A Sanskrit compound formed of manu and antara, meaning literally “between MANUS.” The cycle of the Cosmos is divided into a period of activity or outpouring called a Manvantara and a period of rest called a Pralaya. Theosophy recognizes more than one kind of manvantara; Pākritika-manvantara, which is a universal manvantara; Saurya-manvantara, which is the period of the solar system; Bhaumika-manvantara, the period of Earth; Paurua-manvantara, the period of human life.

There is also a Round-manvantara, being the duration of the cycle from Globe A to G; its period on our Globe is said to be 308,448,000 years (see Chain, PLANETARY).

A planetary manvantara (Mahā-manvantara or Kalpa) is the duration of a planet during its seven Rounds, which period is also called “a Day of Brahma” having a length of 4,320,000,000 years.

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