Flood Stories from Around the World
Zoroastrian:Yima, under divine superintendence, reigned over the world for 900 years.
As there was no disease or death, the population increased so that it was necessary to enlarge the earth after 300 years; Yima accomplished this with the help of a gold ring and gold-inlaid dagger he had received from Ahura Mazda, the Creator.
When the population became too great after 900 years, Ahura Mazda warned Yima that destruction was coming in the form of winter, frost, and subsequent melting of the snow.
He instructed Yima to build a vara, a large square enclosure, in which to keep specimens of small and large cattle, human beings, dogs, birds, red flaming fires, plants and foodstuffs, two of every kind.
Traditions of Atlantis
In the Persian story he appears as Yima, and "is made ruler of the golden age and founder of the Paradise." (Ibid., p.
The Deluge Legends of Other Nations
It relates how Yima, who, in the original and primitive conception, was the father of the human race, was warned by Ahuramazda, the good deity, of the earth being about to be devastated by a flood.
The god ordered Yima to construct a refuge, a square garden, vara, protected by an enclosure, and to cause the germs of men, beasts, and plants to enter it, in order to escape annihilation.
Accordingly, when the inundation occurred, the garden of Yima, with all that it contained, was alone spared, and the message of safety was brought thither by the bird Karshipta, the envoy of Ahuramazda." ("Vendûdid," vol.
The First Ancient Humans Suddenly Disappeared
The story of Yima, a man instructed to build an underground city to survive a great winter, parallels the construction of the underground cities in Turkey.
The Deluge Legends (I)
Zoroastrian Doctrine: Yima constructs a protected garden (vara) to preserve men, animals, and plants from a flood, with the help of the bird Karshipta.
Yima and the Vara
Yima, also known as Jamshid in later Persian mythology, was a legendary king and a central figure in Zoroastrian tradition.
Ahura Mazda, concerned about the survival of the world's creations, chose Yima to carry out a divine mission.
Ahura Mazda summoned Yima and warned him about the impending disaster.
He instructed Yima to build a vara, an underground enclosure, to preserve the best of humanity, animals, and plants during the harsh winter.
Following Ahura Mazda's guidance, Yima set out to build the vara.
Ahura Mazda provided Yima with specific instructions on how to construct the enclosure, ensuring it would be a safe and habitable refuge.
Yima's vara was described as a paradise-like space, with its own light source, abundant resources, and a controlled climate that would remain unaffected by the severe weather outside.
Yima, with the help of his followers, gathered the finest specimens of humanity, animals, and plants to place within the vara.
Once the vara was completed and stocked with life, Yima and his chosen people, along with the animals and plants, retreated into the shelter.
After the long winter had passed, Yima and the inhabitants of the vara emerged from their underground refuge.
The story of Yima and the creation of the vara is found in the Zoroastrian text called the Vendidad (or Videvdat), which is part of the Avesta, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism.
Ahura Mazda: The supreme god in Zoroastrianism, who warns Yima of the impending catastrophe.
Yima (Jamshid): The legendary king chosen by Ahura Mazda to build the vara.
Vara: The underground enclosure constructed by Yima to preserve life during the severe winter.
Ahura Mazda's Warning: Instructs Yima to prepare for the "evil winters" that will devastate the world.
Construction of the Vara: Yima is given precise instructions on how to build the vara to ensure it can sustain life.
Preservation of Life: Yima selects the best specimens of humanity, animals, and plants to survive in the vara.
Ahura Mazda answered: The fair Yima, the good shepherd2, O holy Zarathushtra!
Unto him, O Zarathushtra, I, Ahura Mazda, spake, saying: 'Well, fair Yima, son of Vivanghat, be thou the preacher and the bearer of my Religion!' And the fair Yima, O Zarathushtra, replied unto me, saying: 'I was not born, I was not taught to be the preacher and the bearer of thy Religion.'
And the fair Yima replied unto me, O Zarathushtra, saying: 'Yes!
Behold, here Yima bears the royal sway!
Thus, under the sway of Yima, three hundred winters passed away, and the earth was replenished with flocks and herds, with men and dogs and birds and with red blazing fires, and there was room no more for flocks, herds, and men.
Then I warned the fair Yima, saying: 'O fair Yima, son of Vivanghat, the earth has become full of flocks and herds, of men and dogs and birds and of red blazing fires, and there is room no more for flocks, herds, and men.'
Then Yima stepped forward, in light, southwards, on the way of the sun, and (afterwards) he pressed the earth with the golden seal, and bored it with the poniard, speaking thus: 'O Spenta Armaiti, kindly open asunder and stretch thyself afar, to bear flocks and herds and men.'
And Yima made the earth grow larger by one-third than it was before, and there came flocks and herds and men, at their will and wish, as many as he wished.
Thus, under the sway of Yima, six hundred winters passed away, and the earth was replenished with flocks and herds, with men and dogs and birds and with red blazing fires, and there was room no more for flocks, herds, and men.
And I warned the fair Yima, saying: 'O fair Yima, son of Vivanghat, the earth has become full of flocks and herds, of men and dogs and birds and of red blazing fires, and there is room no more for flocks, herds, and men.'
Then Yima stepped forward, in light, southwards, on the way of the sun, and (afterwards) he pressed the earth with the golden seal, and bored it with the poniard, speaking thus: 'O Spenta Armaiti, kindly open asunder and stretch thyself afar, to bear flocks and herds and men.'
And Yima made the earth grow larger by two-thirds than it was before, and there came flocks and herds and men, at their will and wish, as many as he wished.
Thus, under the sway of Yima, nine hundred winters passed away, and the earth was replenished with flocks and herds, with men and dogs and birds and with red blazing fires, and there was room no more for flocks, herds, and men.
And I warned the fair Yima, saying: 'O fair Yima, son of Vivanghat, the earth has become full of flocks and herds, of men and dogs and birds and of red blazing fires, and there is room no more for flocks, herds, and men.'
Then Yima stepped forward, in light, southwards, on the way of the sun, and (afterwards) he pressed the earth with the golden seal, and bored it with the poniard, speaking thus: 'O Spenta Armaiti, kindly) open asunder and stretch thyself afar, to bear flocks and herds and men.'
And Yima made the earth grow larger by two-thirds than it was before, and there came flocks and herds and men, at their will and wish, as many as he wished.
The fair Yima, the good shepherd, called together a meeting of the best of the mortals, in the Airyana Vaejo of high renown, by the Vanguhi Daitya.
To that meeting came the fair Yima, the good shepherd, in the Airyana Vaejo of high renown, by the Vanguhi Daitya; he came together with the best of the mortals.
And Ahura Mazda spake unto Yima, saying: 'O fair Yima, son of Vivanghat!
Now after the melting of the snow, O Yima, a place wherein the footprint of a sheep may be seen will be a wonder in the world.
Then Yima said within himself: 'How shall I manage to make that Vara which Ahura Mazda has commanded me to make?' And Ahura Mazda said unto Yima: 'O fair Yima, son of Vivanghat!
[And Yima did as Ahura Mazda wished; he crushed the earth with a stamp of his heel, he kneaded it with his hands, as the potter does when kneading the potter's clay.
And Yima made a Vara, long as a riding-ground on every side of the square.
What are the lights that give light in the Vara which Yima made?
And the men in the Vara which Yima made live the happiest life.'
Who is he who brought the Religion of Mazda into the Vara which Yima made?
Yima, according to Yt9.10, made immortality reign on the earth for a thousand years.
Bund.) On Yima's fall, see Yt19.34; see Yt5.25-31.
Human lifespan declines
Yima, according to Yt9.10, made immortality reign on the earth for a thousand years.
Bund.) On Yima's fall, see Yt19.34; see Yt5.25-31.