Sāvarṇi Manvantara

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

The Sāvarṇi Manvantara is the eighth of the fourteen manvantaras. It lies in the future. Its Manu is Sāvarṇi, the son of Sūrya (the sun) by his shadow-wife Chāyā, his second consort. In this manvantara, Bali Cakravartī will rise to become Indra. In the present age Bali gave up the three worlds to Bhagavān Vāmana and was given the realm of Sutala. In the Sāvarṇi age he will receive from Bhagavān Śrī Hari the rule of the same three worlds that was taken from him now. The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa presents this as Bhagavān Śrī Hari’s own promise to Bali.

Manu

The Manu of this age is Sāvarṇi. He is the son of Sūrya-deva and Chāyā. Chāyā was the shadow-form that Sūrya’s wife Saṃjñā created to take her place before she went away to do tapas (spiritual discipline). So Sāvarṇi is the elder half-brother of Vaivasvata Manu, the present seventh Manu, who is Sūrya’s son by Saṃjñā. Sāvarṇi’s sons include Nirmoka, Virajaska and Arvavīra.

Indra

The Indra of this manvantara is Bali Cakravartī, son of Virocana and grandson of Prahlāda. This is Bhagavān Vāmana’s direct promise to Bali at the end of the Vāmana avatāra story: “You will be Indra in the Sāvarṇi Manvantara.” Bali gave up all three worlds to Vāmana without flinching. In the age of his own rule as Indra, he will receive those same three worlds, and more.

Devas

The groups of devas in this manvantara are the Sutapas, the Virajas and the Amṛtaprabhas.

Saptarshis

The seven ṛshis of this manvantara are Gālava, Dīptimān, Paraśurāma, Aśvatthāmā (son of Droṇācārya), Kṛpācārya, Ṛshyaśṛṅga and Bādarāyaṇa Vyāsa. The Bhāgavata notes that these great ṛshis are living even now in their āśramas, kept alive by their yoga-śakti (the power of yoga).

Avatāra

In the Sāvarṇi Manvantara, Bhagavān Śrī Hari will be born to Devaguhya and Sarasvatī as Sārvabhauma. He will take the rule of Svarga from Purandara (the present Indra) and give it to Bali Cakravartī, fulfilling the promise made in the Vāmana avatāra.

In the Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa

The Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa records a future Sāvarṇa Manvantara that agrees with the Bhāgavata in naming Bali as its Indra.

  • The nine sons of Sāvarṇi Manu: Vijaya, Avīravān, Nirdeha, Satyavāk, Kṛti, Carishṇu, Ādhṛshṇu, Vācu and Sumati
  • The Saptarshis: Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, Vyāsa, Gālava, Dīptimān, Ṛshyaśṛṅga and Rāma (Paraśurāma)
  • The three groups of devas: Sutapu, Amṛtābha and Āteya, with twenty devas in each group
  • The daitya (asura) opponent: Sagunānala

Bhagavān Vishṇu will come down riding on Garuḍa and carrying the Sudarśana cakra (discus) to destroy this daitya and establish Bali’s rule over the three worlds.

Sources

  • Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skanda 8, Chapters 13 and 22
  • Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha (First Part), Chapter 183