Manvantaras : The Milking of the Earth - Verse 3

The first Manu was Svayambhuva and thefi there was Svarocisa Manu. Thereafter the Manus were Auttama, Tamasa, 1 Manvantara is a period during which a Manu presides over the world. It (the period) consists of seventyone cycles of four yugas ( catur-yugi ) or one-fourteenth part of god Brahma’s day. In other words there are fourteen Manus in one day of Brahma at the end of which there is Pralaya ( Dissolution) of the universe. Every Manu has his special set of gods, Indra, an incarnation of Visnu, seven sages (saptar$is ). Thus in the 1st Manvantara, Svayambhuva (the son of god Brahma) was the presiding Manu, Yamas were the gods, Yajha, the incarnation of Vi§nu officiated as Indra and the group of seven sages consisted of Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vasistha. In every Manvantara, though the set of these functionaries is different, they have got the same powers, functions and the same tenure. The description of Manvantaras is one of the five essential characteristics of a Purat>a. Thus we find Pura^as like Bh. P. VIII. 1.29, NP. 1.40.17-37, VP. Ill chs. 1 and 2, KP.I.51, Bd. P. I.2.3G describing various Manvantaras. 458 Vayu Purdna Raivata and Caksusa. These six Manus have already passed away. I shall explain the eight future Manus.1