BENGAL FLOOD STORY
Santal (Bengal):
When Pilchu Haram and Pilchu Budhi, the first man and woman, reached adolescence, fire-rain fell for seven days.
They took refuge in a stone cave and emerged unharmed when the flood was over.
Jaher-era asked them where they had been, and they replied that they had been under a rock.
[Frazer, p. 197]
Frazer, Sir James G. Folk-Lore in the Old Testament, vol. 1, Macmillan & Co., London, 1919.
Folk-lore in the Old Testament Vol. 1 - Anna’s Archive
When social distinctions were assigned to the various tribes, the Marndis were overlooked.
Ambir Singh and Bir Singh, two members of that tribe from Mount Here, were incensed at this slight, and they prayed for fire from heaven to destroy the other tribes.
Fire fell and devastated the country, destroying half the population.
The home of Ambir Singh and Bir Singh was stone, so they escaped unhurt.
Kisku Raj heard what had happened and was told that Ambir Singh and Bir Singh were responsible.
He ordered them to explain themselves, and they told of their being overlooked in the distribution of distinctions.
Kisku Raj told them not to act thus, and they would receive an office.
They stopped the fire-rain, and the Marndi were appointed stewards over the property of kings and nobles and over all rice.
[Frazer, pp. 197-198]
Ambir Singh and Bir Singh, two members of that tribe from Mount Here, were incensed at this slight, and they prayed for fire from heaven to destroy the other tribes.
Fire fell and devastated the country, destroying half the population.
The home of Ambir Singh and Bir Singh was stone, so they escaped unhurt.
Kisku Raj heard what had happened and was told that Ambir Singh and Bir Singh were responsible.
He ordered them to explain themselves, and they told of their being overlooked in the distribution of distinctions.
Kisku Raj told them not to act thus, and they would receive an office.
They stopped the fire-rain, and the Marndi were appointed stewards over the property of kings and nobles and over all rice.
[Frazer, pp. 197-198]
While people were at Khojkaman, their misdeeds became so great that the creator Thakur Jiu sent a fire-rain to punish them.
Only two people escaped, in a cave on Mount Haradata.
[Frazer, p. 198]
Only two people escaped, in a cave on Mount Haradata.
[Frazer, p. 198]
Ho (southwestern Bengal):
The first people became incestuous and unheedful of God or their betters.
Sirma Thakoor, or Sing Bonga, the creator, destroyed them, some say by water and others say by fire. He spared sixteen people.
[Gaster, p. 96]
Gaster, Theodor H. Myth, Legend, and Custom in the Old Testament, Harper & Row, New York, 1969. (Most of the flood stories in this work are taken from Frazer, 1919.)
Myth, Legend And Custom In The Old Testament: A Comparative Study With Chapters From Sir James G. Frazer's Folklore In The Old Testament (volume 1) - Anna’s Archive
Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal):
Sometime after their creation, men grew disobedient.
In anger, Puluga, the Creator, sent a flood which covered the whole land, except perhaps Saddle Peak where Puluga himself resided.
Of all creatures, the only survivors were two men and two women who had the fortune to be in a canoe when the flood came.
The waters sank and they landed, but they found themselves in a sad plight.
Puluga recreated birds and animals for their use, but the world was still damp and without fire.
The ghost of one of the peoples' friends took the form of a kingfisher and tried to steal a brand from Puluga's fire, but he accidentally dropped it on the Creator.
Incensed, Puluga hurled the brand at the bird, but it missed and landed where the four flood survivors were seated.
After the people had warmed themselves and had leisure to reflect, they began to murmur against the Creator and even plotted to murder him.
However, the Creator warned them away from such rash action, explained that men had brought the flood on themselves by their disobedience, and that another such offense would likewise be met with punishment.
That was the last time the Creator spoke with men face to face.
[Gaster, pp. 104-105]