Hindu Creation Myths (Creator, Earth, incarnation, translation, bible)

[gnostic]

I am very interested in creation myths from various civilisations and cultures, and I am wondering what I should read and where I can find the relevant sources on Hindu texts. I heard that Hinduism have their own version of the Flood legend too.

I was wondering if someone can direct me to the right sources or books.

So far, I have only one book on Hindu myths. IT is actually analogy or collection of selected translation. The book is listed below:

Hindu Myths, translated by Wendy O'Flaherty, Penguin 1975.

Nice as this book is, I would like something more substantial than this book. So I am hoping someone would help with this.

[nutshell]

The Ramayana

[nutshell]

http://www.ramayana.com/

[Katzpur]

We need Hema! We want Hema! We need Hema! We want Hema!

[Hema]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

We need Hema! We want Hema! We need Hema! We want Hema!

Oh Katzpur! You guys are making me want to stay full time and I just might! I'll let you know what I'm doing.

To answer the question about the creation of the universe - I got the following from:
http://www.omsakthi.org/worship/mantra.html

"Before the beginning, the Brahman (absolute reality) was one and non-dual. It thought, "I am only one -- may I become many." This caused a vibration which eventually became sound, and this sound was Om. Creation itself was set in motion by the vibration of Om. The closest approach to Brahman is that first sound, Om. Thus, this sacred symbol has become emblematic of Brahman just as images are emblematic of material objects.
The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation."

If we think about this carefully, the Bible also says that in the beginning was the word and the word was God. Scientists have affirmed that the first sound to come out of creation was "Om." The best place to find info on anything regarding creation in Hinduism are the Vedas. They are the highest books in Hinduism. They have a lot of scientific information such as the distance between the sun and earth, long before modern scientists have proved it. I'm not sure which text states this but Brahma (God as the creator) divided himself into two at the beginning of creation. The first man was Manu and the first woman, Satrupa.

As for the flood question -
In Hinduism, there is the concept of the "Avatar" whereby God will manifest in a physical form on earth to reinforce Dharma or righteous living. Most Avatars are in a human form, however, there is an Avatar called Matsya Avatar where God came as a fish. He came as a tiny fish who was picked up from the water by a devotee. The fish spoke to the devotee (who was a Sage) and said that he was frightened to go back into the water because the large creatures in the water would eat him. The sage put the fish in a earthen vessel and within a short space of time the fish grew too big for the vessel. The sage placed it in a larger vessel but the fish soon grew too big for that as well. The sage took the fish to a pond but it grew too big for the pond. The sage led the fish from one pond to the other, each bigger than the last. The fish grew so big within the space of one day that the sage had to lead the fish to the ocean. By this time the sage realized that the fish was an incarnation of God. The fish spoke to the sage and told him that the present age was coming to an end (Hinduism states that the universe operates in cycles of creation). The fish told the sage that a huge flood will rise to swallow the earth. The sage was instructed to wait at a certain spot with the Sapta Rishis (or seven sages)and to bring special herbs and plants and different species of animals. The fish related that a boat will come for them. When the flood came, they all waited and the boat eventually came. Soon after the fish arrived. This time, the scales of the fish were glowing and lit up the night sky. The fish also had a single horn on its head. The king of serpents, Vasuki was tied unto the fish's horn and his other end unto the boat and the fish travelled throught the flood with the boat and its occupants in tow. During the night that they travelled, Matsya Avatar taught the Rishis Divine knowledge to take into the new age.

[gnostic]

Thanks, Hema.

[Hema]

Originally Posted by gnostic

Thanks, Hema.

No problem. Feel free to ask questions anytime (Not that I know everything)