A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature / by John Dowson.

Dowson, John, active 1913.

Date:: 1879

Credit: A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature / by John Dowson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$MANU lowing is a summary:—One morning, in the water which was brought to Manu for washing his hands, he caught a fish which spake, and said, “ Take care of me and I wiU preserve thee.” Manu asked, “ From what wilt thou preserve me 1 ” The fish answered, “ A flood will carry away all living beings ; I will save thee from that.” The fish desired ISIanu to keep him alive in an earthen vessel, to remove him to a dyke as he grew larger, and eventually to the ocean, “ so that he might be beyond the risk of destruction.” The fish grew rapidly, and again ad.dressed Manu, saying, “ After so many years the deluge wiU take place; then construct a ship and pay me homage, and when the waters rise, go into the ship and I -will rescue thee.” Manu did as he was desired, he built the ship, conveyed the fish to the ocean, and did him homage. The flood rose, and Manu fastened the cable of the ship to the fish’s horn. Thus he passed over the northern mountain (the Himalaya, as the commentator explains). The fish then desired Manu to fasten the ship to a tree, and to go down with the subsiding waters. He did so, and found that the flood had swept away all living creatures. He alone was left. Desirous of offspring, he offered sacrifice and engaged in devotion. A woman was produced, who came to Manu and declared herself his daughter. “ With her he lived, worshipping and toiling in arduous religious rites, desirous of offspring. With her he begat the offspring -which is the offspring of Manu.” The story, as told in the Maha-bharata, represents Manu as engaged in devotion by the side of a river, and the fisli craving his protection from the bigger fisk ]\Ianu placed the fish in a glass vase, but it grew larger and larger tdl tlie ocean alone could contain it. Then it warned Manu of the coming flood, and directed him to build a sliij) and to emkrrk with the seven iiishis. He did so, and fastened his sliip to the horn of the fish. Then, according to the rendering of Professor Williams— “ Along the ocean in that stately ship was borne the lord of men, and through Its dancing, tumbling billows and its roaring -waters ; and the bark. Tossed to and fro by \-ioleut winds, reeled on the surface of the deep. Staggering and trembling like a drunken woman : land was seen no more,$