We find the story of destruction by flood and
the advent of Matsya Avatar. but there happened one more destruction that was
due to shower of meteorites, may be the same shower that wiped the dinosaurs as
stated by some theories, that heavy shower of meteorites was the cause of a
massive destruction at time of dinosaurs. Extinction of
dinosaurs is still a theory. But in Bhrama Vivarta Puran destruction from
meteorites is mentioned.
Destruction story from Bhrama Vivarta Puran
Many years ago, a great destruction took
place. The earth was shrouded in darkness and nothing could be seen. There was
neither sun nor moon. Lightning and thunder crushed mountains and trees. There
were showers of meteors. Lakes and rivers dried up. The entire earth burnt with
fire and the flames of the fire reached down to the underworld. All living
beings perished in this fire, including the gods and the demons.
There was a sage named Markandeya. While all
this was going on, Markandeya was busy meditating. Such was the power of
Markandeya’s Tapasya that the fire dared not touch him. But it is also true
that Markandeya was scared of the fire that raged all around him. He suffered
from hunger and thirst and forgot all about his Tapasya. His lips and throat
dried up from fear. Markandeya discovered that there was a banyan tree that was
untouched by all these ravages. He retired to the shade of the banyan tree and
started to pray to Vishnu. Clouds gathered in the sky. They were thick and dark
clouds and they spread all over the earth. It started to rain and it poured and
poured. Water was everywhere and the earth was flooded. The water put out the
fire.
Following this story is a story of flood,
where Vishnu protects Markandeya inside his body. Markandeya spends a thousand
years inside Vishnu's body.
In Agni Puran also destruction through fire is
mentioned in a slightly different way it says destruction comes at the end of
four thousand Yugas on earth. There is a drought for a hundred years. Vishnu
with the rays of the sun dries up all the waters on earth. Seven different suns
Appear in the sky and they burn up the three
worlds of heaven, the earth and the underworld. The earth becomes as flat as
the back of a turtle. The breath of Shesha serves to burn up the three worlds.
After the three worlds have been burnt up, dark clouds full of thunder and
lightning appear in the sky. For a hundred years it continues to rain. The rain
puts out the fires that have been raging. From Vishnu’s breath are created
tremendous winds and these driving away the clouds. But there is water
everywhere. And Vishnu sleeps on these waters. For an entire Kalpa he sleeps.
It is very unique that most of the destruction
myths around the world are flood myth including the Indian mythology, but in midst
of the Puranas there are two Purans that show destruction by fire and climatic
condition followed by rains and flood.
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