Manu

In Hindu mythology, the Manus are
fourteen semidivine kings, perceived as
the progenitors of the human race and
rulers over the universe. According to
traditional belief, time has neither
beginning nor end but alternates
between cycles of creation and activity,
followed by cessation and quietude.
Each of these cycles lasts for 4.32 billion
years; the active phase is known as the
Day of Brahma; the quiet phase is
known as the Night of Brahma. In one
instance of cosmic time, each Day of
Brahma is divided into fourteen equal
periods, each ruled by one of the fourteen Manus.