Manvantara, Manu-antara, Manvamtara: 21 definitions

Introduction:

Manvantara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—Kalpa, Manvantara and Caturyuga. The Prapañca (universe) is perishable. At one time, it takes its origin, at another time it perishes. Brahmā, the creator of the universe has birth and death. The period between the birth and death of a Brahmā is known as a "Mahākalpa". The flood that comes at the death of a Brahmā is called "Mahāpralaya". One day of Brahmā is called Kalpakāla. In the Purāṇas one Kalpa or one day of Brahmā is divided into fourteen parts. The master or ruler of each of these divisions is a Manu. There are fourteen Manus. The life span of each Manu is called a "Manvantaram". (See full article at Story of Manvantara from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) refers to a time period consisting of seventy-one times the amount of one Caturyuga, according to the Nīlamatapurāṇa. The passage of the sun through one sign of the zodiac, we are informed, is called a solar month. Two months make a season, three seasons an Ayana and two Ayanas a year. Four lacs and thirty two thousand years make Kaliyuga. Twice as much as Kaliyuga is Dvāpara, thrice is Tretā and four yugas make one Caturyuga and seventy one Caturyugas make one Manvantara.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—Periods of Manus; seven in number and seven to come, of Svāyambhuva, Svārociṣa, Auttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākṣuṣa, Sāvarṇi (after Vaivasvata in Matsya-purāṇa), raucya (br. p.); Vaivasvata present according to the Matsya-purāṇa) Ruci, Bhautya, Merusāvarṇi, Rta, Ṛtadhāmān and Viṣvaksena; the last seven are future Manus;1 one of the five characteristics of the Purāṇa;2 calculation of the duration of the epochs of Manus;3 constitutes 71 yugas at the end of which comes Kṣaya4 according to Mānuṣa and Divyavatsara.5 manvantara of svāyambhuva manu—the Gods of three worlds, sages, pitṛs, and people help him; but finding the diminished powers, go to Maharloka.6

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 6. 6, 20; 36. 1-4; Matsya-purāṇa 2. 22; 9. 2-36; Vāyu-purāṇa 21. 11, 14, 19, 38, 44; 57. 33-6; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 3. 18.
  • 2) Matsya-purāṇa 53. 65; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 1. 37; Vāyu-purāṇa 4. 10.
  • 3) Matsya-purāṇa 142. 30.
  • 4) Vāyu-purāṇa 10. 12; 32. 41.
  • 5) Ib. 61. 138-144; 150. 176.
  • 6) Vāyu-purāṇa 61. 149-51.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) literaly means “difference beween two Manus”, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Manvantara is constituted of two words manu and antara which literaly means difference beween two Manus. A manvantara consists of seventy one caturyugas. According to the Purāṇa texts one Manu reigns over one manvantara covering the period. There are fourteen manvantaras like Svāyambhuva, Svārociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākṣuṣa, Vaivasvata, Sāvarṇa, Merusāvarṇi etc . Of these fourteen manvantaras first six manvantaras have already passed. At present vaivasvata-manvantara continues and the latter seven manvantaras are yet to come.

Each of these manvantaras is presided over by a particular Manu, his sons who rule over the earth, seven sages, Gods and the lord of these Gods known as Indra. In justifying the existence of these five concepts—Manu, his sons, seven sages, Gods and their lord Indra, the Purāṇa texts (cf. Viṣṇupurāṇa III.2.45-47 and Matsypurāṇa 9.30-31) gives their explanations. It is stated that at the end of every caturyuga (71 caturyugas make one manvantara) Vedas disappear and seven sages purposely come down to the earth to restore the Vedas, Manu appears as the author of the Smṛtis. In the social set up as envisaged by Manu on the basis of Smṛti, Sacrifice is a necessity. Therefore in each of the manvantaras there are Gods including their lord Indra to partake of the sacrifice. Sons and grandsons of Manu have their existence because for the whole term of a manvantara they rule as sovereigns of the earth.

Purana book cover
context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Jyotisha glossary
Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—A cosmological time span equal to seventy-one mahāyugas or 306,720,000 years. Note: Manvantara is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) refers to “the reign of one manu”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) refers to:—The lifespan of Manu;306,720,000 years. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Source: Prabhupada Books: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) or Manvantarāvatāra refers to “incarnations in different millenniums”, according to the Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.20.246 (“The Science of the Absolute Truth”).—Accordingly, “There are incarnations that control the material qualities [guṇa-avatāras], incarnations who appear during the reign of each Manu [manvantara-avatāras], incarnations in different millenniums [yuga-avatāras] and incarnations of empowered living entities [śaktyāveśa-avatāras]”.

Vaishnavism book cover
context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) refers to a “small eon”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, “[...] Āṇava is said to be (brought about) by the mantras applied through the process (krama) of uttering the letters (that constitute them). In this way, O fair-faced one, in the future, in (the course of) the a eons, great (kalpa) and small (manvantara), the rite (karman) of initiation will be of three types. The rite of initiation in the Kula tradition (āmnāya) will take place during (the various) ages (yuga) and (varies) according to the nature of (each) age, and (will be imparted) through the line (krama) of teachers and disciples by means of insights (vijñāna) (outwardly apparent) as the signs of attainment (pratyaya)”.

Shaktism book cover
context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Hinduism glossary
Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

1) Manvantara is the period of astronomical time within an aeon or Kalpa, (a day of Brahma).

2) Manvantara, the Hindu progenitor of mankind, is an astronomical period of time measurement. The word is a combination of words 'manu' and 'antara', creating manu-antara or manvantara, and literally meaning "the duration of a Manu", or his life span.

Each Manvantara is created and ruled by a specific Manu, who in turn is created by Brahma, the Creator himself. Manu creates the world, and all its species during that period of time, each Manvantara lasts the lifetime of a Manu, upon whose death, Brahma creates another Manu to continue the cycle of Creation or Shristi, Vishnu on his part takes a new Avatar, and also a new Indra and Saptarishis are appointed.

Eventually it takes 14 Manus and their respective Manvantaras to create a Kalpa, Aeon, or a ‘Day of Brahma’, according to the Hindu Time Cycles and also the Vedic timeline. Thereafter, at the end of each Kalpa, there is a period - same as Kalpa - of dissolution or Pralaya, wherein the world (earth and all life forms, but not the entire universe itself) is destroyed and lies in a state of rest, which is called the, ‘Night of Brahma’.

After that the creator, Brahma starts his cycle of creation all over again, in an endless cycle of creation followed by Destruction for which Shiva, Hindu God of destruction, and also renewal, is invoked towards the end of each such cycle.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

manvantara (मन्वंतर).—n (S manu & antara) The reign of a manu, a period equal to seventy-one ages of the gods, or 306,720,000 years of mortals; or, with its sandhi or interval of universal deluge, 308,448,000 years. Each manvantara is governed by its distinct manu, and is provided with its own indra and minor deities. 2 fig. The proper period or season; the time, the day, the hour &c. emphatically. Ex. tumacēṃ ma0 gēlēṃ mājhēṃ ma0 ālēṃ mhaṇūna myāṃ tōṇḍīṃ bhaḍakāvalyā.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

manvantara (मन्वंतर).—n The reign of n manu. The proper period or season. An epoch, an age.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—the period or age of a Manu; (this period, according to Manusmṛti 1.79, comprises 4,32, human years or 1/14th day of Brahmā, the fourteen Manvantaras making up one whole day; each of these fourteen periods is supposed to be presided over by its own Manu; six such periods have already passed away; we are at present living in the seventh, and seven more are yet to come); मन्वन्तरं तु दिव्यानां युगानामेकसप्ततिः (manvantaraṃ tu divyānāṃ yugānāmekasaptatiḥ) Ak.

Derivable forms: manvantaram (मन्वन्तरम्).

Manvantara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms manu and antara (अन्तर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—n.

(-raṃ) The reign of a Manu, a period equal to seventy-one ages of the gods, or 306, 720,000 years of mortals, or with its Sandhi or interval of universal deluge, 308, 448, 000 years; fourteen Manwantaras constitute a Kalpa; the grand period of creation and destruction, or 4, 320,000,000 years; each Manwantara is governed by its distinct Manu, and is provided with its own Indra, and minor deities; according to Hindu cosmogony, there have been innumerable Manwantaras, since the first creation of the world. E. manu Manu, and antara period or interval.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—i. e. manu-antara, 1. The period of a Manu, equal to seventy-one ages of the gods, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 1, 79; [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 19, 7; fourteen Manvantaras constitute a Kalpa.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर).—[neuter] ([masculine]) the age of a Manu (now the seventh & seven others are to follow).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Manvantara (मन्वन्तर):—[=manv-antara] [from manv > man] a n. the period or age of a Manu (it comprises about 71 mahā-yugas [q.v.], which are held equal to 12, 000 years of the gods or 4, 320, 000 human years or 1/14th of a day of Brahmā ; each of these periods is presided over by its own special Manu [see manu, p. 784, col. 2]; six such Manv-antaras have already elapsed, and the 7th, presided over by Manu Vaivasvata, is now going on; 7 more are to come, making 14 Manv-antaras, which together make up one day of Brahmā), [Manu-smṛti] ([especially] i, 79), [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.

2) Manvantarā (मन्वन्तरा):—[=manv-antarā] [from manv-antara > manv > man] f. Name of various festivals (of the 10th day of the light half of the month Āṣāḍha, of the 8th in the dark half of the same month, and of the 3rd in the light half of Bhādra), [Colebrooke]

3) Manvantara (मन्वन्तर):—[=manv-antara] b etc. See p. 786, col. 3.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Manvantara (मन्वन्तर):—[manva-ntara] (raṃ) 1. n. The reign of a Manu, 71 Yugas of the gods.

[Sanskrit to German]

Manvantara in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Manvantara in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Manvaṃtara (ಮನ್ವಂತರ):—

1) [noun] (myth.) the period or era of the reign of any of the fourteen Manus, the forefathers of mankind.

2) [noun] a period during which radical change in the society, nation or revival of art, literature or learning happens or has happened.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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