There are 14 Manvantar's in each Kalpa. Each Manvantar (a period of 31,104,000 years) is started by a Manu. Our history records 6 earlier Manu's as: Swayambhu Manu, Swarochi Manu, Uttam Manu, Tamas Manu, Raiwat Manu, and Chakshush Manu. The current Manvantar is the seventh Manvantar. This Manvantar was started by Vaivasvat Manu King Barhi and King Daksha Barhi is the earliest king, known to the land of Bharat. His 10th decendant Daksha, had many daughters. 13 of them were married to Sage Kashyap (who was Brahma's ManasPutra). Another 10 were married to Dharma. Another 27 (constillations personified) were married to Som (Moon).
These 33 'koti' means 33 images of dev. 'Koti' is generally, incorrectly translated as crores. Vaivasvat Manu survives the floods Manu the son of Vivasvan, was the 15th decendant of Barhi. Manu's decendants are called Manav. During his rule a terrible flood broke out. It is believed that a shark (First incarnation of Vishnu) helped Manu survive the floods.
The decendants of the Daksha sisters Pradha, Kapila, Vishwa and Muni were called Gandharva and Apsaras. They joined hands with the Aditya group.
The Daksha siters Kadru and Vinita competed with each other. Kadru's decendants were called 'Naga', Takshak being the most powerful one. Jealous, Vinita could not wait to have a baby and gave birth to Arun, pre-mature baby. When he grew up and realised what his mother had done, he cursed her saying "You did this to prove yourself better than your sister Kadru. But you will beocme her slave." Vinita repented for her deed and asked her son to forgive her. He told her that her second son will save her. Arun left his home, to become the charioteer of Sun. One day Kadru and Vinita went for a walk. There they saw a white horse speed by. Kadru declared that the horse had a black tail, Vinita was sure it was white. They decided that the one to loose the bet, will become the slave of the other. Kadru ordered her sons, to paint the horses tail black. At first they denied, but when Kadru threatened to curse them, they agreed. On seeing the black tail, dejected, Vinita became a Kadru's slave. Vinita's younger son Garuda, won the heavenly Amrut, and freed his mother from slavery. Mighty Garuda then became the charioteer of Vishnu.
Daksha daughter, Danu's sons were called Danav. Her sister, Diti had many sons. Her sons were called Daitya. They were all brave and courageous. Among her decendants were the brothers Hiranyakashyapu & Hiranyaksha. (Who were killed by Narsinha, 4th incarnation of Vishnu.) Pralhad, Hiranyakashyapu's son was a great devotee of Vishnu. King Bali was a decendant of Pralhad. This powerful king became a threat to the Aditya dynasty. Vaman (5th incarnation of Vishnu) another decendant of Vishnu exiled Bali to the land of Pataal.
The groups of Daitya, Gandharva & Apsaras, Dev and Naga came together for Samudra-manthan. The mountain Mahendra was used to churn the sea. It was placed on the back of a tortoise (Kurma, second incarnation of Vishnu). The Naga Vasuki was used a rope. Dev were tagging one side of Vasuki while Daitya were pulling the other side. Many precious jewels came out of the Sea, heavenly nector Amrut, the tree Parijaat, the goddess of wealth Laxmi, (She married Vishnu), the poison Halaahal (Lord Shiva consumed it and saved the world from disaster.) When time came to distribute the heavenly nector Amrut, an unending fight started between the Dev and Daitya. |
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