Manvantara


Manvantara is a cyclic age in Hindu cosmology. At the beginning of a Kalpa, Brahma creates Manu, the progenitor of mankind. In a Kalpa, there are 14 Manus who reign in succession, each ruling over a Manvantara, with the present being Vaivasvata Manu.
Each Manvantaras repeats 71 Chatur Yugas, lasting for 306,720,000 years. In a Kalpa, which lasts for 1,000 Chatur Yugas, each of the 14 Manvantaras are followed by a Sandhya and the first Manvantara preceded by a Sandhya, with each Sandhya lasting the duration of a Satya Yuga. During each Manvantara-Sandhya, the earth is submerged in water.
In a Kalpa, there are 14 Indras who reign in succession in 14 Manvantaras.

Etymology

Manvantara is a compound of "manu" and "antara", i.e. "manu-antara" or "manvantara", literally meaning the duration of a Manu, or his life span.

Manusmriti

Vishnu Purana

Manus

In a Kalpa, fourteen Manu's reign in succession:
  1. Swayambhu Manu
  2. Swarochisha Manu
  3. Uttama Manu
  4. Tapasa/Tamasa Manu
  5. Raivata Manu
  6. Chakshusha Manu
  7. Vaivasvata Manu
  8. Savarni Manu
  9. Daksa Savarni Manu
  10. Brahma Savarni Manu
  11. Dharma Savarni Manu
  12. Rudra Savarni Manu
  13. Raucya or Deva Savarni Manu
  14. Indra Savarni Manu

    Indras

In a Manvantara, fourteen Indras reign in succession:
  1. Visvabhuk
  2. Vipascit
  3. Sukirti
  4. Sibi
  5. Vibhu
  6. Manobhuva
  7. Ojasvin the powerful Bali
  8. Adbhuta
  9. Santi
  10. Ramya
  11. Devavara
  12. Vrsa Rtadhaman
  13. Divassvamin
  14. Suci