There are fourteen Manus that rule in succession during each
Kalpa (day of
Brahma). The current
Kalpa has the following Manus:
Svayambhuva Manu The
first Manu was the mind-born son of the god
Brahma, and the husband of
Shatarupa. He had three daughters, namely Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti. Devahuti was given in marriage to
Kardama and she gave birth to nine daughters and a single son named
Kapila. Prasuti gave birth to several daughters, including
Sati,
Khyati,
Diti,
Aditi,
Kadru,
Rohini amongst many, and Akuti gave birth to one son named
Yajna 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 of
Indra, the king of the heavenly planets. Svayambhuva Manu's abode is
Brahmavarta, 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 became and grass. In this
manvantara, the
Saptarshis were
Marichi,
Atri,
Angiras,
Pulaha,
Kratu,
Pulastya, and
Vashishtha, and Vishnu's avatar is
Yajna.
Svarochisha Manu The
second 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 to
Vibhu, 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 Manu Uttama, the son of Priyavrata, was the
third 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 evil
Rakshasas 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 Manu Tapasa, also called Tamasa, the brother of the third Manu, was the
fourth 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 devotee
Gajendra. In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara, and Vishnu's avatar is
Hari.
Raivata Manu The
fifth 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 is
Vaikuntha.
Chakshusha Manu sees
Rudra and
ParvatiThe
sixth 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 by
Vayu. Vayu said that his winds could not push away the earth, and thus Bhumavat, the male personification of the earth, was stronger. Bhumavat said that
Shesha, who holds both
Vishnu 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 as
Revati to marry that avatar,
Krishna's brother
Balarama. In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhináman, and Sahishnnu, and Vishnu's avatar is
Ajita.
Vaivasvata Manu The
seventh Manu, who is the son of
Vivasvan, is known as Sraddhadeva (or satyavrata) or Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvan). He has ten sons, named
Ikshvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrsta, Saryati, Narisyanta, Dista (Nabhanedista), Tarusa (Karusha), Prsadhra, Vasuman (Pramshu) and
Ila (Sudyumna). In this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the demigods are the
Adityas,
Vasus,
Rudras,
Visvedevas,
Maruts,
Ashvins and
Ribhus. The king of heaven, Indra, is known as
Purandara, and the seven sages are known as
Jamadagni,
Kashyapa,
Agastya,
Bhrigu,
Gautama,
Agastya and
Bharadwaja. In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are
Marichi,
Agastya,
Angiras,
Pulaha,
Kratu,
Pulastya, and
Bhrigu, and other like
Jamadagni,
Kashyapa,
Gautama,
Vishvamitra,
Bharadvaja. and, Vishnu's avatar is
Matsya.
Suryasavarni Manu In the period of the
eighth 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 of
Virochana, is
Indra, and Galava and Parasurama are among the seven sages. In the age of this Manu, Vishnu's avatar will be
Sarvabhauma, the son of Devaguhya. In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Diptimat, Galava,
Parasurama,
Kripa, Drauni or
Ashwatthama,
Vyasa, and
Rishyasringa, and Vishnu's avatar will be
Sarvabhauma.
Dakshasavarni Manu The
ninth Manu is Dakshasavarni. He is the son of
Varuna. 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 be
Rishabha.
Brahmasavarni Manu In the period of the
tenth Manu, the Manu is Brahmasavarni. He is the son of Upsaloka, who is himself the son of
Kartikeya. 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 be Vishvaksena.
Dharmasavarni Manu In the period of the
eleventh Manu, the Manu is Dharmasavarni, the son of the
Satya 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 be Dharmasetu.
Rudrasavarni Manu In the period of the
twelfth 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 of
Shiva and
Parvati. In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Tapasví, Sutapas, Tapomúrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhana, and Vishnu's avatar will be
Sudhama.
Devasavarni Manu In the period of the
thirteenth 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 be Yogeshvara.
Indrasavarni Manu In the period of the
fourteenth 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. In this manvantara, the Saptarshis are Agnibáhu, Śuchi, Śhukra, Magadhá, Gridhra, Yukta, and Ajita, and Vishnu's avatar will be
Brihadbhanu. ==Bibliography==