Manvantara or Manuvantara,[1] or age of a Manu,[2] the Hindu progenitor of humanity, is an astronomical period of time measurement.

Manvantara is a Sanskrit sandhi, a combination of ords manu andantara, manu!antara or manvantara, literally meaning the duration of a Manu, or his life span.["] #ach Manvantara is created and ruled by a specific Manu, ho in turn is created by $rahma, the %reator himself. Manu creates the orld, and all its species during that period of time, each Manvantara lasts the lifetime of a Manu, upon hose death, $rahma creates another Manu to continue the cycle of %reation or Shristi, &ishnu on his part takes a ne 'vatar, and also a ne (ndra and Saptarishis are appointed. #ventually it takes 1) Manus and their respective Manvantaras to create a *alpa, 'eon, or a +,ay of $rahma-, according to the Hindu .ime %ycles and also the &edic timeline. .hereafter, at the end of each *alpa, there is a period ! same as *alpa ! of dissolution or /ralaya,[)] herein the orld 0earth and all life forms, but not the entire universe itself1 is destroyed and lies in a state of rest, hich is called the, +2ight of $rahma-. 'fter that the creator, $rahma starts his cycle of creation all over again, in an endless cycle of creation follo ed by ,estruction for hich Shiva, Hindu 3od of destruction, and also rene al, is invoked to ards the end of each such cycle.[4]
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o o o o o o o o o o o o

1 ,uration of a Manvantara 1.1 Sub!divisions 1.2 %omparison to the 'ge of the 5niverse from Modern 'stronomy 2 Manus of the 6veta &7r7ha *alpa 2.1 8irst Manvantara ! the interval of S ayambhu Manu 2.2 Second Manvantara ! the interval of S arochisha Manu 2." .hird Manvantara ! the interval of 'uttami Manu 2.) 8ourth Manvantara ! the interval of .amasa Manu 2.4 8ifth Manvantara ! the interval of 9aivata Manu 2.: Si;th Manvantara ! the interval of %hakshusha Manu 2.< .he present, seventh Manvantara ! the interval of &aivasvata Manu 2.= #ighth 08uture1 ! Savarni Manu 2.> 2inth ! ,aksa Savarni Manu 2.1? .enth ! $rahma Savarni Manu

o o o o

2.11 #leventh ! ,harma Savarni Manu 2.12 . elfth ! 9udra Savarni Manu 2.1" .hirteenth ! 9aucya or ,eva Savarni Manu 2.1) 8ourteenth ! (ndra Savarni Manu " See also ) 9eferences 4 #;ternal links

,uration of a Manvantara[edit]
.he actual duration of a Manavantara, according to the &ishnu /urana is seventy one times the number of years contained in the four @ugas, ith some additional years, adding up to =42,??? divine years, or "?:,<2?,??? human years [:] &ishnu /urana, translated by Horace Hayman Ailson, 1=)?, $ook (B %hapter (((. p. 2:!2=. Seven 9ishis, certain 0secondary1 divinities, (ndra, Manu, the king and his sons, are created and perish in one interval, and the interval, called a Manwantara, is eCual to seventy!one times the number of years contained in the four @ugas, ith some additional yearsB this is the duration of the Manu, the 0attendant1 divinities, and the rest, hich is eCual to =42,??? divine years, or to "?:,<2?,??? years of mortals, independent of the additional period. 8ourteen times this period constitutes a $rDhma day, that is, a day of $rahmDE the term 0$rDhma1 being the derivative form. .he $rahma life span is 1?? $rahma varshas. .he follo ing table ill illustrate clearly the link to our years and $rahma years.

Hindu .ime %hart

Sub-divisions[edit]
1 human year 0in Hindu calendar1 F 1 ,eva 'horatra for 3od 01 day and 1 night1 ":? ,eva 'horatras F 1 ,eva &atsara 12,??? ,eva &atsara F 1 %haturyuga 012,??? ,eva &atsaras are defined as, ),=?? ,eva &atsaras of *rita yuga, ",:?? ,eva &atsaras of .reta @uga, 2,)?? ,eva &atsaras of ,vapara @uga and 1,2?? ,eva &atsaras of *ali @uga hich is 12,??? G ":? F ),"2?,??? human years1 71 Chaturyugas = 1 Manvantaram 01 life span of Manu1 14 Manvantaras = 1 kalpa 01 day of $rahma1 2 *alpas F 1 day H 1 $rahma ratra ":? days of $rahma F 1 $rahma varsha
[<] [=]

Comparison to the Age of the

niverse from Modern Astronomy[edit]

Modern scientific astronomy estimates the 'ge of the 5niverse as around 1" $illion years 01" G 1?> years1. %onversion of 1 day of $rahma into human years yields =.4==1: G 1?> years 0derived as 2 kalpas G 1) Manvantaras G <1 %haturyugas G 12,??? ,eva vatsaras G ":? human years1.

Manus of the 6veta &7r7ha *alpa[edit]

Manvantara ! "ame of Manu for manvantara# Manvantara-avatara name#

?1

Svayambhuva Manu

@aIna

?2

Svarocisha Manu

&ibhu

?"

5ttama Manu

Satyasena

?)

.amasa Manu

Hari

?4

9aivata Manu

&aikuntha

?:

%akshusha Manu

'Iita

Manvantara !

"ame of Manu for manvantara#

Manvantara-avatara name#

?<

Vaivasvata Manu 0current1

&amana

?=

Savarni Manu

Sarvabhauma

?>

,aksha!savarni Manu

9ishabha

1?

$rahma!savarni Manu

&ishvaksena

11

,harma!savarni Manu

,harmasetu

12

9udra!savarni Manu

Sudhama

1"

,eva!savarni Manu

@ogesvara

1)

(ndra!savarni Manu

$rihadbhanu

$irst Manvantara - the interval of Swayambhu Manu[edit]

Saptarshis 0 1B Marichi, 'tri, 'ngiras, /ulaha, *ratu, /ulastya, and &ashishtha.[2][>] svayambhuveJ in the Svayambhuva!manvantaraE yaInaJthe avatara named @aInaB (n the Svayambhuva! manvantara, the 'vatar is named @aIna. .he first Manu as Svayambhuva Manu. His t o daughters, namely 'kuti and ,evahuti, gave birth to t o sons, named @aIna and *apila respectively. Svayambhuva Manu, along ith his ife, Satarupa, ent into the forest to practice austerities on the bank of the 9iver Sunanda. 't some point in time, 9akshasas and asuras attacked them, but @aIna, accompanied by his sons the @amas and the demigods, killed them. .hen @aIna personally took the post of (ndra, the *ing of the heavenly planets.

Se%ond Manvantara - the interval of Swaro%hisha Manu[edit]

5rIa, Stambha, /raKa, ,attoli, 9ishabha, 2ischara, and 'rvarLvat. (n the Svarocisha!manvantara, avatara is named &ibhu. .he second Manu, hose name as Svarocisha, as the son of 'gni, and His sons ere headed by ,yumat, Sushena and 9ocishmat. (n the age of this Manu, 9ocana became (ndra, the ruler of the heavenly planets, and there ere many demigods, headed by .ushita. .here ere also many saintly persons, such as 5rIa and Stambha. 'mong them as &edasira, hose ife, .ushita, gave birth to &ibhu. &ibhu instructed eighty!eight thousand dridha!vratas, or saintly persons, on self!control and austerity.

&hird Manvantara - the interval of Auttami Manu[edit]

Sons of &ashistaB *aukundihi, *urundi, ,alaya, 6ankha, /ravDhita, Mita, and Sammita. (n the 'uttama!manvantara, He 0avatara1 is named Satyasena. 5ttama, the son of /riyavrata, as the third Manu. 'mong his sons ere /avana, SrinIaya and @aInahotra. ,uring the reign of this Manu, the sons of &ashista, headed by /ramada, became the seven saintly persons. .he Satyas, ,evasrutas and $hadras became the demigods, and SatyaIit became (ndra. 8rom the omb of Sunrita, the ife of ,harma, the Mord appeared as Satyasena, and He killed all the @akshas and 9akshasas ho ere fighting ith SatyaIit.

$ourth Manvantara - the interval of &amasa Manu[edit]

Nyotirdhama, /rithu, *avya, %haitra, 'gni, &anaka, and /ivara. (n the .amasa!manvantara, He 0&ishnu1 is named Hari. .amasa, the brother of the third Manu, as the fourth Manu, and he had ten sons, including /rithu, *hyati, 2ara and *etu. ,uring his reign, the Satyakas, Haris, &iras and others ere demigods, the seven great saints ere headed by Nyotirdhama, and .risikha became (ndra. Harimedha begot a son named Hari by his ife Harini. Hari saved the devotee 3aIendra. .his incident kno n as gaIendra! mokshana.

$ifth Manvantara - the interval of 'aivata Manu[edit]

Hirannyaroma, &edasrL, 5rddhabahu, &edabahu, Sudhaman, /arIanya, and MahDmuni. (n the 9aivata!manvantara, the avatara is named &aikuntha. &aikuntha came as 9aivata Manu, the t in brother of .amasa. His sons ere headed by 'rIuna, $ali and &indhya. 'mong the demigods ere the $hutarayas, and among the seven brahmanas ho occupied the seven planets ere Hiranyaroma, &edasira and 5rdhvabahu.

Si(th Manvantara - the interval of Chakshusha Manu[edit]

Sumedhas, &iraIas, Havishmat, 5ttama, Madhu, 'bhinDman, and Sahishnnu. (n the %hakshusha! manvantara, avatara is named 'Iita. 'Iita came as %hakshsusa Manu, the son of the demigod %hakshu. He had many sons, headed by /uru, /urusa and Sudyumna. ,uring the reign of %hakshusa Manu, the *ing of heaven as kno n as Mantradruma. 'mong the demigods ere the 'pyas, and among the great sages ere Havisman and &iraka.

&he present) seventh Manvantara - the interval of *aivasvata Manu[edit]

*ashyapa, 'tri, &ashista, &ishvamitra, 3autama, Namadagni, $haradvaIa.[>] (n the &aivasvata! manvantara, He 0'vatara1 is named &amana .he seventh Manu, ho is the son of &ivasvan, is kno n as Sraddhadeva. He has ten sons, named (ksvaku, 2abhaga, ,hrsta, Saryati, 2arisyanta, 2abhaga, ,ista, .arusa, /rsadhra and &asuman. (n this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the demigods are the 'dityas, &asus, 9udras, &isvedevas, Maruts, 'svini!kumaras and 9bhus. .he king of heaven, (ndra, is kno n as /urandara, and the seven sages are kno n as *ashyap, 'tri, &ashista, &ish amitra, 3autama, Namadagni and $harad aI. ,uring this period of Manu, &ishnu appears from the omb of 'diti in his incarnation as the son of *ashyap.

+ighth ,$uture- - Savarni Manu[edit]

,iptimat, 3alava, 9ama, *ripa, ,rauni, &yasa, and 9ishyasringa. .e;t came from ....&ishnu /uranaB $ook (((B %hapter (( (n the Savarnya!manvantara, He 0avatara1 is named Sarvabhauma.

(n the period of the eighth Manu, the Manu is Savarni. His sons are headed by 2irmoka, and among the demigods are the Sutapas. $ali, the son of &irochana, is (ndra, and 3alava and /arasurama are among the seven sages. (n this age of Manu, the incarnation of the Supreme /ersonality of 3odhead appears as Sarvabhauma, the son of ,evaguhya and Sarasvati.

"inth - .aksa Savarni Manu[edit]

Savana, ,yutimat, $havya, &asu, Medhatithi, NyotishmDn, and Satya. (n the ,aksha!savarnya! manvantara, He 0avatara1 is named 9ishabha. (n the period of the ninth Manu, the Manu is ,aksha!savarni. His sons are headed by $hutaketu, and among the demigods are the Maricigarbhas. 'dbhuta is (ndra, and among the seven sages is ,yutiman. (n this period of Manu, the incarnation 9ishabha is born of 'yushman and 'mbudhara.

&enth - /rahma Savarni Manu[edit]

HavishmDn, Sukriti, Satya, 'pDmmOrtti, 2DbhDga, 'pratimauIas, and Satyaket. (n the $rahma! savarnya!manvantara, the avatara is named &ishvaksena. (n the period of the tenth Manu, the Manu is $rahma!savarni. 'mong his sons is $hurishena, and the seven sages are Havishman and others. 'mong the demigods are the Suvasanas, and Sambhu is (ndra. .he incarnation in this period of Manu is &ishvaksena, ho is a friend of Sambhu and ho is born from the omb of &ishuci in the house of a brahmana named &isvasrashta.

+leventh - .harma Savarni Manu[edit]

2iPchara, 'gniteIas, &apushmDn, &ishKu, Qruni, HavishmDn, and 'nagha. (n the ,harma!savarnya, He 0avatara1 is named ,harmasetu. (n the period of the eleventh Manu, the Manu is ,harma!savarni, ho has ten sons, headed by Satyadharma. 'mong the demigods are the &ihangamas, (ndra is kno n as &aidhrita, and the seven sages are 'runa and others. (n this manvantara, the incarnation is ,harmasetu, ho is born of &aidhrita and 'ryaka.

&welfth - 'udra Savarni Manu[edit]

.apas L, Sutapas, .apomOrtti, .aporati, .apodhriti, .apodyuti, and .apodhan. (n the 9udra!savarnya He 0avatara1 is named Sudhama. (n the period of the t elfth Manu, the Manu is 9udra!savarni, hose sons are headed by ,evavan. .he demigods are the Haritas and others, (ndra is 9itadhama, and the seven sages are .apomurti and others. .he incarnation in this manvantara is Sudhama, or Svadhama, ho is born from the omb of Sunrita. His fatherRs name is Satyasaha.

&hirteenth - 'au%ya or .eva Savarni Manu[edit]

2irmoha, .at adersLn, 2ishprakampa, 2irutsuka, ,hritimat, 'vyaya, and Sutapas. (n the ,eva! savarnya, He 0avatara1 is named @ogesvara. (n the period of the thirteenth Manu, the Manu is ,eva!savarni. 'mong his sons is %hitrasena, the demigods are the Sukarmas and others, (ndra is ,ivaspati, and 2irmoka is among the sages. .he manvantara!avatara is @ogesh ara, ho is born of ,evahotra and $rihati.

$ourteenth - 0ndra Savarni Manu[edit]

'gnibDhu, 6uchi, 6hukra, MagadhD, 3ridhra, @ukta, and 'Iita. (n the (ndra!savarnya!manvantara, the avatara is named $rihadbhanu.

(n the period of the fourteenth Manu, the Manu is (ndra!savarni. 'mong his sons are 5ru and 3ambhira, the demigods are the /avitras and others, (ndra is Suci, and among the sages are 'gni and $ahu. .he incarnation of this manvantara is kno n as $rihadbhanu. He is born of Satrayana from the omb of &itana.