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14 Mnavantharaas



11/3/08


 
"Manvatharaani sath dharma" meaning  manvantharaas are for establishing righteousness.
 
What is manvanthara? Manvanthara can be considered as an era ruled by one Manu. Now let us look at the calculations reaching manvanthara starting from yugas:
 
Kritha yuga - 1,728,000 years
Thretha yuga- 1,296,000 years
Dwapara yuga- 864, 000 years
Kali yuga- 432,000 years
 
All four yugas together or Chathuryuga or Mahayuga- 4,320,000 years
 
71 chathuryugas or Mahayugas - one Manvanthara
 
14 Manvantharas - one Kalpa - one daytime of Brahma.
 
The purpose of Creation, is the elevation of all creatures through various stages, to the realization of  Pramaathma. This is done through 14 Manus who are the progenitors of mankind. So dharma is first manifested through Manus.
 
In Bhakthivedantha Swami's words: "Manu is the father of mankind, the progenitor, empowered to guide the human race towards self-realization. Manu provides revealed scriptures to mankind which regulate their activities in a manner that will be for their eternal welfare." 
 
We are currently in the seventh manwanthara and our Manu is Vaivasvatha. We have passed 27 Mahayugas out of 71 and we are going through Kaliyuga of the 28th Chathuryuga of this 7th Manwanthara.
 
 The Manus of each manwanthara are as follows:
 
1. Swayambhuva Manu  2. Swarochisha  3. Utthama  4. Thaamasa   5. Raivatha   6. Chaakshusha   7. Vaivasvatha   8. Saavarni  9. Dakshasaavarni  10. Brahmasaavarni   11. Dharmasaavarni    12. Rudrasaavarni    13.Ruchi  14. Indrasaavarni
 
Our present Manu is the son of Vivaswaan or Sun. For each manvanthara there is one Indra and the name of the Indra of this manu is Purandaran. Saptharshis also are different in each manvanthara and  Vasishta, Kaashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gauthama, Vishvaamitra and Bhardwaaja are the saptharhis (seven sages) of this manvanthara.
 
 Manu Smruthi or laws of Manu are one of the nineteen Dharamshasthras. It covers all aspects of life. 
 
The first parents of this universe are Swaymbhuvamanu and Shatharoopa. After the srushti or creation of this couple, Brahma Deva never worried about creation. It happened and happening by itself. Vishnu Bhagavan sustains it and of course, Shiva Bhagavan takes care of the dissolution of every creature born. After the initial creation, Brahma goes into samaadhi. That is why there are very few temples built for Brahma and people do not invoke Brahma during poojaas. Vishnu Bhagavan and Shiva Bhagavan along with Yoga maaya or Bhagavathi is constantly remembered and worshipped.
 


 

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