
Saptarishis
The
Saptarishis (seven sages) are the seven mind born sons of Brahma. They
live for a period of time known as a manvantar (306,720,000 Earth Years).
During this period of time they serve as representatives of Brahma.
At
the end of a Manvantar the universe gets destroyed and Saptarishis
merge in God the task of filling the earth is given to new appointed
Saptarishis.
Saptarishis
occupy a position higher than that of all other devtas. In addition
to the Saptarishis, there are other classifications of Rishis. The
major classifications are Brahmarishi, Maharishi and Rajarishi
Brahmarishi :
All the Saptarishis are Brahmarishis. The Brahmarishis are the highest
class of Rishis who have understood the meaning of Brahman. Usually,
one cannot rise to the level of a Brahmarishi through merit alone.
Since the order was created divinely and is appointed by Lord Brahma.
However, Vishwamitra rose to the position of a Brahmarishi through
his own merit alone. He performed meditation and austerities (tapasya)
for tens of thousands of years and as a result he was awarded the
rank of Brahmarishi by Brahma himself. Saptarishis are greater than
even the devtas in power and piety.
Brahmarishis
are capable to defeating all human and magical weapons. They are not
influenced by the material world and the cycle of life and death or
karma. They are considered as those who have understood the meaning
of life and all the mysteries of creation.
Maharishi :
Maharishi means 'great sage' in Sanskrit and refers to one who has
great expanded and refined senses. Their third eye is completely open
and their intuition is used to its fullest capacity. Their attention
and focus encompasses the entire universe and yet they can still maintain
incredibly precise detail in actions and thoughts.
Rajarishi :
Rajarishi means 'royal sage' in Sanskrit. It refers to one who is
a king or a prince as well as a sage. A Rajarishi may have left the
kingship and became a Rishi such as Vishwamitra.
Manvantar
/ Manuvantar :
There
are two version of Manuvantar the original which is the Sumerian Aryan
Version and the Puranic Version. To understand the Sumeriam Aryan Version
first we have to study the Sumerian Civilization and after that the
Sumerian Aryan Version of Manuvantar.
To
know about Sumerian Civilization Click
here.
To
know about Sumerian Version of Manuvantar Click
here.
Manvantar
/ Manuvantar as per Puran :
Manvantar
/ Manuvantar or age of a Manu the Hindu progenitor of mankind is an
astronomical period of time measurement. Manvantar is a Sanskrut sandhi
a combination of words manu and antara, manu-antara or Manvantar literally
meaning the duration of a Manu or his life span.
Each
Manvantar is created and ruled by a specific Manu who in turn is created
by Brahma the creator himself. Manu creates the world and its entire
species during that period of time each Manvantar 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 avtar and
also a new Indra and Saptarishis are appointed.
Eventually
it takes 14 Manus and their respective Manvantars to create a Kalp
or a 'Day of Brahma', according to the Hindu Time Cycles and also the
Vedic timeline.
Thereafter,
at the end of each Kalp there is a period of dissolution or Pralay wherein
the world is destroyed and it lies in a state of rest during a period
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 Shiv,
Hindu God of destruction and also renewal is invoked towards the end
of each such cycle.
Duration
of a life cycle :

Brahma
is said to have been created from the navel (which is a single point)
of Vishnu, described as a lotus blooming out of the navel. The life
span of Brahma is of 100 years (day time). During the day Brahma starts
the creation process and at night Brahma goes to sleep (only Brahma
goes to sleep not Shiv and Vishnu) and during the night all life he
created is absorbed back into him. The creation and destruction is an
ongoing process (repeated forever).
Brahma
creates the universe, the universe maintained by Vishnu (The God of
Preservation) and destroyed by Shiv (The God of Destruction). These
three constitute the holy Trinity (Trimurti) of the Hindu religion.
Once the universe has been destroyed by Shiv, Brahma starts the creation
once again. This creation-destruction cycle repeats itself almost endlessly.
The
entire time period of the universe is known as Kalp. "Kalp"
equals to one day (day + night) of Brahma. Day means the existence period
of the universe and night means the destruction period of the universe.
The time period of day and night is same.
In
the Hindu tradition Ved's were formed in the beginning of the universe.
The counting of the time period of the begining of the universe is as
following.
One
day of Brahma (only day) is divided into 14 parts and each part is known
as Manvantar.
Manvantar
1 |
Manvantar
2 |
Manvantar
3 |
Manvantar
4 |
Manvantar
5 |
Manvantar
6 |
Manvantar
7 |
Manvantar
8 |
Manvantar
9 |
Manvantar
10 |
Manvantar
11 |
Manvantar
12 |
Manvantar
13 |
Manvantar
14 |
|
Each
Manvantar has 71 Chaturyug. Chaturyug is combination of 4 yugs (satyug,
tretayug, dwaparyug and kalyug).
One
chaturyug calculation :
Yug |
Purv
Sandhya |
Yug
Kal |
Uttar
Sandhya |
Total
Kal |
One
Chatur Yug Time |
Satyug |
400 |
4,000 |
400 |
4,800 |
4,800 |
Tretayug |
300 |
3,000 |
300 |
3,600 |
3,600 |
Dwaparyug |
200 |
2,000 |
200 |
2,400 |
2,400 |
Kalyug |
100 |
1,000 |
100 |
1,200 |
1,200 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
12,000
Years |
The
life span of Brahma is of 100 years. Brahma's one day is called a kalp,
the creation of Brahma is called vikalp and the creation of the total
creation is called mahakalp.
In
the Skand Puran, Brahma's thirty days are mentioned as :
1.
Svet Varah Kalp |
11.
Dhyan Kalp |
21.
Som Kalp |
2.
Nilalohit Kalp |
12.
Sarasvat Kalp |
22.
Bhavan Kalp |
3.
Vamadev Kalp |
13.
Udan Kalp |
23.
Supum Kalp |
4.
Gathantar Kalp |
14.
Garud Kalp |
24.
Vaikunth Kalp |
5.
Raurav Kalp |
15.
Kaurm Kalp |
25.
Arcis Kalp |
6.
Pran Kalp |
16.
Narasimha Kalp |
26.
Vali Kalp |
7.
Brhat Kalp |
17.
Samadhi Kalp |
27.
Vairaj Kalp |
8.
Kandarp Kalp |
18.
Agneya Kalp |
28.
Gauri Kalp |
9.
Sadyat Kalp |
19.
Visnuja Kalp |
29.
Maheshvar Kalp |
10.
Isan Kalp |
20.
Saur Kalp |
30.
Paitr Kalp |
Each
day of Brahma is a duration of one thousand divya Yugs. A divya yug
cosists of one thousand of the four Yugs. The same duration comprises
his night.
Brahmas
life span calculation :
Brahmas
Year |
Human
Years |
30
days of Brahma (1 month) |
259,200,000,000
human years |
12
months of Brahma (1 year) |
3,110,400,000,000
human years |
25
years of Brahma (1 kalp) |
77,760,000,000,000
human years |
2
kalpas (1 parardha ) |
155,520,000,000,000
human years |
2
parardhas (100 years of Brahma) |
311,040,000,000,000
human years |
The
above calculation as per Vishnu Puran :
360
days of the gods |
1
year of the gods |
12,000
years of the gods |
4
Yugs |
1,000
sets of 4 Yugs |
A
day of Brahma |
50
years of Brahma |
1 Pararddham |
100
years of Brahma |
1 Param |
According
to Hindu time calculation year is used according to human years and
divya years.
Human
years calculation :
Day
and Night |
1
Day |
30
Days |
1
Month |
12
Months |
1
Year |
Divya
(devta) years and Human years calculation :
Divya
Years |
Human
Years |
Uttarayan
+ Dakshiyan = 1 Day |
1
Year of Humans = 1 Divya Day |
30
Days = 1 Month |
30
Human Years = 1 Divya Month |
12
Months = 1 Year |
360
Human Years = 1 Divya Year |
According
to Bhagwat Puran at present it is Seventh Manvantar. In this 7th Manvantra
it is 28th Chaturyugi going on and in this 28th Chaturyugi Satyug, Tretayug
and Dwaparyug are overcand at present 4th that is Kalyug is going on.
At
present it is first stage of Kalyug. The war of Mahabharat happened
in the end of Dwaparyug and Lord Krishna left earth for heaven during
the end of Dwaparyug. Around 5000 Years have passed since this incident
and it is said that after that the Kalyug started. 5108 years have passed
since the beguining of Kalyug.
6
Manvantar |
1,84,03,20,000
Human Years |
27
Chaturyugi |
11,66,40,000
Human Years |
1
Satyug |
17,28,000
Human Years |
1
Tretayug |
12,96,000
Human Years |
1
Dwaparyug |
8,64,000
Human Years |
1
Kalyug |
4,32,000
Human Years |
Total
Years |
1,96,08,48,000 |
Each
Manvantar is ruled over by a Manu. In the present Kalp, six Manvantars
have already passed and the names of the six Manus who ruled were Svayambhuva,
Svarochisha, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata and Chakshusha. The name of the
seventh Manu, who rules over the seventh Manvantar of the present Kalp,
is Vaivasvat.
The titles of the seven great sages (Saptarishis) as well as the title
of Indra change from Manvantar to Manvantar. The gods also change.
In
the present vaivasvat Manvantar, the seven great sages are Atri, Vashishth,
Kashyap, Gautam, Bharadvaj, Vishvamitra and Jamadagni.
The
gods now are the sadhyas, the rudras, the vishvadevas, the vasus, the
maruts, the adityas and the two ashvinis.
Mannvantar
and their Saptarshis :
First
Manvantar |
The
interval of Swayambhu Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Mareechi,
Atri, Angiras, Pulah, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vashishth. |
|
|
Second
Manvantar |
The
interval of Swarochisha Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Urja,
Stambha, Prana, Dattoli, Rishabh, Nischara and Arvarívat. |
|
|
Third
Manvantar |
The
interval of Auttami Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Kaukundihi,
Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha,
Praváhita, Mita, and Sammita. (Sons of Vashishth). |
|
|
Fourth
Manvantar |
The
interval of Támasa Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Jyotirdhama,
Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara. |
|
|
Fifth
Manvantar |
The
interval of Raivata Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Hirannyaroma,
Ved'sr, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhaman,
Parjanya, and Mahámuni. |
|
|
Sixth
Manvantar |
The
interval of Chakshusha Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Sumedhas,
Virajas, Havishmat, Uttam, Madhu, Abhináman and Sahishnnu.
|
|
|
The
present - seventh Manvantar |
The
interval of Vaivasvat Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Kashyap,
Atri, Vashishth, Vishvamitra, Gautam, Jamadagni and Bharadvaj. |
|
|
Eighth
Manvantar |
Savarni
Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Díptimat,
Gálava, Ráma, Kripacharya, Drauni, Ved Vyás,
and Rishyasringa. (Vishnu Puran: Book III: Chapter II). |
|
|
Ninth
Manvantar |
Daksa
Savarni Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Savana,
Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishmán and Satya. |
|
|
Tenth
Manvantar |
Brahma
Savarni Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Havishmán,
Sukriti, Satya, Apámmúrtti, Nábhága,
Apratimaujas and Satyaket. |
|
|
Eleventh
Manvantar |
Dharma
Savarni Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Nischara,
Agnitejas, Vapushmán, Vishnu, Áruni, Havishmán,
and Anagha. |
|
|
Twelfth
Manvantar |
Rudra
Savarni Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Tapaswí,
Sutapas, Tapomúrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and
Tapodhan. |
|
|
Thirteenth
Manvantar |
Raucya
or Deva Savarni Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Nirmoha,
Tatwadersín, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya
and Sutapas. |
|
|
Fourteenth Manvantar |
Bhauta
or Indra Savarni Manu |
Saptarshis
: |
Agnibáhu,
Suchi, Sukra, Magadhá, Gridhra, Yukta, and Ajita. |
The
exact lists of Saptarishis are not perfectly known as it is supposed
that the astral links to the hierarchy were lost in medieval India due
to the effects of Muslim invasion on India.
Fourteenth
Manvantar according to Bhagwad Puran are :
1.
|
Swayambhu
Manvantra : |
|
|
|
King
Parikshit said to Shukdev, "Gurudev, I just heard that
tale of self-begotten Manu's lineage. Now kindly describe to
me about the others Manus. Also describe the plays of God's
different incarnations which occurred during different Manvantars."
Shukdev said, "Parikshit, during Tamas Manvantar, Lord
Narayana was born as Hari incarnation from Harini, the wife
of a sage. In that incarnation He saved an elephant from the
jaws of a crocodile. During the present Kalpa (period comprising
the sum of all the four Yugs), six Manvantars have passed.
I have described the first one. Now, listen to the description
of the other Manvantars." |
|
|
2.
|
Swarochish
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Swarochi
Manu was the son of Agni. He had sons named Dyumana, Sushena
and Rochismana. During that Manvantar, Indra's post was occuppied
by Rochan. Scholars of Ved's like Vrajstambh etc. were among
the Saptarishi (seven great sages). Lord had taken incarnation
as Vibhu, the son of a sage Vedshira and his wife Tushita. Vibhu
remained a loyal celibate lifelong. Following His conduct, eighty-eight
thousand more sages observed celibacy life long. |
|
|
3. |
Uttam
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Third
Manu Uttam was the son of the king Priyvrata. He had sons named
Pawan, Sanjay, Yagyhotra, etc. In that Manvantar, seven sons
of the sage Vashisht were Saptarishi (the seven great sages).
Indra's name was Satyajit. Satya, Vedshrut and Bhadra were the
main Ganas (courtiers) of the God. God had appeared in the incarnation
of Satyasen, the son of Dharma and Sunrita. He was accompanied
by Devganas named Satyvrata. Lord had destroyed during that
period the evil Yakshas, demon and poltergeists. |
|
|
4.
|
Tamas
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Tamas,
the fourth Manu was the real brother of Uttam, the third Manu.
He had ten sons. Trishikh was Indra then, with Satyak, Hari,
Veer etc. as his main courtiers. Sage like Jyotirdham etc. were
the Saptarishi. During that Manvantar Lord had saved Gajendra
from the jaws of the crocodile. |
|
|
5.
|
Raiwat
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Raiwas
was the fifth Manu. He was also the real brother of Tamas, the
third Manu. He had many sons. Vibhu was the name of Indra. Sages
like Hiranyroma, Vedshira, Urdhubahm were among Saptarishi.
God had appeared in the incarnation of Vaikunth the son of the
sage Shubh and his wife Vikuntha. At the request of Goddess
Laxmi, Lord Vaikunth created Vaikunth dham, the best among all
other lokas (worlds). |
|
|
6.
|
Chakshush
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Chakshush
was the sixth Manu. He had sons named Puru, Purush, Sadyumn
etc. Mantrradruma was Indra then, with Apya etc. as main courtiers.
Sages like Havishmana and Veeraka etc. were among the Saptarishi.
During that Manuantara, Lord had appeared in partial incarnation
as Ajit, the son of Vanraj and his wife Sambhunti. It was he
who caused the churning of the sea and made the God's drink
nectar and supported Mandarachal Mountain on his back in Kachchhap
(tortoise) from during the churning. |
|
|
7.
|
Vaivasvat
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Shri
Shukdev says, "Parikshit in the present era, the seventh
Manu, Shardhdev is the son of Surya. He has ten sons- Ikshvaku,
Nabhag, Drisht, Sharyati, Narishyant, Nabhag, Disht, Karush,
Prishadhra and Vasuman. Purandar is the name of Indra. He has
Adity, Vasu, Rudra, Vishvadev, Marudgan, Ashwini, Kumar and
Rishi as his main courtiers. Kashyap, Atri, Vashishth, Vishvamitra,
Gautam, Jamadagni and Bhardwaj are the Saptarishi. During this
Manvantar, God has arrived in Vamana incarnation as the son
of Kashyap and his wife Aditi. |
|
|
8.
|
Savarni
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Savarni,
the son of Surya and Chhaya would be the eighth Manu. The king
Surath, who had occurred in Swarachish Manvantar, had worshiped
Goddess Bhagwadi intensely, and thus received a boon of having
an unbroken empire on earth. In later course he will be the
son of Surya and become the eighth Manu also. He would have
sons like Nirmak, Virajask etc. Vairochana Bali would be Indra,
Amritprabha etc. as his main courtiers. Galav, Diptiman, Parashuram,
Ashwatthama, Kripachary, Rishyshring and Vyas- these great sages
would be the Saptarishi during the eight Manvantar. God would
take incarnation as Sarvbhaum, the sons of Devguhya and his
wife Saraswati. God as Sarvbhaum would snatch the kingdom of
Swarg (heaven) from Purandar Indra and give it to the king Bali.
|
|
|
9.
|
Ninth
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Shri
Shukdev says, Varuna's son Dakshasavarni would be the ninth
Manu. He would have sons like Bhutaketu, Diptketu, Dyutiman
etc. God would take birth as the incarnation of Rishabh, the
son of sage Ayushmana and his wife Ambudhara. A person named
Adbhut would be Indra and he would have Para, Marichigarbh etc.
as his main courtiers. |
|
|
10.
|
Tenth
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Upshloksa's
son Brahma Savarni would be the tenth Manu. He would be very
pious in nature and have sons like Bhurishen etc. Havishman,
Sukriti, Satya, Jay, Murti etc. would be Saptarishi. Shambhu
would be Indra, with Suvasana, Viruddh etc. as his main courtiers.
God would appear in the incarnation of Vishwasen as the son
of Vishwasrij and his wife Vishuchi. He would be a friend of
Indra. |
|
|
11.
|
Eleventh
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
The
self-restraining Dharmasavarni would be the eleventh Manu. He
would have ten sons. Vaidhrita would be Indra with Vihangam,
Kamagam, etc. as main courtiers. Vedic sages like Arun etc.
would be the Saptarishi. God would appear as Dharmasetu, the
sons of Aryak and Vaidhrit. In this incarnation he would protect
Triloki (all the three worlds). |
|
|
12.
|
Twelveth
Manvantra : |
|
|
|
Rudrasavarni
would be the twelfth Manu. He would have sons named Devavana,
Updev and Devshreshth etc. Ritdhama would be Indra with Hari
etc. as his main courtiers. As the son of Satyasahay and his
wife Sunrita, the God would protect this Manvantar in the form
of Swadham. |
|
|
13.
|
Thirteenth
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Devsavarni
would be the thirteenth Manvantar. He would have sons named
Chitrasen, Vichitra etc. Divaspati would be Indra of the gods
like Sukarm, Sutram etc. Sages like Nirmoka, Tatvadarsh etc.
would be the Saptarishi. God would appear as Yogeshwar, the
sons of Devhotra and his wife Brihati. He would bestow the designation
of Indra to Divaspati. |
|
|
14.
|
Fourteenth
Manvantar : |
|
|
|
Indrasavarmi
would be the fourteenth Manu. He would have sons like Uru, Gambhir
Buddhi etc. Shuchi would be Indra and have Pavitra Chakshush,
Etc. as his main courtiers. Agni, Bahu, Shuchi, Magadh etc.
would be the Saptarishi. God would appear in the incarnation
of Brihadbhahu as the son of Satrayan and his wife Vinata and
cause the extension of Karmakand (actions)." |
These
fourteen Manvantars had continued in past, are continuing in the present
and they would continue in the future also. It is by them, that a Kalp
(a period of thousand Chaturyug) is completed. Calculation of time is
also done through these Manvantars.
Period
of a Manvantra is slightly more than seventy one Chaturyug (all the
four Yugs passing seventy-one times). A Chaturyug (period of all the
four Yugs taken together) lasts for about 3 million years, while a
Kalp lasts for about four thousand three hundred and twenty million
years. This is equal to a day of Brahma. Brahma's night is Mahapralay
(the great deluge). When that night is over, Brahma again begins the
work of new creation exactly as per the previous Kalpa. Carrying out
this responsibility continuously for a century, Brahma goes back to
Bhagwad dham (the abode of Lord Vishnu).
His
responsibilities are taken over by the next Brahma, who carries out
the work of creation, by the inspiration of Lord Narayan.

Mahapralay
(end of 14th Manuvantar)
|