Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Svayambhuva-manu included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of ⲹܱ-manu
Son of and the first of the Manus.
Birth.
ⲹܱ Manu was born as the mental son, and Śٲū as the mental daughter, of . ⲹܱ did penance and acquired boons for ruling over the subjects. He married Śٲū herself. appointed him as the first Manu to rule over the subjects. Two sons named Priyavrata and ٳԲ岹 and two daughters named ʰūپ and Āūپ, were born to ⲹܱ by his wife Śٲū. Of the two daughters ʰūپ was given to ʰ貹پ ٲṣa and Āūپ to ʰ貹پ Ruci as wives. A son named ۲ñ and a daughter named ٲṣiṇ� were born to Ruci by Āūپ. The children were twins.
It is believed that ⲹܱ and Śٲū are the first human beings. A story as given below, occurs in Matsya Purāṇa. took birth as a man somewhere in śī. who took birth as man, created Śٲū from his own body, without any decrease in its radiance. ⲹܱ () appreciated the beauty of Śٲū. He grew amorous. But was ashamed of his feeling, as Śٲū being half of his body, was his daughter. Being subjected to love and shame at the same time ⲹܱ stood there, looking at Śٲū. To avoid the look of , Satarūpā moved to one side. had no courage to turn his face to that side. So another face sprang up on that side for him. Śٲū turned to four sides and thus got four faces. His amour subsided. When the desire subsided, a man originated from . That man is ⲹܱ. (For further details see under Manvantara).