Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
मनोजवश्चाक्षुषे ऽथ इन्द्रः स्वात्यादयः सुराः सुमेधाद्या महर्षयः पुरुप्रभृतयः सुताः
manojavaścākṣuṣe 'tha indraḥ svātyādayaḥ surāḥ sumedhādyā maharṣayaḥ puruprabhṛtayaḥ sutāḥ
ក្នុងមន្វន្តរៈ ចាក្សុសៈ (Cākṣuṣa) ម៉ាណោជវៈ ជា ឥន្ទ្រៈ; ស្វាទី និងទេវៈផ្សេងៗជាព្រះទេវតា; សុមេធា និងអ្នកដទៃជាមហាឥសី; ហើយ បុរុ និងអ្នកដទៃជាពូជពង្ស (កូនចៅ)។
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use as a manvantara-reference table for mapping Indra, Deva-gaṇa, Saptarṣi-group, and royal progeny within Cākṣuṣa Manvantara in Purāṇic chronology and teaching.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Cākṣuṣa-manvantara: Indra–Deva–Ṛṣi–Putra listing","lookup_keywords":["Cākṣuṣa Manvantara","Manojava Indra","Svāti gods","Sumedhā maharshi","Puru progeny"],"quick_summary":"Identifies the key offices and lineages for the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara: the Indra (Manojava), the deva-group (Svāti etc.), the maharṣis (Sumedhā etc.), and the progeny line (Puru etc.)."}
Concept: Ṛta-like cosmic administration: recurring epochs (manvantaras) have structured roles—Indra, devas, ṛṣis, and human lineages.
Application: Helps interpret Purāṇic narratives by placing characters within the correct epoch and office, avoiding anachronistic readings.
Khanda Section: Manvantara Genealogies (Vaivasvata/Manvantaric Cosmology and Lineages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic register-like scene: Indra Manojava enthroned in Svarga, surrounded by the deva-group led by Svāti; nearby, Sumedhā and other maharṣis seated in tapas; below, Puru and other progeny in royal attire, indicating human lineage.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, Indra Manojava on a jeweled throne in Svarga, devas labeled Svāti etc. in orderly rows, maharṣis with matted hair and kamandalu seated in a forest hermitage, lower register showing Puru and princes, traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Indra Manojava with gold-leaf halo and ornate throne, devas as attendants, maharṣis in a side panel with subtle gold highlights, bottom panel with royal progeny; rich reds and greens, heavy jewelry detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, diagrammatic composition with four groups (Indra, devas, ṛṣis, sons) separated by architectural/landscape bands, inscriptions for names, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly Svarga scene with Indra Manojava, finely detailed textiles, devas in assembly, sages in a garden pavilion, princes below; delicate palette, precise facial features, calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाक्षुषे = च + आक्षुषे; ऽथ = अथ; स्वात्यादयः = स्वाति-आदयः; सुमेधाद्या = सुमेधा-आद्याः; पुरुप्रभृतयः = पुरु-प्रभृतयः
Related Themes: Agni Purana Manvantara-nirūpaṇa sections around adhyāya 150; Agni Purana sarga/manvantara catalogues in adjacent verses (150.6–150.12)
FAQs
It transmits Purāṇic cosmological “catalog knowledge”: the official roster for the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara—its Indra, principal devas, chief ṛṣis, and notable progeny—used for mapping time-cycles and lineages rather than prescribing a ritual.
By preserving structured reference-lists (Indra–deva–ṛṣi–progeny) for a specific Manvantara, it functions like a cosmological index—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark “encyclopedia” features alongside its sections on rites, polity, medicine, and arts.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is traditionally treated as purifying śravaṇa/smaraṇa (hearing and recollection of sacred history), reinforcing dharmic orientation by situating human life within cosmic cycles and revered ancestral-seer lineages.