The tales of a great flood from ancient times are prevalent in many cultures. Researchers believe these narratives may be rooted in historical flood events. Both the Bible and the Bhāgvat Purāna contain accounts of an ancient flood. This essay explores the similarities and differences between the flood stories of Noah from the Bible and Manu from Bhāgvat Purāna.

Story of Noah’s Flood

This story is found in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. It narrates that many years ago, the human population had increased significantly, and people were behaving wickedly. With evil thoughts dominating their minds, violence and corruption had increased. Observing this, God regretted creating humanity and decided to send a great flood to cleanse the Earth.

However, there was one man, Noah, who found favor in God’s eyes. Because he was righteous, God chose to save him from the flood. He instructed Noah to build a massive ark, measuring three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. Noah was to bring his family — his wife, three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), and their wives — along with pairs of every kind of animal and bird into the ark.

Once the ark was completed, God informed Noah that rain would begin in seven days. On the appointed day, rain started pouring down for forty days and forty nights. The floodwaters rose, lifting Noah’s ark along with it. After one hundred fifty days of flooding, God remembered Noah; he made the water recede and sent a wind to dry the land. Then, God commanded Noah to exit the ark. To express his gratitude, Noah offered sacrifices to God. In response, God made a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy all life on Earth with a flood.

God then blessed Noah and his sons, instructing them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will come upon all the animals of the land, the birds of the air, every creature that moves on the ground, and all the fish in the sea. Every living thing that moves will be your food.”

Story of Manu’s Flood

In ancient Dravid land, there was a king named Satyavrata. One morning, while offering waters to the Sun, at a riverbank, he found a small fish in his palms. The fish pleaded for his protection from larger fish if released back into the water. Moved by compassion, Satyavrata placed the fish in his water pot. Overnight, the fish grew so large that it no longer fit in the pot.

Satyavrata then moved it to a larger pond; however, it soon outgrew that as well. Eventually, as he released the fish in the ocean, he asked, “Who are you oh great one, who captivates me in the form of a fish? What is your true nature?” The fish revealed itself as Shri Vishnu and warned Satyavrata of an impending great flood on the seventh day that would drown all living beings. Vishnu instructed Satyavrata to take with him seven sages (saptarishi), along with seeds of all plants. He advised Satyavrata to tie his boat to the fish’s horn when the flood came so that he could navigate through it safely.

Soon after this warning, dark clouds gathered, and torrential rains began. Rivers overflowed; and there was only water everywhere. Remembering Vishnu’s words, Satyavrata gathered grains and boarded the boat with the seven sages. They were guided by Vishnu in the form of a fish and they sailed through the stormy waters to the peaks of mountains.

As the fish towed the boat to safety, Satyavrata prayed to Vishnu for knowledge. Pleased by his devotion, and his thirst for knowledge, Vishnu imparted to him the knowledge of karma yoga. These lessons are captured in the Matsya Purana. Blessed by Vishnu’s grace, Satyavrata became Vaivasvata Manu — the progenitor of mankind.

As humanity emerged from Manu; terms like ‘manav’, ‘manushya’ and ‘man’ came to be derived from his name. The code written by this Dravidian Kshatriya king for governance came to be known as Manu-Smriti.

Similarities and Differences

There are significant similarities between Noah’s story in the Bible and Manu’s tale in Purana. Both narratives involve a great flood where their respective protagonists survive it by riding in a boat. In both stories, their deities forewarn them about an impending deluge set to begin after seven days. In both stories the heroes are accompanied by seven other people in the boat.

However, there are also crucial differences as well, such as:

• In Noah’s story, God is enraged by humanity’s wickedness and sends a flood as punishment for their sins. In Manu’s story, the flood is a natural disaster, not a punishment sent by the god.
• After saving Noah from the floodwaters, and receiving burnt sacrifices from him, God establishes a covenant with him promising never again to send such destruction upon Earth. Manu’s tale, has no contract.
• While Noah’s ark contains his family members, Manu’s boat carries seven sages. Protecting the sages represents preserving the knowledge of mankind amid calamity.
• Additionally, Manu’s story incorporates astronomical elements absent from Noah’s tale; for instance, the seven sages symbolize both enlightened people and celestial bodies known as Sapta Rishi; or Ursa Major (the Great Bear) in Western astronomy. As the celestial Sapta Rishi guide us in navigating our paths, likewise the terrestrial Sapta Rishi direct us in navigating our lives.

In conclusion, while both narratives depict the heroes’ survival through floods, they illustrate different cultural perspectives. In Noah’s story, God instills fear in humanity, frequently reminding the reader to “Fear the Lord!” In contrast, between Manu and Vishnu we find not fear but a profound and friendly dialogue on the meaning of life. While Noah adheres to the Biblical teaching of obedience rooted in fear; Manu, true to Hindu ethos, seeks knowledge and ultimate truth through inquiry. In one tale, God asserts his power by sending floods and instilling fear, while in the other, ever compassionate Vishnu becomes the Jagat-Guru by bestowing knowledge that empowers people.