Manvantara

Etymology

Manvantara (), sometimes spelled manwantara or manuantara, is a compound of manu () and antara (), creating manu-antara or manvantara, literally meaning "the duration of a Manu", or his lifespan, with synonym meanings of "the interval, reign, period, or age of a Manu".

Sandhya () or sandhi (), sometimes with a compound of kala (), have been used to represent "the juncture before or after a manvantara", a period of universal deluge (flood):

• manvantara sandhya ()
• manvantara sandhi ()
• sandhya kala () when describing a manvantara
• sandhi kala () when describing a manvantara

Duration and structure

Each manvantara lasts for 306,720,000 years (852,000 divine years; 1 divine year = 360 solar years) and repeats seventy-one Yuga Cycles (world ages). In a kalpa (day of Brahma), which lasts for 4.32 billion years (12 million divine years or 1,000 Yuga Cycles), there are a total of fourteen manvantaras (14 x 71 = 994 Yuga Cycles), where each is followed by and the first preceded by a manvantara-sandhya (fifteen sandhyas) with each sandhya lasting for 1,728,000 years (4,800 divine years; the duration of Satya Yuga). During each manvantara-sandhya, the earth (Bhu-loka) is submerged in water.

Each kalpa has 14 manvantaras and 15 manvantara-sandhyas in the following order:

• 1st manvantara-sandhya ( adi sandhya)
• 1st manvantara
• 2nd manvantara-sandhya
• 2nd manvantara
• ...
• 14th manvantara-sandhya
• 14th manvantara
• 15th manvantara-sandhya

Manusmriti, Ch. 1:

Surya Siddhanta, Ch. 1:

Vishnu Purana, Part 1, Ch. 3:

Manus

Main article: Manu (Hinduism)

In the current kalpa (day of Brahma), these fourteen Manus 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 (current)
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

References

References

1. (1913). "Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic". London Missionary Society.
2. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp075.htm Account of the several Manus and Manwantaras] [[Vishnu Purana]], translated by [[Horace Hayman Wilson]], 1840, Book III: Chapter I. p. 259, The first Manu was [[Swáyambhuva]], then came [[Swárochisha]], then [[Auttami]], then [[Támasa]], then [[Raivata]], then [[Chakshusha. Chákshusha]]: 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. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/the/sd/sd2-1-18.htm Pralaya] [[The Secret Doctrine]] by [[H. P. Blavatsky]], Vol. 2, p. 307 THE SEVEN AND FOURTEEN MANUS.
4. (2010). "Units of Measurement: Past, Present and Future. International System of Units". [[Springer Publishing.
5. (1999). "Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions". [[Merriam-Webster.
6. (2019). "Meet the Ancient Scriptures of Hinduism". Notion Press.
7. (1886). "The Laws of Manu: translated with extracts from seven commentaries". [[Oxford University Press]].
8. (1935). "Translation of the Surya-Siddhanta, A Text-Book of Hindu Astronomy; With notes and an appendix". [[University of Calcutta]].
9. (1840). "The Vishnu Purana".