Manvantara

1.1 Sub-divisions

Manvantara or Manuvantara or "Manvanter ,[1] or

age of a Manu,[2] the Hindu progenitor of humanity, is an
astronomical period of time measurement. Manvantara is
a Sanskrit word, a compound of manu and antara, manuantara or manvantara, literally meaning the duration of a
Manu, or his life span.[3]

1 human year (in Hindu calendar) = 1 Deva Ahoratra for

God (1 day and 1 night)
360 Deva Ahoratras = 1 Deva Vatsara
12,000 Deva Vatsara = 1 Chaturyuga

Each Manvantara is created and ruled by a specic Manu,

who in turn is created by Brahma, the Creator himself.
Manu creates the world, and all its species during that
period of time, each Manvantara lasts the lifetime of a
Manu, upon whose death, Brahma creates another Manu
to continue the cycle of Creation or Shristi, Vishnu on
his part takes a new Avatar, and also a new Indra and
Saptarishis are appointed.

(12,000 Deva Vatsaras are dened as, 4,800 Deva Vatsaras of Krita yuga, 3,600 Deva Vatsaras of Treta Yuga,
2,400 Deva Vatsaras of Dvapara Yuga and 1,200 Deva
Vatsaras of Kali Yuga (which is 1,200 * 360 = 432,000
human years); summing up to 12000)
71 Chaturyugas = 1 Manvantaram (1 life span of
Manu)

Fourteen Manus and their respective Manvantaras constitute one Kalpa, Aeon, or a Day of Brahma, according
to the Hindu Time Cycles and also the Vedic timeline.
Thereafter, at the end of each Kalpa, there is a period
- same as Kalpa - of dissolution or Pralaya,[4] wherein
the world (earth and all life forms, but not the entire universe itself) is destroyed and lies in a state of rest, which
is called the, Night of Brahma.

14 Manvantaras = 1 kalpa (1 day of Brahma)

2 Kalpas = 1 day + 1 Brahma ratra
360 days of Brahma = 1 Brahma varsha
[7] [8]

1.2 Comparison to the Age of the Universe

After that the creator, Brahma starts his cycle of creation

from Modern Astronomy
all over again, in an endless cycle of creation followed by
Absorption for which Shiva, Hindu God of Absorption, Modern scientic astronomy estimates the Age of the
and also renewal, is invoked towards the end of each such Universe as around 13 Billion years (13 * 109 years).
Conversion of 1 day of Brahma into human years yields
cycle.[5]
8.58816 * 109 years (derived as 2 kalpas * 14 Manvantaras * 71 Chaturyugas * 12,000 Deva vatsaras *
360 human years). According to Vedas, there are
1 Duration of a Manvantara
504 000 Manus manifested during the lifetime of one
Brahm (311,040,000,000,000 human Earthly years),
The actual duration of a Manvantara, according to the 5040 Manus in one year of Brahma, and 420 Manus in
Vishnu Purana is seventy one times the number of years one month of Brahma. (See for more details: List of
contained in the four Yugas, with some additional years, numbers in Hindu scriptures.)
adding up to 852,000 divine years, or 306,720,000 human years. [6] Seven Rishis, certain (secondary) divinities, Indra, Manu, the king and his sons, are created and
perish in one interval (called a Manvantara) 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 Brhma day, that
is, a day of Brahm; the term (Brhma) being the derivative form. The Brahma life span is 100 Brahma varshas.
The following table will illustrate clearly the link to our
years and Brahma years.

2 Manus of the veta Vrha

Kalpa
2.1 First Manvantara - the interval of
Swayambhu Manu
Saptarshis (): Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha,
Kratu, Pulastya, and Vashishtha.[2][9] svayambhuvein
the Svayambhuva-manvantara; yajnathe avatara named
Yajna: In the Svayambhuva-manvantara, the Avatar is
named Yajna.
1

The rst Manu was Svayambhuva Manu. 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.

2.2

MANUS OF THE VETA VRHA KALPA

Viras and others were demigods, the seven great saints

were headed by Jyotirdhama, and Trisikha became Indra.
Harimedha begot a son named Hari by his wife Harini.
Hari saved the devotee Gajendra. This incident known as
gajendra-mokshana.

2.5 Fifth Manvantara - the interval of Raivata Manu

Hirannyaroma,

Vedasr,

Urddhabahu,

Vedabahu,

Second Manvantara - the interval of Sudhaman, Parjanya, and Mahmuni. In the RaivataSwarochisha Manu
manvantara, the avatara is named Vaikuntha.

Vaikuntha came as Raivata Manu, the twin brother of

Urjastambha, Agni, Praa, Danti, Rishabha, Nischara,
Tamasa. His sons were headed by Arjuna, Bali and
and Charvarivan. In the Svarocisha-manvantara, avatara
Vindhya. Among the demigods were the Bhutarayas,
is named Vibhu.
and among the seven brahmanas who occupied the seven
The second Manu, whose name was Svarocisha, was planets were Hiranyaroma, Vedasira and Urdhvabahu.
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, 2.6 Sixth Manvantara - the interval of
and there were many demigods, headed by Tushita. There
Chakshusha Manu
were also many saintly persons, such as Urjastambha.
Among them was Vedasira, whose wife, Tushita, gave Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu,
birth to Vibhu. Vibhu instructed eighty-eight thousand Abhinman, and Sahishnnu.
In the Chakshushadridha-vratas, or saintly persons, on self-control and aus- manvantara, avatara is named Ajita.
terity.
Ajita came as Chakshsusa Manu, the son of the demigod
Chakshu. He had many sons, headed by Puru, Purusa
2.3 Third Manvantara - the interval of Ut- and Sudyumna. During the reign of Chakshusa Manu,
the King of heaven was known as Mantradruma. Among
tama Manu
the demigods were the Apyas, and among the great sages
Sons of Vashista: Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, ankha, were Havisman and Viraka.
Pravhita, Mita, and Sammita.
In the Uttamamanvantara, He (avatara) is named Satyasena.
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 Vashista,
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 ghting with Satyajit.

2.7 The present, seventh Manvantara - the

interval of Vaivasvata Manu
Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra, Gautama,
Jamadagni, Bharadvaja.[9] In the Vaivasvata-manvantara,
He (Avatara) is named Vamana

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,
2.4 Fourth Manvantara - the interval of Rudras, Visvedevas, Maruts, Asvini-kumaras and Rbhus.
The king of heaven, Indra, is known as Purandara, and the
Tapasa/Tamasa Manu
seven sages are known as Kashyap, Atri, Vashista, VishJyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and wamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadwaj. During
Pivara. In the Tapasa-manvantara, He (Vishnu) is named this period of Manu, Vishnu appears from the womb of
Aditi in his incarnation as the son of Kashyap.
Hari.
He is named Tapasa because he was born during Tapassu
(deep meditation)
2.8 Eighth (Future) - Savarni Manu
Tapasa/Tamasa, the brother of the third Manu, was the
fourth Manu, and he had ten sons, including Prithu, Khy- Diptimat, Galava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauni or
ati, Nara and Ketu. During his reign, the Satyakas, Haris, Ashwatthama, Vyasa, and Rishyasringa.[10] In the

2.13

Thirteenth - Raucya or Deva Savarni Manu

Savarnya-manvantara, He (avatara) is named Sarvab- In the period of the twelfth Manu, the Manu is Rudrahauma.
savarni, whose sons are headed by Devavan. The
In the period of the eighth Manu, the Manu is Savarni. demigods are the Haritas and others, Indra is Ritadhama,
His sons are headed by Nirmoka, and among the and the seven sages are Tapomurti and others. The incardemigods are the Sutapas. Bali, the son of Virochana, nation in this manvantara is Sudhama, or Svadhama, who
is Indra, and Galava and Parasurama are among the is born from the womb of Sunrita. His fathers name is
seven sages. In this age of Manu, the incarnation of Satyasaha.
the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears as Sarvabhauma, the son of Devaguhya and Sarasvati.
2.13

2.9

Thirteenth - Raucya or Deva Savarni

Manu

Ninth - Daksa Savarni Manu

Nirmoha, Tatwadersn, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka,

Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas. In the Deva-savarnya,
Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotish- He (avatara) is named Yogesvara.
mn, and Satya. In the Daksha-savarnya-manvantara, He
In the period of the thirteenth Manu, the Manu is Deva(avatara) is named Rishabha.
savarni. Among his sons is Chitrasena, the demigods
In the period of the ninth Manu, the Manu is Daksha- are the Sukarmas and others, Indra is Divaspati, and
savarni. His sons are headed by Bhutaketu, and among Nirmoka is among the sages. The manvantara-avatara is
the demigods are the Maricigarbhas. Adbhuta is Indra, Yogeshwara, who is born of Devahotra and Brihati.
and among the seven sages is Dyutiman. In this period
of Manu, the incarnation Rishabha is born of Ayushman
and Ambudhara.
2.14 Fourteenth - Indra Savarni Manu

2.10 Tenth - Brahma Savarni Manu

Agnibhu, uchi, hukra, Magadh, Gridhra, Yukta, and

Ajita. In the Indra-savarnya-manvantara, the avatara is
named Brihadbhanu.

Havishmn, Sukriti, Satya, Apmmrtti, Nbhga, Apra- In the period of the fourteenth Manu, the Manu is Indratimaujas, and Satyaket.
In the Brahma-savarnya- savarni. Among his sons are Uru and Gambhira, the
manvantara, the avatara is named Vishvaksena.
demigods are the Pavitras and others, Indra is Suci, and
In the period of the tenth Manu, the Manu is Brahma- among the sages are Agni and Bahu. The incarnation of
savarni. Among his sons is Bhurishena, and the seven this manvantara is known as Brihadbhanu. He is born of
sages are Havishman and others. Among the demigods Satrayana from the womb of Vitana.
are the Suvasanas, and Sambhu is Indra. The incarnation Almost all literature refers to the rst 9 Manus with the
in this period of Manu is Vishvaksena, who is a friend of same names but there is a lot of disagreement on names
Sambhu and who is born from the womb of Vishuci in after that, although all of them agree with a total of 14.[11]
the house of a brahmana named Visvasrashta.

2.11 Eleventh - Dharma Savarni Manu

Nichara, Agnitejas, Vapushmn, Vishu, runi, Havishmn, and Anagha. In the Dharma-savarnya, He
(avatara) is named Dharmasetu.
In the period of the eleventh Manu, the Manu is Dharmasavarni, who 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.
In this manvantara, the incarnation is Dharmasetu, who
is born of Vaidhrita and Aryaka.

2.12 Twelfth - Rudra Savarni Manu

Tapasw, Sutapas, Tapomrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti,
Tapodyuti, and Tapodhan. In the Rudra-savarnya He
(avatara) is named Sudhama.

3 See also
Manu
Metrics of time in Hinduism
Kalpa (aeon)
Yuga
List of numbers in Hindu scriptures

4 References
[1] Manuantara The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky, Vol.
1, p. 368, THE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF BRAHMA,
THIS is the name given to the Periods called MANVANTARA (Manuantara, or between the Manus) and
PRALAYA (Dissolution); one referring to the active periods of the Universe, the other to its times of relative and

complete rest -- according to whether they occur at the

end of a Day, or an Age (a life) of Brahma. These
periods, which follow each other in regular succession,
are also called Kalpas, small and great, the minor and the
Maha Kalpa; though, properly speaking, the Maha Kalpa
is never a day, but a whole life or age of Brahma, for it
is said in the Brahma Vaivarta: Chronologers compute a
Kalpa by the Life of Brahma; minor Kalpas, as Samvarta
and the rest, are numerous. In sober truth they are innite; as they have never had a commencement, i.e., there
never was a rst Kalpa, nor will there ever be a last one,
in Eternity.
[2] Account of the several Manus and Manwantaras Vishnu
Purana, translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, 1840,
Book III: Chapter I. p. 259, The rst Manu was
Swyambhuva, then came Swrochisha, then Auttami,
then Tmasa, then Raivata, then Chkshusha: these six
Manus have passed away. The Manu who presides over
the seventh Manwantara, which is the present period, is
Vaivaswata, the son of the sun...
[3] Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.13.14-16
[4] Pralaya The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky, Vol. 2,
p. 307 THE SEVEN AND FOURTEEN MANUS.
[5] Manvantara The Laws of Manu, (Manu Smriti), Sacred
Books of the East Vol. 25, translated by Georg Bhler,
1886, Chapter I, 79. The before-mentioned age of the
gods, (or) twelve thousand (of their years), being multiplied by seventy-one, (constitutes what) is here named the
period of a Manu (Manvantara). The Manvantaras, the
creations and Absorptions (of the world, are) numberless;
sporting, as it were, Brahman repeats this again and again.
[6] Measure of time, Vishnu Purana, translated by Horace
Hayman Wilson, 1840, Book I: Chapter III. p. 26-28
[7] Time Comparison from TransLiteral Foundation Vedic
Time Converter
[8] Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani
[9] Inhabitants of the Worlds Mahanirvana Tantra, translated
by Arthur Avalon, (Sir John Woodroe), 1913, Introduction and Preface. The Rishi are seers who know, and
by their knowledge are the makers of shastra and see
all mantras. The word comes from the root rish Rishatiprapnoti sarvvang mantrang jnanena pashyati sangsaraparangva, etc. The seven great Rishi or saptarshi of the
rst manvantara are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha,
Kratu, Pulastya, and Vashista. In other manvantara
there are other saptarshi. In the present manvantara
the seven are Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra,
Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja. To the Rishi the
Vedas were revealed. Vyasa taught the Rigveda so revealed to Paila, the Yajurveda to Vaishampayana, the
Samaveda to Jaimini, Atharvaveda to Samantu, and
Itihasa and Purana to Suta. The three chief classes of
Rishi are the Brahmarshi, born of the mind of Brahma,
the Devarshi of lower rank, and Kings who became Rishis
through their knowledge and austerities, such as Janaka,
Ritaparna, etc. The Shrutarshi are makers of Shastras, as
Sushruta. The Kandarshi are of the Karmakanda, such as
Jaimini.

EXTERNAL LINKS

[10] Maharishi Aswathama Retrieved 2015-02-15

[11] Summary of Manu in Ancient Literature
Ghanshyam Dusane

5 External links

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Cycle of Brahma

21
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Day of Brahma
Manvantara

15
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Mahayuga

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Year
Aayan
Ruthu
Masa
Paksha
Nakshatra ahoratram

4
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Muhurta
Ghati

2
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Vighati

Paramanu
Second

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Leekshaka

6 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

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