Manu (Hinduism)

Manu (Hinduism)

In various Hindu traditions, Manu, is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind, and also the very first king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the great flood, after being warned of it, by the Matsya avatar of Vishnu, who also advised him to build a giant boat. The literal meaning of Manu is "the one is born from the soul". The story finds mention in early Hindu scriptures like the Satapatha Brahmana and is nearly parallel to Quranic and Biblical Noah's Ark. He was absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as "Satyavrata" (One with the oath of truth). His wife is Satarupa (Shatrupa).

Mahabharata says: "And Manu was imbued 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, quarreling with one another."