Future Manvantaras in the Vāyu Purāṇa

A manvantara is one of the fourteen long ages that make up a kalpa (a day of Brahmā). Each is ruled by its own Manu (the first father and ruler of humankind for that age), with its own devas, Indra (king of the devas) and Saptarshis (seven great ṛshis).

The second half (Uttarārdha) of the Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapter 6, describes the seven future manvantaras of the present kalpa, from the eighth (Sāvarṇika) to the fourteenth (Bhautya, also called Indra-Sāvarṇa). For each it gives the Manu, the devas, the Indra, the Saptarshis and important events. Among its notable teachings are that Bali will be Indra in the Sāvarṇika Manvantara, that Paraśurāma will become one of the Saptarshis, and that the several Sāvarṇi Manus come from Suvratā, a daughter of Daksha.

The Fourteen Manvantaras at a Glance

Of the fourteen manvantaras in the present Vārāha Kalpa:

  • Six are past: Svāyambhuva, Svārocisha, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākshusha
  • The present one (seventh): Vaivasvata
  • Seven are still to come: Sāvarṇika (8th) to Bhautya (14th)

The Eighth Manvantara: Sāvarṇika (Sāvarṇa)

Manu: Sāvarṇi, born of Vivasvān (the sun) and his wife Chāyā

Devas: three groups (gaṇas):

  • Sutapas (12 in number)
  • Amitābhas (12 in number)
  • Sukhas (a similar number)

Indra: Bali, son of Virocana and grandson of Prahlāda. This great Daitya king, who gave everything to Vāmana, will become Indra in this manvantara. It fulfils the boon Vishṇu gave Bali at the time of the Trivikrama story (when Vāmana grew to cover the worlds in three strides).

Saptarshis:

  1. Gālava
  2. Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma, the avatāra of Vishṇu who will carry on as a ṛshi)
  3. Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) of the Vasishṭha line
  4. Kṛpācārya
  5. Dṛshṭimanta of the Atri line (Ātreya)
  6. Ṛshyaśṛṅga of the Kaśyapa line
  7. Aśvatthāmā

Paraśurāma and Aśvatthāmā are both counted among the cirañjīvīs, those who live on through the ages. That both appear among the future Saptarshis reflects the teaching of the Purāṇas that those who have received long life through a divine boon will serve as ṛshis in future cycles of the universe.

The Ninth to Fourteenth Manvantaras

The Vāyu Purāṇa describes the other six future manvantaras briefly, naming their Manus, devas and main figures:

9th manvantara: Daksha-Sāvarṇi

  • Manu: Daksha-Sāvarṇi
  • Devas: Pāra, Marīcigarbha and related groups

10th manvantara: Brahma-Sāvarṇi

  • Manu: Brahma-Sāvarṇi
  • Devas: Sudhāmā and related groups
  • Indra: Śānti (or a being of that name)

11th manvantara: Dharma-Sāvarṇi

  • Manu: Dharma-Sāvarṇi
  • Main feature: dharma is set up again after great social disorder

12th manvantara: Rudra-Sāvarṇi

  • Manu: Rudra-Sāvarṇi

13th manvantara: Raucya (or Deva-Sāvarṇi)

  • Manu: Raucya

14th manvantara: Bhautya (or Indra-Sāvarṇi)

  • Manu: Bhautya, the last manvantara of the present kalpa

Where the Sāvarṇi Manus Come From

The Vāyu Purāṇa explains why five of the seven future Manus carry the name Sāvarṇi, meaning “of the same varṇa (kind or nature)”. They are all born of Suvratā, a daughter of Daksha. So the five Sāvarṇi Manus are cousins, all coming down through Daksha’s family. Their names begin differently — Sāvarṇika, Daksha-Sāvarṇi, Brahma-Sāvarṇi, Dharma-Sāvarṇi, Rudra-Sāvarṇi — to show the particular devatā or quality that rules over each one’s manvantara.

Bali as the Future Indra

The Vāyu Purāṇa’s teaching that Bali will be the Indra of the eighth manvantara is an important one. When Vishṇu, in his Vāmana form, pushed Bali down to Sutala (one of the lower worlds) with his third step, he gave Bali a boon: “You will be Indra in the future manvantara.” Becoming Indra is the highest rise possible for a Daitya in the order of the universe. It is the fruit of Bali’s great generosity and his complete surrender.

Paraśurāma as a Future Saptarshi

It is very meaningful that Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma) is named among the future Saptarshis of the eighth manvantara. Paraśurāma is one of the cirañjīvīs, beings given long life who continue from one manvantara to the next. In the eighth manvantara he will serve as one of the Saptarshis who guide creation. This role is the final fulfilment of his mission as an avatāra of Vishṇu.

Sources

  • Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha (Second Part), Chapter 6