Thursday, September 22, 2016

Sumerian Flood Vs. Indian Flood

                                                                                                                      

The Sumerian Flood (Epic of Gilgamesh) and the Indian Flood are different and similar  in many ways. Manu, who was the first man to be created by the Hindu gods was warned by a fish that a big Flood was coming. While Manu was washing his hands in a bowl of water he saw that there was a small fish and that was God Vishnu. The fish told Manu if he would keep him him then in favor the fish will save him from the Flood. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim was warned by a God named Ea. One way they were similar is that they were both told to create a boat. Ea told Utnapishtim to bring his family and "the seeds of the living" but Manu was told to bring 2 of each animal and also seeds of every type of plant. Both Manu and Upnapishtim obeyed on what they were told. Manu and Upnapishtim were lonely during the Flood. They both were able to survive during the Flood. After the Flood was over Upnapishtim and Manu both landed on a mountain. Manu was rewarded a wife from the fish.When Upnapishtim was told about the coming of the Flood it was because that the Gods of firmament, war, earth/wind/air and irrigation wanted to destroy the Earth but God Ea didn't want to. He betrayed the gods and told Upnapishtim to save the Earth. In the Indian mythology, the fish (God Vishnu or God Brahma) did not want destroy the world. This was not a punishment for Manu. These Floods are very similar because all around the world there is a similar story that a figure is telling an important person to obey and save the Earth and the people.  Both Manu and Upnapishtim did the right thing because the both listened to their role model.

Source:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gilgamesh/section9.rhtml
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manu

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