Children’s Books

» Harsh Nevatia - A Flood Myth from Hindu Mythology

One Cycle of Creation was about to be completed. Satyavrata, a good king,was making the ritual offering of water to God. Lord Vishnu immediately assumed the form of a Fish. As Satyavrata scooped water from the flowing river, he spied a tiny fish in the water he had scooped. When he tried to put it back into the river, the Fish entreated the king not to do so as it would be eaten up by the big fish in the river. Satyavrata took the Fish into his water urn and went back. Overnight, the Fish grew too big to be in the urn.
The next morning when the king looked it up, the Fish requested to be removed to a larger vessel. Satyavrata did so but soon the fish became too big for the larger vessel as well. Addressing the king, the Fish said that he should find a suitable living space for it. Satyavrata then emptied the vessel into a large pond along with the Fish. But, in no time the Fish grew as large as the pond and filled it. Then the Fish exhorted the king to take it to a large and deep lake. Although Satyavrata took it to several lakes, one larger than the other, the Fish kept growing and bigger and bigger. It went on asking for larger and larger living space.
Satyavrata got vexed and decided to put it into the ocean. When he reached the ocean, the Fish addressed him thus: "O! King, do not put me into the ocean, I am sure to be swallowed by the gigantic creature there." Satyavrata became suspicious now. In a flash, he realised that it was Lord Vishnu in the form of Fish. Satyavrata immediately prostrated himself before the Fish and prayed to be told why God had appeared in the form of Fish. The Lord told his devotee, "Just a week from now, the ocean will rise and inundate the entire Universe. At that time you will see a spacious boat approaching you. Do collect all the seeds, plants and animals required for the next spell of creation and get into the boat and wait for me. Take Vasuki, the kind of Serpents, with you. The seven Sages will also be with you".
As foretold by the Divine Fish, an incessant deluge followed and flooded the earth and on the turbulent waters, a boat appeared. Satyavrata, the seven Sages and all the living creatures found haven in the boat. The Fish in the colour of gold and now with a horn came by and ordered that the boat be tied to its horn using Vasuki as a rope. While the boat floated safely on the rising and enveloping waters, Vishnu gave the Satyavrata the knowledge he would require for his role in the next cycle. This collection of knowledge has come to us in the form of Matsya Purana.

Please check out my Hindu Mythology course at http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/18770... for more myths