Manu – The First Man:

Manu  is a term found with various interpretation in Hinduism. In early texts, it represents to the archetypal man. And also to the first man who is the starter of humanity.The Sanskrit term for ‘human’. Manava means ‘of Manu’ or ‘children of Manu’. In later texts, Manu is the title or name of fourteen mystical Kshtriya rulers of earth. Or alternatively as the head of mythical dynasties that begin with each cyclic Kalpa (aeon). When the universe is born anew. The title of the text Manusmriti proposes this term as a prefix. But refers to the first Manu Svayambhuva, the spiritual son of Brahma.

Purana:

According to Puranas, each kalpa is of fourteen Manvantaras. And each of Manvantara is headed by a different Manu. The current universe which is asserted to be ruled by the 7th Manu who is named Vaivasvata.

In Vishnu Purana, Vaivasvata, also known as Sraddhadeva or Satyavrata, was the king of Dravidian before the great flood. He was warned previously of the flood by the Matsya (fish) avatar of Vishnu. And so he built a boat that carried the Vedas. Manu’s family and the seven sages to safety, helped by Matsya. The tale is repeated with variations in other texts, including the Mahabharata and a few other Puranas. It is similar to other flood such as that of Gilgamesh Noah.

Fourteen Manus:

There are fourteen Manus that rule in succession during each Kalpa (day Brahma). Swayambhu Man. In this Manvantara, the Saptarshis were Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vaishistha.  In Svayambhuva-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar was called Yajna.

The firstManu was Swayambhuva Manu. He had three daughters to namely Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti. Devahuti was given in marriage to sage Kardama. She bore nine daughters, with a single son named Kapila. Prasuti was the mother of Yajna. Akuti was the birth mother to one son and one daughter. Both Kapila and Yajna, who were the sons of Devahuti and Prasuti respectively. They were incarnations of Vishnu. Svayambhuva Manu, along with his wife, Satarupa, went into the forest to practice salvation the bank of the River Sunanda. At some pointing in time, demons attacked them. However, the Yajna, accompanied by his sons, the demigods, swiftly killed them. Then Yajna skilfully took the post of Indra, the King of the heavenly planets.

Swarochisha Manu

The Saptarshis were the Urjastambha, Agni, Prana, Danti, Rishabha, Nischara, and Charvarivan. In Svarocisha-manvantara it is said that Lord Vishnu’s avatar was called Vibhu.

The second Manu, whose name was Svarocisha, was the offspring of Agni.

His sons were controlled by Dyumat, Sushena and Rochishmat. In the age of this Manu, Rochana became Indra, who is the ruler of the heavenly planets, and there were many demigods as well, headed by Tushita. There were also many holy persons, such as Urjastambha. Among them was Vedasira, whose wife, Tushita, was the mother of Vibhu. Vibhu was the incarnation of Vishnu for this Manvantaras. He remained a Brahmachari all his life and never got married. He instructed eighty-eight thousand dridha-vratas, or popularly called holy persons on sense-control and austerity.

Uttama Manu

The Saptarshis for this Manvantara were Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha, Pravahita, Mita, and Sammita. In Uttama-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar was called Satyasena.

Uttama, the son of Priyavrata, was the thirdManu. 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 Satyajit became Indra. From the womb of Sunrita, the wife of Dharma, the Supreme Lord Narayana appeared as Satyasena, and killed all the evil Rakshasas who created havoc in all the worlds, along with Satyajit, who was Indra at that time.

Tapasa Manu

Saptarshis list: Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara. In Tapasa-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar was called Hari.

Tapasa , the brother of the third Manu, was the fourthManu, 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.

Raivata Manu

Saptarshis list: Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhaman, Parjanya, and Mahámuni. In Raivata-manvantara, who was Lord Vishnu’s avatar was also called Vaikuntha, not to be confused with Vishnu’s divine nature, of the same name.

Vaikuntha came as Raivata Manu, the twin brother of Tamasa. His sons were headed by Arjuna, Bali and Vindhya. Among the demigods were also the Bhutarayas, and among the seven brahmanas who occupied the seven planets were Hiranyaroma, Vedasira and Urdhvabahu.

Chakshusha Manu: Saptarshis list: Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhináman, and Sahishnnu. In Chakshusha-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar was called Ajita.

Ajita came as Chakshsusa Manu, the son of the demigod Chakshu. He had many sons, headed by Puru, Purusa and Sudyumna. During the reign of Chakshusa Manu, the King of heaven was known as Mantradruma. Among the demigods were the Apyas also and among the great sages were Havisman and Viraka.

.The seventh Manu, who is also the son of Vivasvan, is known as Sraddhadeva or satyavrata or Vaivasvat(son of Vivasvan). He has ten sons, named Ishkvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrsta, Saryati, Narisyanta, Dista (Nabhanedista), Tarusa (Karusha), Prsadhra and Vasuman (Pramshu). In this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the demigods are the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, Maruts, Asvini-kumaras and Rbhus. The king of heaven, Indra, is known as pundaras, and the seven sages are known as Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Angira, Gautama, Agastya and Bhani or Awasthama, Vyasa, and Rishiyasringa. In Savarnya-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Sarvabhauma.

In the period of the eighth Manu also the Manu is Surya Savrika 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, Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Sarvabhauma, the son of Devaguha

Daksa Savarni Manu

Saptarshis list: Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishmán, and Satya. In Daksha-savarnya-manvantara, also Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Rishabha.

The ninthManu is Daksha-savarni. His sons are headed by Bhutaketu, and among the demigods are the Maricigarbhas. Also Adbhuta is Indra, and among the seven sages is Dyutiman. Rishabha would be born of Ayushman and Ambudhara.

Brahma Savarni Manu

Saptarshis list: Havishmán, Sukriti, Satya, Apámmúrtti, Nábhága, Apratimaujas, and Satyaket. In Brahma-savarnya-manvantara also Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Vishvaksena.

In the period of the tenthManu, the Manu is Brahma-savarni. Among his sons is Bhurishena, and the seven sages are Havishman and also 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.

Dharma Savarni Manu

Saptarshis list: Niśchara, Agnitejas, Vapushmán, Vishńu, Áruni, Havishmán, and Anagha. In Dharma-savarnya-manvantara also Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Dharmasetu.

In the period of the eleventhManu, the Manu is Dharma-savarni, who also has ten sons, headed by Satyadharma. Among the demigods are also the Vihangamas, Indra is known as Vaidhrita, and the seven sages are Aruna and others. Dharmasetu will also be born of Vaidhrita and Aryaka.

Rudra Savarni Manu Saptarshis list: Tapaswí, Sutapas, Tapomúrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhan. In Rudra-savarnya-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar will also be called Sudhama.

In the period of the twelfth Manu. The Manu is Rudra-savarni, whose sons are also headed by Devavan. The demigods are the Haritas and others, Indra is Ritadhama, and the seven sages are Tapomurti and also others. Sudhama, or Svadhama, who will be born from the womb of Sunrita, is also wife of a Satyasaha. Raucya or Deva Savarni Manu.

Saptarshis list: Nirmoha, Tatwadersín, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas. In Deva-savarnya-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Yogeshwara.

In the period of the thirteenthManu, the Manu is Deva-savarni. Among his sons is Chitrasena, the demigods are the Sukarmas and others, Indra is Divaspati, and Nirmoka is among the sages. Yogeshwara will be born of Devahotra and Brihati.

Indra Savarni Manu

Saptarshis list: Agnibáhu, Śuchi, Śhukra, Magadhá, Gridhra, Yukta, and Ajita. In Indra-savarnya-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar will be called Brihadbhanu.

In the period of the fourteenthManu, the Manu is Indra-savarni. Among his sons are Uru and Gambhira, are also 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 also 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.

Other literatures: The texts ascribed to the Sayamvama Manu include ManavaGrihyasutra, ManavaSulbasutra and ManavaDharmashastra ( Manusmriti or “rules of Manu”). Jain mythology mentions the 14th patriarch named Nabhiraja, mentioning him also as Manu. This, state scholars, links ancient Jain tradition to Hindu mythologies. Because the 14 patriarchs in Jain myths are similar to the 14 Manus in Hindu myths. The Manu of Janism is the also the father of 1st Tirthankara Rishabhanata (Adinatha). This ancient story is significant as it includes one of earliest mentions of ikshu (sugarcane) processing.