DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0211
i4o INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
the process of change and development can, however, be
not only traced, but partially accounted for, as we have
shown. Old myths were embraced in the epics and the
Puranas for the purpose of educating the people by effect-
ing a compromise between folk religion and the profound
doctrines of the ancient forest sages.
"Father Manu" of the Vedas, who appears to have
been worshipped as a patriarchal ancestor, was, for
instance, embraced in the Mahdbhdrata by the cult of
Vishnu. He had been exalted by the ritualists as one
who was greater than the gods, because he had been the
first to inaugurate sacrificial rites, and he was afterwards
associated with Brahma in performing some of the acts of
Creation at the beginning of one of the Yugas (Ages). It
was necessary, therefore, to show that he owed his power
and opportunities to Vishnu.
In the Mahdbhdrata the sage Markandeya refers to
Manu as the great Rishi, who was equal unto Brahma in
glory. He had practised rigid austerities in a forest for
ten thousand years, standing on one leg with uplifted
hand. One day while he brooded in wet clothes, a fish
rose from a stream and asked for his protection against
the greater fish which desired to swallow it, at the same
time promising to reward him. Manu placed the fish in
an earthen jar and tended it carefully till it increased in
size; then he put it in a tank. The fish continued to
grow until the tank became small for it, and Manu heard
it pleading to be transferred to the Ganges, " the favourite
spouse of Ocean". He carried it to the river, and in
time the fish spoke to him, saying: "I cannot move about
in the river on account of my great length and bulk.
Take me quickly to the Ocean." Manu was enabled to
carry the fish from the Ganges to the sea, and then i*
spoke with a smile and said:
the process of change and development can, however, be
not only traced, but partially accounted for, as we have
shown. Old myths were embraced in the epics and the
Puranas for the purpose of educating the people by effect-
ing a compromise between folk religion and the profound
doctrines of the ancient forest sages.
"Father Manu" of the Vedas, who appears to have
been worshipped as a patriarchal ancestor, was, for
instance, embraced in the Mahdbhdrata by the cult of
Vishnu. He had been exalted by the ritualists as one
who was greater than the gods, because he had been the
first to inaugurate sacrificial rites, and he was afterwards
associated with Brahma in performing some of the acts of
Creation at the beginning of one of the Yugas (Ages). It
was necessary, therefore, to show that he owed his power
and opportunities to Vishnu.
In the Mahdbhdrata the sage Markandeya refers to
Manu as the great Rishi, who was equal unto Brahma in
glory. He had practised rigid austerities in a forest for
ten thousand years, standing on one leg with uplifted
hand. One day while he brooded in wet clothes, a fish
rose from a stream and asked for his protection against
the greater fish which desired to swallow it, at the same
time promising to reward him. Manu placed the fish in
an earthen jar and tended it carefully till it increased in
size; then he put it in a tank. The fish continued to
grow until the tank became small for it, and Manu heard
it pleading to be transferred to the Ganges, " the favourite
spouse of Ocean". He carried it to the river, and in
time the fish spoke to him, saying: "I cannot move about
in the river on account of my great length and bulk.
Take me quickly to the Ocean." Manu was enabled to
carry the fish from the Ganges to the sea, and then i*
spoke with a smile and said: