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Re: FLOODS IN HINDU MYTHOLOGY
> jane smith <jsmith@skidmore.EDU> writes:
> Lots of different religions and cultures have flood stories in their
> mytholgy (ie Christianity, Egyptian, Sumerian, etc). Does anyone know
> if there is a flood story in Hindu mythology? What is the story about
> (ie people, gods involved, events, etc...). Please post any response -
> do not email me!!!! Thanks a bunch. JANIE
> --
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>>>>
Hello Janie,
Regarding Floods in the Hindu epics, there is none as the ones mentioned by Christianity, Egyptians
and Sumerian were only relating to localised floods. Eg the great flood of Noah and his Arc was a more
localised on in the areas of Rome and Greece as these area are even currently affected by the same
events. In those days, something like a flood in large scale would seem to be a near world destruction.
But in the Indus Valley civilisation where Hindus originated floods were relatively small or unknown and
even if it occured was in local small scale and was never attributed to God related events.
There are currently many stories attributed to that involving Noah such as the great sea swallowing the
Island of Atlantis. In Hindui epic, instead of floods, stories exist on rivers drying up as a result of
punishments by God. But u must remember, many of the epics in Hinduism are not true events but
rather moral stories for the under educated farming people of India who depend on explanations about
God from Great Sages and Rishis. These stories were told to bring Hindu philosophy to the lower level
in a language they could understand.
There are none as far a i can remember, in the ten avatars of Vishnu, Mahabharatha, Bagavad Gita of
Ramayana. Hinduism teaches only philosophy of religion, existence and God to anyone (irrespective)
who wants it.
I hope this helps, Janie
From:
Muru
