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In Hinduism, Manu is a title accorded the progenitor of humankind, first king to rule this earth, who saves mankind from the universal flood. He is honest which is why he is called "Satyavrata", or oath of truth. INFO: 'Manu' name is just like name of prophet Noah or prophet Nuh a.s in Abrahamic religion,he is the great man who build the Ark to save man from the great flood.

Mahabharata says: "And Manu was endued with great wisdom and devoted to virtue. And he became the progenitor of a line. And in Manu's race have been born all human beings, who have, therefore, been called Manavas. And it is of Manu that all men including Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and others have been descended, and are, therefore, all called Manavas. Subsequently, O monarch, the Brahmanas became united with the Kshatriyas. And those sons of Manu that were Brahmanas devoted themselves to the study of the Vedas. "The ten sons of Manu are known as Vena, Dhrishnu, Narishyan, Nabhaga, Ikshvaku, Karusha, Saryati, the eighth, a daughter named Ila, Prishadhru the ninth, and Nabhagarishta, the tenth. They all betook themselves to the practices of Kshatriyas. Besides these, Manu had fifty other sons on Earth. But we heard that they all perished, quarrelling with one another."^[1]

Each Manu rules during an eon called a Manvantara. Puranas ascribe to each Manvantara one Indra, one Vishnu avatara, etc.^[2] 14 Manvantaras make up a Kalpa, a period corresponding to a day in the life of Brahma. 14 Manus of the present Śveta Vārāha Kalpa are:

1. Svayambhuva Manu
2. Svarocisa Manu
3. Auttami or Uttama Manu
4. Tamasa Manu
5. Raivata Manu
6. Caksusa Manu
7. S`raddhadeva Manu (son of Vaivasvata) ^[3]
8. Savarni Manu
9. Daksa Savarni Manu
10. Brahma Savarni Manu
11. Dharma Savarni Manu
12. Rudra Savarni Manu
13. Raucya or Deva Savarni Manu
14. Bhauta or Indra Savarni Manu

Currently we are in the 7th Manvantara headed by Sraddhadeva (Vaivasvata) Manu.

The Matsya avatara of Vishnu is said to have appeared to King Manu (whose original name was Satyavrata, the then King of Dravida^[4]), while he washed his hands in a river. The little fish asked the king to save it, and kept growing bigger and bigger. It also informed the King of a huge flood which would occur soon. The King builds a huge boat, which houses his family, 9 types of seeds, and animals to repopulate the earth.

This story is very similar to other deluge stories in ancient Sumerian mythology which preceded the story of Noah's ark.

According to tradition, Manava Grihyasutra, Manava Sulbasutra and Manava Dharmashastra (Manusmriti) texts are ascribed to Manu (Sayambhuva). Manusmriti is considered by some Hindus to be the law laid down for Hindus. At the same time it is a smriti, so whenever there is a conflict between what is mentioned in it and that mentioned in sruti (Vedas and Upanishads) the latter is considered to be correct.

In Theosophy, the Manu is regarded as the progenitor of the Aryan root race, who are said to have originated in Atlantis.

In the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Claude Frollo is seen to be studying Manu's works in his study of alchemy.

1. ^ Mahabharata Book 1:Adi Parva:Sambhava Parva:Section LXXV
2. ^ http://texts.00.gs/14_Manu-antara-s.htm
3. ^ Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam) 8.13.1
4. ^ Bhagavata Purana 8.24.12

• Metrics of time in Hinduism
• Manu Smriti
• Mannus Germanic sons of Manno

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