Introduction
According to Hindu Mythology, Vishnuyasha, a re-incarnation of Svayambhuva Manu, and Sumati Devi, a re-incarnation of Shatarupa are the great parents of Kalki Avatar, the tenth and final main incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the present Kalpa in the world.
Who is Manu?
Manu (Sanskrit: मनु) is a term found with various meanings in Hinduism. In early texts, it refers to the archetypal man, or to the first man (progenitor of humanity). Manu is a generic and honorific title indicating the “Father of the Human Race.” The Sanskrit term for ‘human’, manuṣya or mānava means ‘of Manu’ or ‘children of Manu’. In later texts, Manu is the title or name of fourteen rulers of earth, or alternatively as the head of dynasties that begin with each cyclic kalpa (aeon) when the universe is born anew. The title of the text Manusmriti uses this term as a prefix, but refers to the first Manu – Svayambhuva, the spiritual son of Brahma.
In the Hindu cosmology, each kalpa consists of fourteen Manvantaras, and each Manvantara is headed by a different Manu. Manu is the sole monarch of the Earth for a given period called manvantara. The current universe, is asserted to be ruled by the 7th Manu named Vaivasvata. Vaivasvata was the king of Damela before the great flood. He was warned of the flood by the Matsya (fish) avatar of Vishnu, and built a boat that carried the Vedas, Manu’s family and the seven sages to safety, helped by Matsya. The tale is repeated with variations in other texts, including the Mahabharata and a few other Puranas.
Who is Svayambhuva Manu?
Svayambhuva Manu (Sanskrit: स्वयम्भुव मनु, romanized: Svāyaṃbhuva Manu) is the first of the fourteen Manus, the first man of a Yuga in Hindu cosmogony. He is the manasaputra (mind-born son) of Brahma and husband of Shatarupa (Sanskrit: शतरूपा, romanized: Śatarūpā, lit. ’she of a hundred forms’), the first woman. It is believed that Svāyambhuva Manu and Śatarūpā are the first human beings.
We all are the children of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa, so we are called manushya, the Sanskrit term for mankind and the English word ‘Man’ that derives origin from the Germanic Mannus which stems from the same root as Manu. They are like Adam, Eve and even Noah of The Bible.
Interestingly, the same incident is noted in The Bible as ‘Man was created in the Image of His Maker!’
So, God and the first man relationship is like this:
Father and Son – God and Adam – Brahma and Svayambhuva Manu
दुनिया का पहला मानव कौन था ? मनु या एडम ? Who is the first Human on the Earth?
Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa – According to the Legend
The creation of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa from the body of Brahma are mentioned in the Puranas:
O sage, I [Brahma] split myself into two having assumed two forms. One half had the form of a woman and the other half that of a man. He then created in her a couple, the means of excellent nature. The man was Svayambhuva Manu, the greatest of the means (of creation). The woman was Satarupa, a Yogini, an ascetic woman.
— Shiva Purana, Section 2.1, Chapter 16, verses 10-12
According to the Bhagavata Purana,
While he was thus absorbed in contemplation and was observing the supernatural power, two other forms were generated from his body. They are still celebrated as the body of Brahma. Out of them, the one who had the male form became known as the Manu named Svayambhuva, and the woman became known as Satarupa, the queen of the great soul Manu.
— Bhagavata Purana, 3.12.52
According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana
The four faced Brahma, on being born, produced from His mind Svayambhuva Manu and his wife Shatarupa, the embodiment of all virtues. For this very reason, Svayambuva Manu has been known as the mind-born son of Brahma.
— Devi Bhagavata Purana, 10.01.7.14
According to the Brahma Purana, “To continue with Creation, Brahma gave form to a Man and a Woman. The man was Swayambhu Manu and the Woman was named Shatrupa. Humans are descended from Manu, that is the reason they are known as Manavs.”
After the first rounds of Creation by Brahma, i.e. the phase after creating the Devas, Asurs, Pitras and all else, Lord Brahma was completely exhausted. He decided to take a break. He wondered about the direction of his work so far and what would follow next, and just as he was reflecting on all that had been done till then, suddenly, from his body, there emerged a creature who looked a lot like him. This was the world’s First Man, Swayambhu Manu (Born on his Own). He was born with the Kaya or form of his father, Brahma.
Manu, Shatarupa Ka Janma
Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa – Their Family Tree
Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa had two sons named Priyavrata and Uttanapada, and three daughters named Akuti, Devahuti, and Prasuti. Manu married his first daughter Akuti to Rishi Ruci, his middle daughter Devahuti to Prajapati Kardama and his youngest daughter Prasuti to Prajapati Daksha.
Devahuti gave birth to nine daughters, and a single son named Kapila. Prasuti gave birth to several daughters including Khyati, Anasuya amongst many, and Akuti gave birth to one son named Yajna and one daughter. Both Kapila and Yajna, who were sons of Devahuti and Akuti respectively, were incarnations of Vishnu.
Svayambhuva Manu, along with his wife, Satarupa, went into the forest to practice austerities on the bank of the River Sunanda. At some point of time, Rakshasas attacked them, but Yajna, accompanied by his sons, the demigods, swiftly killed them. Then Yajna personally took the post of Indra, the King of the heavenly planets.
Svayambhuva Manu’s abode is Brahmavarta, with the town of Barhismati as the capital. Barhismati was formSvayambhuva Manu’s abode is Brahmavarta, with the town of Barhismati as the capital. Barhismati was formed when Visnu in his cosmic boar form (Varaha) shook his body, there fell large hair, which turned into the town.
In Svayambhuva-manvantara, Lord Vishnu’s avatar was called Yajna.
Jain theology mentions the 14th patriarch named Nabhiraja, mentioning him also as Manu. This, state scholars, links Jain tradition to Hindu legends, because the 14 patriarchs in Jain tradition are similar to the 14 Manus in Hindu legends. The Manu of Jainism is the father of 1st Tirthankara Rishabhanatha (Adinatha).
स्वयंभू मनु कुल का पूर्ण परिचय
Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa – Their Devotion for Lord Vishnu
According to Sri Rama Charitra, Svayambhuva Manu performed tapasya to Lord Vishnu for a thousand years, and when Vishnu appeared, Manu desired to have Vishnu as his son. Vishnu agreed and said that he would appear on Earth as part of the preservation of virtue, or Dharma.
According to Shrimad Ramayana, Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa performed tapasya to Lord Vishnu. On His appearance, they requested Him to take birth as their son. Lord Vishnu said that He is pleased by their devotion and He would take birth as their son during their incarnation as King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya respectively in Ayodhya during the Treta Yuga to destroy wicked Ravana.
दशरथ और कौशल्या पूर्व जन्म में कौन थे? who was the Dashrath and Kaushalya pre- born? दशरथ का जन्म।
According to Padma Purana, it is described that Svayambhuva Manu performed austerities at Naimisaranya on the bank of the Gomati River for acquiring the privilege of having Lord Vishnu as his son in three lifetimes. Lord Vishnu, being pleased with Svayambhuva Manu, granted the blessing that He would appear as Svayambhuva Manu‘s son as Lord Rama, Krishna, and Kalki.
Thus, Svayambhuva Manu would appear as Dasharatha, Vasudeva, and Vishnuyasha and her wife Shatarupa as Kaushalya, Devaki, and Sumati Devi. The incarnations of Svayambhuva Manu as Dasharatha and Vasudeva, of Shatarupa as Kaushalya and Devaki, and of Lord Vishnu as Lord Rama and Krishna have already appeared on the Earth in the Treta Yuga and the Dvapara Yuga respectively.
श्री कृष्ण लीला | देवकी वासुदेव की पुनर जन्म की कथा
Now, in the present Kali Yuga, Lord Vishnu is foretold to take birth in the form of His Kalki Avatar in the home of the same parents, namely Vishnuyasha (means God’s glory) as his father, who has been foretold to be a great soul and the most eminent person in his city and Sumati Devi (means the pious and pure thinking one) as his mother, who has been foretold to be a person with the knowledge of religious scriptures.
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