Manu
Father of Humanity
The first man of our age and son of Surya, saved from the great flood by Vishnu's fish avatar. Every human - and the word "manishi" - traces back to him.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: మనువు
- Also known as: Vaivasvata Manu, Satyavrata
- Symbols: Boat, Fish
Story
Manu is the first man of our era, the son of Surya the sun god - which is why the royal line that came from him is called the Surya Vamsha, the solar dynasty. His most famous story is the great flood. One day a tiny fish swam into Manu's hands and begged for protection. Manu kept it in a pot, but it grew; he moved it to a pond, then a lake, then the ocean - and still it grew, until Manu realized this was no ordinary fish but Vishnu himself, in his very first avatar, Matsya. The fish warned him: a flood would soon cover the world. Manu built a great boat, gathered the seven sages, seeds, and animals, and when the waters rose, the giant horned fish towed the boat safely through the storm. When the flood ended, Manu began the human race anew. His son Ikshvaku founded the line of kings that would one day give us Rama. And here's the lovely part: the Sanskrit word manava and the Telugu word manishi - both meaning "human" - literally mean "child of Manu."
Fun fact
Every time you say "manishi" (person) in Telugu, you are literally saying "descendant of Manu."
Family and connections
- Child: Ikshvaku (founder of the solar line)