the Deluge which destroyed the “elder race”, Bhima meets with Hanuman, who informs him regarding the Ages of the Universe and the races which were periodically destroyed by deluges.  When Bhima reaches the lotus lake he fights with demons.  To heal his wounds and recover strength he plunges into the lake.  “As he drank of the waters, like unto nectar, his energy and strength were again fully restored."[222]

Hercules similarly sets out to search for the golden apples which grow in

      those Hesperian gardens famed of old,
    Fortunate fields, and groves and flowery vales.

As Bhima slew Yakshas which guarded the lotuses, Hercules slew Ladon, the guardian of the apples.  Other heroes kill treasure-protecting dragons of various kinds.

There is a remarkable resemblance between the Babylonian account of Gilgamesh’s journey through the mountain tunnel to the garden and seashore, and the Indian story of the demigod Hanuman passing through the long cavern to the shoreland palace of the female ascetic, when he was engaged searching for Sita, the wife of Rama, who had been carried away by Ravana, the demon king of Ceylon.  In the version of the latter narrative which is given in the Mahabharata, Hanuman says:  “I bring thee good news, O Rama; for Janaka’s daughter hath been seen by me.  Having searched the southern region with all its hills, forests, and mines for some time, we became very weary.  At length we beheld a great cavern.  And having beheld it, we entered that cavern which extended over many yojanas.  It was dark and deep, and overgrown with trees and infested by worms.  And having gone a great way through it, we came upon sunshine and beheld a beautiful palace.  It was the abode of the Daitya (sea demon) Maya.  And there we beheld a female ascetic named Parbhavati engaged in ascetic austerities.  And she gave us food and drink of various kinds.  And having refreshed ourselves therewith and regained our strength, we proceeded along the way shown by her.  At last we came out of the cavern and beheld the briny sea, and on its shores, the Sahya, the Malaya, and the great Dardura mountains.  And ascending the mountains of Malaya, we beheld before us the vast ocean (or, “the abode of Varuna").  And beholding it, we felt sorely grieved in mind....  We despaired of returning with our lives....  We then sat together, resolved to die there of starvation.”

Hanuman and his friends, having had, so far, experiences similar to those of Gilgamesh, next discovered the eagle giant which had burned its wings when endeavouring to soar to the sun.  This great bird, which resembles the Etana eagle, expressed the opinion that Sita was in Lanka (Ceylon), whither she must have been carried by Ravana.  But no one dared to cross the dangerous ocean.  Hanuman at length, however, obtained the assistance of Vayu, the wind god, his divine father, and leapt over the sea, slaying monsters as he went.  He discovered where the fair lady was concealed by the king of demons.[223]