6 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.6)
षडेते मनवोतीताः सांप्रतं तु रवेः सुतः । वैवस्वतेयं यस्त्वेतत्मप्तमं वर्ततेन्तरम् ॥ ३,१.७ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.7)
ṣaḍētē manavōtītāḥ sāṁprataṁ tu ravēḥ sutaḥ । vaivasvatēyaṁ yastvētatmaptamaṁ vartatēntaram ॥ 3,1.7 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.1.7)
| No | Manvantara/Manu | Indra |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Svayambhuva (स्वायंभुवः) | Yajna (Avatar of Vishnu) (यज्ञःस्वायंभुवेन्तरे।... 3.1.36) |
| 2 | Svarochisha (स्वारोचिषः) | Vipaschit (विपश्चित्तत्र देवेन्द्रो... 3.1.10) |
| 3 | Uttama (उत्तमः) | Sushanti (सुशान्तिर्नाम देवेन्द्रो... 3.1.13) |
| 4 | Tamasa (तामसः) | Shibi or Shatakratu (शिविरिन्द्रस्तथा... 3.1.17) |
| 5 | Raivata (रैवतः) | Vibhu (र्विभुश्च तत्रेन्द्रो... 3.1.20) |
| 6 | Chakshusha (चाक्षुषः) | Manojava (मनोजवस्तथैवेन्द्रो... 3.1.26) |
| 7 | Vaivasvata (वैवस्वतः) | Purandara (the present Indra) (पुरन्दराय त्रैलोक्यं... 3.1.43) |
| 8 | Savarni (सावर्णिः) | Bali (बलिरिन्द्रो भविष्यति... 3.2.18) |
| 9 | Daksha Savarni (दक्षसावर्णिः) | Adbhuta (भविष्यति अद्भुतो... 3.2.22) |
| 10 | Brahma Savarni (ब्रह्मसावर्णिः) | Shanti (शान्तिर्नाम... 3.2.26) |
| 11 | Dharma Savarni (धर्मसावर्णिः) | Vrsha (श्चेन्द्रश्च वै वृषः ...3.2.30) |
| 12 | Rudra Savarni (रुद्रसावर्णिः) | Rtudhama (ऋतधामा च तत्रेन्द्रो...3.2.32) |
| 13 | Rauchya Savarni (रौच्य) | Divaspati (दिवस्पतिर्महावीर्यस्तेषामिन्द्रो... 3.2.39) |
| 14 | Bhautya (भौत्यः) (alternatively भौमः।Bhauma) | Suchi (शुचिरिन्द्रः... 3.2.42) |
References
- ↑ Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 12 Adhyaya 7)
- ↑ Vishnupurana (Amsha 3 Adhyaya 1)