Sage Manu is considered to be one of the most revered figures in Hindu mythology. As the story goes, he was the first king to rule the earth after a great flood swept across the planet, wiping out all forms of life. It was Lord Vishnu’s Matsya Avatar who warned King Manu of the impending flood and advised him to construct a boat that would save himself, his family, and the seeds and animals required to repopulate the earth.

  • Sage Vaivasvata Manu is believed to be the first king to rule the earth after the great flood
  • Known for his role in saving mankind from the great flood as warned by Lord Vishnu

According to the Matsya Purana, the story of King Manu’s encounter with Lord Vishnu began when the king was washing his hands in the river. That was when a small carp appeared and asked King Manu to save it. King Manu obliged and placed the carp in a water jar. However, as the carp grew, King Manu had to shift it from one place to another, until it finally became so big that it had to be placed in the ocean. It was then that the carp transformed into Lord Vishnu, who informed King Manu of the great flood.

  • King Manu was warned of the great flood by Lord Vishnu’s Matsya Avatar
  • The Matsya Avatar appeared as a small carp to King Manu
  • The carp requested King Manu to save him and the king honored the request
  • The carp kept growing bigger and bigger until it transformed into Lord Vishnu
  • Lord Vishnu informed King Manu of an all-destructive deluge that will soon flood the entire world

King Manu, with the help of Lord Vishnu, built a boat big enough to house his family, nine different types of seeds, and all the animals and birds required to repopulate the earth. After the deluge, King Manu stepped on the earth and meditated at the spot where the Manu Temple is located today. This event marked the beginning of King Manu’s journey as Sage Manu.

  • King Manu built a boat big enough to house his family, 9 kinds of seeds, and animals and birds
  • The boat was meant to repopulate the earth once the deluge was over

In Hinduism, Sage Manu is also known as the author of the Manusmriti, a collection of laws that govern Hindu society. The Manusmriti is considered to be one of the most important works in Hindu philosophy, and it continues to influence Hindu society even today.

  • King Manu stepped on the earth and meditated at the very spot where Manu Temple is situated
  • King Manu later came to be known as Sage Manu
  • Sage Manu is also ascribed to the Manusmriti (Laws of Manu)

In conclusion, Sage Manu remains a revered figure in Hindu mythology and is remembered as the first king to rule the earth after the great flood. His association with Lord Vishnu and the Manusmriti has only served to enhance his significance in Hindu mythology and philosophy.