Manvantara
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Manvantara This term is derived from Sanskrit and may be roughly translated as "the period between two manus". Specifically, a manvantara refers to a period of manifestation, as opposed to a Pralaya or period of dissolution and rest.
To place a manvantara and pralaya in a broader context, one must begin from the Hindu concept of time. In Hinduism, the eternal flow of time is expressed as periods of manifestation and non-manifestation of Brahma. Each period of manifestation and non-manifestation is called a kalpa and is considered to be a day or night of Brahma, respectively. Each kalpa in this cycle of days and nights (or being and non-being) is equivalent to 4,320,000,000 Solar years.
Each kalpa is further divided into 14 manvantaras (each lasting 306,720,000 years). Furthermore, each manvantara is comprised of 71 maha-yugas (Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga). During each manvantara the world is recreated with a different manu (Hinduism) as its ruler. Currently, we are in the seventh manvantara of this kalpa and Manu Vaivasvata as its progenitor. (See Vol. II. of the Secret Doctrine, p. 68 et. seq.)
