Dakṣa Sāvarṇi Manvantara

The Dakṣa Sāvarṇi Manvantara is the ninth among the fourteen great cosmic ages described by the sage Mārkaṇḍeya. After completing his account of the Sūrya Sāvarṇika Manvantara — which included the glories of the Devī Māhātmya, the destruction of Mahiṣāsura, the emergence of the Mātṛgaṇa-s and Cāmuṇḍā, the māhātmya of Śivadūtī, and the slaying of Śumbha, Niśumbha, and Raktabīja — the sage moved on to describe the manvantara yet to come. This ninth manvantara is presided over by the Manu known as Sāvarṇi, a son of Dakṣa, and it brings with it a new set of deva-s, a new Indra, new saptarṣi-s, and new kings born from the Manu’s lineage.

The Manu and His Era

Mārkaṇḍeya addressed the assembled muni-s and began his narration of the ninth manvantara. This Manu had not yet appeared at the time of narration but was described as one who was destined to come in the future cycle of creation.

The Deva-s of the Dakṣa Sāvarṇi Manvantara

In the Dakṣa Sāvarṇi Manvantara, the deva-s are arranged into three great gaṇa-s. The first gaṇa is called the Pārā-s, the second is the Mārīcibharga-s, and the third is the Sudharmā-s. Each of these three groups consists of twelve deva-s, making them equally powerful divisions of the celestial order for that age.

The Indra of the Age

The throne of Indra in this manvantara belongs to a mighty being named Sahasrākṣa, who possesses extraordinary power. Mārkaṇḍeya further revealed a remarkable detail about the identity of this future Indra. He explained that the one who is presently known as Kārtikeya — the six-faced son of Agni — would, in the coming manvantara, rise to become the Indra known by the name Adbhuta. This Adbhuta would be exceedingly powerful, having already proven his strength in a previous age as Kārtikeya.

The Saptarṣi-s

Every manvantara has its own set of seven great sages who guide dharma and spiritual wisdom through that cosmic period. In the Dakṣa Sāvarṇi Manvantara, the saptarṣi-s are Medhātithi, Vasu, Satya, Jyotiṣmān, Dyutimān, Sabala, and Havyavāhana. These seven ṛṣi-s serve as the custodians of sacred knowledge and tapas for the entire duration of this manvantara.

The Sons and Kings

The Manu Dakṣa Sāvarṇi would father several sons, and from among them would arise the rājā-s who would govern the earth during his era. Mārkaṇḍeya named these sons as Dhṛṣṭaketu, Barhaketu, Hasta, Nirāmaya, Pṛthuśravas, Arciṣmān, Bhūridyumṇa, and Bṛhadbhaya, along with others. These princes would carry forward the rule of dharma as kings of that age, each entrusted with the protection and welfare of the people under their care.

Source: Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Chapter 91