Uttama 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 Uttama Manvantara is the third of the fourteen manvantaras. It is ruled by Uttama Manu, the son of Uttānapāda and grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu. He became fit for this great position through the patient and righteous way he handled the break with his queen Bahulā. She was carried off to Rasātala (a lower world), and was later brought back through a brāhmaṇa’s yajña (sacred fire offering), after which love between the royal couple was fully restored.

Uttama Manu

Uttama Manu belongs to the third generation of the first family of Manus. He is the son of Uttānapāda and the grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu. This unbroken line from the first Manu gave his rule deep roots in his ancestry. The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa sometimes uses the chapter titles “Auttara” and “Auttama” for this age, one in place of the other. Both refer to the same third manvantara of the accepted tradition.

Bahulā and the Trial of Separation

Uttama’s queen Bahulā was always cold and unfriendly toward him. She held back her affection for no clear reason, even though he treated her rightly. Unable to set things right, Uttama at last sent her away from the kingdom. After she was sent away, Bahulā was carried off by the nāga king Kapotaka (a king of the serpent beings) down to Rasātala, the underground realm of the serpents.

She was brought back by sacred means. A brāhmaṇa performed the Mitravinda-yajña on Uttama’s behalf, and by its power the queen was rescued from Rasātala and returned to the upper world. After this, love between Uttama and Bahulā was fully restored, and their marriage became one of harmony in dharma (right living).

Devas, Indra and Saptarshis

The divine order of the Uttama Manvantara had five groups of devas:

  • Svadāmas
  • Satyas
  • Śivas
  • Pratardanas
  • Vaśavartins

Indra: Suśānti

Saptarshis: led by Tapu

The royal sons of this manvantara included Aja, Paraśuci and Divya.

How He Became Manu

Uttama Manu showed the steadiness in dharma that made him fit to rule the third age. He bore his queen’s coldness with patience. He acted with fair and measured justice, sending her away rather than acting cruelly. And then he brought about her rescue through the sacred power of a yajña.

The Uttama Manvantara in the Kūrma Purāṇa

The Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa (First Part, Chapter 51) gives these details for the third manvantara:

  • Groups of devas: five groups — Sudha, Māna, Satya, Śiva and Pratardana — each a group of twelve (dvādaśaka)
  • Indra: Suśānti
  • Saptarshis: Rajas, Gātra, Ūrdhvabāhu, Savana, Anagha, Sutapā, Śuka
  • Vishṇu’s avatāra: born as Satya among the Satyas in this manvantara (Satye satya-rūpa)

The Uttama Manvantara in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa

The Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa (First Part, Chapter 36) gives this detailed list for the Uttama Manvantara.

The Five Groups of Devas

There are five groups of twelve devas each, sixty in all. They are sons of the Prajāpati of the Aṅgiras family:

  • Sudhāmānas (12): Satya, Dhṛti, Dama, Danta, Kshama, Kshāma, Dhvani, Śuci, Ishu, Ūrja, Śreshṭha, Suparṇa
  • Vaśavartins (12): Sahasradhāra, Viśvāyu, Samitāra, Bṛhattva-vasu, Viśvadha, Viśvakarmā, Mānasa, Virājasa, Jyoti, Vibhāsa, and others of this group
  • Pratardanas (12): Avadhya, Avarati, Vasu, Dhishṇya, Vibhāvasu, Vitta, Kratu, Sudharmā, Dhṛtadharmā, Yaśasvija, Rathormiketu, and others
  • Śivas (12): Sudhānava, Yaśaskara, Sudāna, Vasudona, Sumañjasa, Viśva, Yama, Vahni, Yati, Sucitra, Sutapā, and others
  • Satyas (12): Dīkṛti, Vākpati, Viśa, Śambhu, Svamṛḍīka, Divi, Varodhāma, Bṛhadvapus, Aśva, Sadaśva, Kshema, Ānanda

Indra, Saptarshis and Sons

Indra: Suśānti. This agrees with the Kūrma Purāṇa.

Saptarshis: all seven Saptarshis of the Uttama Manvantara are the seven sons of Vasishṭha, known together as the Vāsishṭhas.

The Manu’s thirteen sons: Aja, Paraśu, Divya, Divyaushadhi, Naya, Devāmbuja, Mahotsāha (the matchless), Gaja, Vinīta, Suketu, Sumati and Śruti. They are called the thirteen mānasika-putras (mind-born sons) of Uttama Manu.

The Uttama Manvantara in the Vāyu Purāṇa

The second half (Uttarārdha) of the Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa gives five groups of devas for the Uttama Manvantara: the Sudhāmas, the Pratardanas, the Śivas, the Satyas and the Vaśavartins, with twelve in each. The Vāyu Purāṇa’s list of individual devas by name largely agrees with the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, with some differences of name in the Sudhāma group.

The thirteen sons of the Manu in the Vāyu Purāṇa are: Aja, Paraśu, Divya, Divyaushadhi, Naya, Apratima (called Devānuja), Mahotsāha, Auśija, Vinīta, Suketa, Sumitra, Subala and Śuci. This agrees with the Brahmāṇḍa’s list of thirteen.

In the Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa

The Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa records that the Indra of the Auttama Manvantara is named Śuciśrī.

  • The five groups of devas: Vaśavartu, Svadhāsāna, Vaśu, Satyakara and Mardana, with twelve devas in each group
  • The Saptarshis: Rajobāhu, Ūrdhvabāhu, Savana, Anamandacaya, Suta and Śakti, among others

The daitya (asura) opponent of this age was Pralamba. Bhagavān Vishṇu came down as the Matsya (fish) avatāra to protect this manvantara from the danger of Pralamba.

Sources

  • Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Chapters 66–70
  • Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha (First Part), Chapter 51
  • Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrva Bhāga (First Part), Chapter 36
  • Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha (Second Part), Chapter 1
  • Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha (First Part), Chapter 178