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Manu (Sanskrit:मनु) is a term found with various meanings inHinduism. In early texts, it refers to the archetypal man, or the first man (progenitor of humanity). The Sanskrit term for 'human', मनुष्य (IAST: manuṣya) or मानव (IAST: mānava) means 'of Manu' or 'children of Manu'.[1] In later texts, Manu is the title or name of fourteen rulers of earth, or alternatively as the head of dynasties that begin with each cyclickalpa (aeon) when the universe is born anew.[1] The title of the textManusmriti uses this term as a prefix, but refers to the first Manu – Svayambhuva, the spiritual son ofBrahma.[2][3] In theHindu cosmology, eachkalpa consists of fourteenManvantaras, and each Manvantara is headed by a different Manu.[1] The current universe, is asserted to be ruled by the 7th Manu namedVaivasvata.[2] Vaivasvata was the king ofDravida before thegreat flood.[4] He was warned of the flood by theMatsya (fish)avatar ofVishnu, and built a boat that carried the Vedas, Manu's family and theseven sages to safety, helped by Matsya. The tale is repeated with variations in other texts, including theMahabharata and a few otherPuranas.[5]
There are fourteen Manus that rule in succession during eachKalpa (day ofBrahma). The currentKalpa has the following Manus:
| Manvantara | Bhagavata Purana[6] | Brahma Purana[7] | Linga Purana[8] | Skanda Purana 1[9] | Skanda Purana 2[10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swayambhuva | ||||
| 2 | Svarocisha | ||||
| 3 | Uttama | ||||
| 4 | Tapasa (Tamasa) | ||||
| 5 | Raivata | ||||
| 6 | Chakshusha | ||||
| 7 | Vaivasvata (Sraddhadeva or Satyavrata) | ||||
| 8 | Savarni | ||||
| 9 | Daksha-savarni | Raibhya | Dharma | Brahma-savarni | Bhautya |
| 10 | Brahma-savarni | Raucya | Savarnika | Rudra-savarni | Raucya |
| 11 | Dharma-savarni | Thefour Merusavarnis | Pisanga | Daksa-savarni | Brahma-savarni |
| 12 | Rudra-savarni | Apisangabha | Dharma-savarni | Rudra-savarni | |
| 13 | Deva-savarni | Sabala | Raucya | Meru-savarni | |
| 14 | Indra-savarni | Varnaka | Bhautya | Daksha-savarni | |
Thefirst Manu was the mind-born son of the godBrahma, and the husband ofShatarupa. He had three daughters, namely Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti. Devahuti was given in marriage toKardama and she gave birth to nine daughters and a single son namedKapila. Prasuti gave birth to several daughters, includingSati,Khyati,Diti,Aditi,Kadru,Rohini amongst many, and Akuti gave birth to one son namedYajna and one daughter. Both Kapila and Yajna, who were sons of Devahuti and Akuti respectively, were incarnations of Vishnu.
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, the Rakshasas attacked them, but Yajna, accompanied by his sons, the demigods, swiftly killed them. Yajna then personally took the post ofIndra, the king of the heavenly planets.
Svayambhuva Manu's abode isBrahmavarta, with the town of Barhismati as the capital. Barhismati was formed when Vishnu in his cosmic boar form (Varaha) shook his body, causing large strands of hair to fall off of him and turn into the town. The smaller strands that fell off of him becamekuśa andkāsa grass.[11]
In thismanvantara, theSaptarshis wereMarichi,Atri,Angiras,Pulaha,Kratu,Pulastya, andVashishtha,[12] and Vishnu's avatar isYajna.
Thesecond Manu, whose name was Svarocisha, was the son of Agni, and His sons were headed by Dyumat, Sushena, and Rochishmat. He invented clothing and made it for mankind. At his deathbed, Sage Devala was born from Shiva's third eye to succeed Svarochisa Manu in making clothes for mankind. 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 toVibhu, the incarnation of Vishnu for this manvantara. He remained a brahmachari all his life and never married. He instructed eighty-eight thousand dridha-vratas, or saintly persons, on sense-control and austerity.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Urjastambha, Agni, Prana, Danti, Rishabha, Nischara, and Charvarivan.
Uttama, the son of Priyavrata, was thethird Manu. Among his sons were Pavana, Srinjaya, and Yajnahotra. The Satyas, Devasrutas, and Bhadras became the demigods, and Satyajit became Indra. From Sunrita, the wife of Dharma, Vishnu appeared as Satyasena, and killed all the evilRakshasas who created havoc in all the worlds, along with Satyajit.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha, Pravahita, Mita, and Sammita, the sons of Vashishtha.
Tapasa, also called Tamasa, the brother of the third Manu, was thefourth 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 headed by Jyotirdhama, and Trisikha became Indra. Harimedha begot a son named Hari, who was the incarnation of Vishnu for this Manvantara, by his wife Harini. Hari was born to liberate the devoteeGajendra.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara, and Vishnu's avatar isHari.
Thefifth manu, Raivata, is 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 Hiranyaroma, Vedasira and Urdhvabahu.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhaman, Parjanya, and Mahámuni, and Vishnu's avatar isVaikuntha.
Thesixth Manu, Chakshusa, is the son of the demigod Chakshu. He had many sons, headed by Puru, Purusa, and Sudyumna. During his reign, the Indra was known as Mantradruma. Among the demigods were the Apyas, and among the great sages were Havisman and Viraka.
Chakshusha had a daughter named Jyothishmati, who wished for the most powerful being as her husband. When they asked Indra, the king of the gods, he replied that his own storms could be pushed away byVayu. Vayu said that his winds could not push away the earth, and thus Bhumavat, the male personification of the earth, was stronger. Bhumavat said thatShesha, who holds bothVishnu and the earth, is the strongest. Shesha told Manu and Jyothishmati that his second avatar on earth would be stronger than himself, and thus Jyothishmati was reborn asRevati to marry that avatar,Krishna's brotherBalarama.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhináman, and Sahishnnu, and Vishnu's avatar is Ajita.
Theseventh Manu, who is the son ofVivasvan, is known as Sraddhadeva (or satyavrata) or Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvan). He has ten sons, namedIkshvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrsta, Saryati, Narisyanta, Dista (Nabhanedista), Tarusa (Karusha), Prsadhra, Vasuman (Pramshu) andIla (Sudyumna). In this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the demigods are the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, Maruts, Ashvins and Rbhus. The king of heaven, Indra, is known asPurandara, and the seven sages are known as Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Agastya, Bhrigu, Gautama, Agastya and Bharadwaja.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis areMarichi,Agastya,Angiras,Pulaha,Kratu,Pulastya, andBhrigu, and other likeJamadagni,Kashyapa,Gautama,Vishvamitra,Bharadvaja.[citation needed] and, Vishnu's avatar isMatsya.
In the period of theeighth Manu, the Manu is Suryasavarni Manu. He is the son of Surya by his second wife,Chhaya. He is thus the half-brother to Shraddhadeva Manu. His sons are headed by Nirmoka, and among the demigods are the Sutapas.Bali, the son ofVirochana, isIndra, and Galava and Parasurama are among the seven sages. In the age of this Manu, Vishnu's avatar will beSarvabhauma, the son of Devaguhya.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Diptimat, Galava,Parasurama,Kripa, Drauni orAshwatthama,Vyasa, andRishyasringa,[13] and Vishnu's avatar will beSarvabhauma.
Theninth Manu is Dakshasavarni. He is the son ofVaruna. His sons are headed by Bhutaketu, and among the demigods are the Maricigarbhas. Adbhuta is Indra, and among the seven sages is Dyutiman. Rishabha would be born of Ayushman and Ambudhara.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishmán, and Satya, and Vishnu's avatar will beRishabha.
In the period of thetenth Manu, the Manu is Brahmasavarni. He is the son of Upsaloka, who is himself the son ofKartikeya. Among his sons is Bhurishena, and the seven sages are Havishman and others. Among the demigods are the Suvasanas, and Sambhu is Indra. Vishvaksena would be a friend of Sambhu and will be born from the womb of Vishuci in the house of a brahmana named Visvasrashta.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Havishmán, Sukriti, Satya, Apámmúrtti, Nábhága, Apratimaujas, and Satyaketu, and Vishnu's avatar will beVishvaksena.
In the period of theeleventh Manu, the Manu is Dharmasavarni, the son of theSatya Yuga. He has ten sons, headed by Satyadharma. Among the demigods are the Vihangamas, Indra is known as Vaidhrita, and the seven sages are Aruna and others. Dharmasetu will be born of Vaidhrita and Aryaka.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Niśchara, Agnitejas, Vapushmán, Vishńu, Áruni, Havishmán, and Anagha, and Vishnu's avatar will beDharmasetu.
In the period of thetwelfth Manu, the Manu is Rudrasavarni, whose sons are headed by Devavan. The demigods are the Haritas and others, Indra is Ritadhama, and the seven sages are Tapomurti and others. Sudhama, or Svadhama, who will be born from the womb of Sunrita, wife of a Satyasaha.
According to Manava Purana, Rudra Savarni Manu is the son ofShiva andParvati.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Tapasví, Sutapas, Tapomúrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhana, and Vishnu's avatar will beSudhama.
In the period of thethirteenth Manu, the Manu is Devasavarni. Among his sons is Chitrasena, the demigods are the Sukarmas and others, Indra is Divaspati, and Nirmoka is among the sages.
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Nirmoha, Tattvadarshin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas, and Vishnu's avatar will beYogeshvara.
In the period of thefourteenth Manu, the Manu is Indrasavarni. 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. Brihadbhanu will be born of Satrayana from the womb of Vitana.
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.[14]
In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Agnibáhu, Śuchi, Śhukra, Magadhá, Gridhra, Yukta, and Ajita, and Vishnu's avatar will beBrihadbhanu.
The texts ascribed to theSvayambhuva Manu includeManava Grihyasutra,Manava Sulbasutra andManava Dharmashasta (Manusmṛti or "rules of Manu").[15]
Jain theology mentions the 14th patriarch namedNabhiraja, mentioning him also as Manu.[16] This, state scholars, links Jain tradition to Hindu legends, because the 14 patriarchs in Jain tradition are similar to the 14 Manus in Hindu legends.[16] The Manu ofJainism is the father of 1stTirthankaraRishabhanatha (Adinatha).[16] This ancient story is significant as it includes one of earliest mentions ofikshu (sugarcane) processing.[16]
The first Manu wasSwáyambhuva, then cameSwárochisha, thenAuttami, thenTámasa, thenRaivata, thenChákshusha: these six Manus have passed away. The Manu who presides over the seventh Manwantara, which is the present period, isVaivaswata, the son of the sun ...
These seven very glorious Manus, the first among whom is Svayambhuva, produced and protected this whole movable and immovable (creation), each during the period (allotted to him).: Archived version digitised by Tormod Kinnes, from Delhi: Banarsidass 1984 reprint.
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