An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s4.1

v1.c14.s4.1

Heavy rainfall, melting of snow on the mountains, tectonic movements, cyclones, silting up of estuaries, deforestation and climatic variations are some of the factors that cause floods in rivers generally during the rainy season or in winter. Myths ascribe the devastation by floods to man’s sinful activities and divine wrath, as in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Noah. Ancient Indian literature and traditions particularly the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* and the Purāṇas refer particularly to the occurrence of two floods. The earlier of these is said to have occurred in a very large scale covering vast territories and causing wholesale destruction. The latter occurred in a limited area confined to the upper reaches of the Ganga.