Manu

   Manu is the name of the first man in each of the designated ages or MANVANTARAS in Indian tradi-tion, a progenitor somewhat akin to the West-ern biblical Adam. There have been an infinite number of ages in the past, as there will be in the future. Therefore the Manus are infinite in number.

   According to TIME calculations in Hindu tra-ditions, there are 14 MANVANTARAS in each eon or KALPA, which constitutes a day in the life of BRAHMA or 4,320,000,000 years. The first Manu of our kalpa was Svayambhuva Manu, who Indian tradition says composed the LAW S OF MANU, the famous text on social law. In all there have already been seven Manus in the current kalpa, each one leading off his designated age, includ-ing the Manu who began the age we live in today, who is known as Vaivasvata. There will be seven more Manus in the remaining ages until our kalpa is ended.

   Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van Buitenen. Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1978); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic, 2d ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973)