Vedic Mythology c6.s1.1

c6.s1.1

— As the appellation Manu or Manus is often used in the sense of 'man', there is sometimes an uncertainty as to when it has the value of a proper name in the RV. It appears to have the latter signification nearly twenty times in the form of Manu and almost as often in that of Manus. Manu is five times styled a father, and in two of these passages more definitely as 'our father' (2, 33¹³ &c., cp. § 9). Sacrificers are spoken of as the people (*viśaḥ*) of Manus (4, 37¹ &c.) and Agni is said to abide among the offspring of Manu (1, 68⁴). Manu was the institutor of sacrifice. For when he had kindled the fire, he presented the first offering with the seven priests to the gods (10, 63⁷). The sacrifice of Manu is the prototype of the present sacrifice. For the latter is compared to the sacrifice which Manus offered to the gods (1, 76⁵). Such comparisons are frequently made with the adverb *manuṣvat*, 'like Manus'. Worshippers make Agni the accomplisher of sacrifice, as Manus did (1, 44¹¹). They kindle Agni like Manus (5, 21¹ &c.). Like Manus, they invoke Agni who was kindled by Manu (7, 2³). They offer Soma as Manus did (4, 37³). Soma is prayed to flow as he once flowed for Manu (9, 96¹²). Manu established Agni as a light for all people (1, 36¹⁹). Manu is also mentioned with other ancient sacrificers, with Aṅgiras and Yayāti (1, 31¹⁷), with Bhṛgu and Aṅgiras (8, 43¹³), with Atharvan and Dadhyañc (1, 80¹⁶), with Dadhyañc, Aṅgiras, Atri and Kaṇva (1, 139⁹). The gods (1, 36¹⁰), Mātariśvan (1, 128²), Mātariśvan and the gods (10, 46⁹), and Kāvya Uśanā¹ (8, 23¹⁷) are said to have given Agni to Manu or to have instituted him a sacrificer for Manu. In the last four passages the word has perhaps only the appellative meaning of 'man'.