Many people are scared because they believe that the Kali yuga in which we live will witness the ultimate Deluge. Others call it the Kalaha yuga, the Age of Conflict, for it is now well-nigh omnipresent No, no. This age is the Golden Age for the seekers of God, for earning and learning viveka. (SSS Vol. 15, pp. 89-90)
(Michelangelo s painting of The Deluge)
Aeons ago, there was darkness everywhere. There were no human beings or any other creatures. It was pitch darkness all over. Then there was torrential rain for years together and as a result of this deluge, oceans were formed and mountains arose. Gradually the stars appeared in the sky. The sun too shone and shed its rays on the earth. The oceans and the sky became blue. The colour blue is indicative of the vastness of oceans and the sky. God is also vast and hence He is portrayed as blue in appearance. Gradually forests and hills, insects and creatures, birds and beasts grew on the earth. Millions of creatures of different species as also humans started inhabiting the earth. (SSS Vol.42, p. 179)
(The Matsya avatara of Vishnu saves Manu and the seven sages during the great deluge or Pralaya)
At the conclusion of every aeon the process of involution is completed in the Deluge. Then, evolution starts again and as Brahma, He creates beings again. (Bhag Vahini, p. 221)
The flow of water in an ordinary river may increase or decrease, but the river of life, with evermultiplying desires as its water, knows no decrease. It may become so wide as to be a boundless expanse of uncontrollable, turbulent waters. To cross such a river, therefore, a boat is absolutely necessary. Aum, the name of God, is the boat that takes you across this river. The ancient rishis had crossed the turbulent river of life with the help of the boat of Pranava, with ease. Pranava has the power to save the world from Pralaya (great deluge). (SSB 1979, p. 176)
Some people within India have been distributing pamphlets in which they have published that Swami has stated that in a short while the world will be deluged by a great flood and that large areas will get submerged and that other disasters will overtake the world and many countries will suffer very much. Such thoughts have never occurred to Swami and will never occur. These are the fancies of some idle minds. Do not give any credence to them. In some of these pamphlets, it is stated that parts of this country will get submerged and that Swami will send 12 students for rescuing people and listing a number of points in the pamphlets. Some devotees appear to have been taken in by these pamphlets which are being distributed by mischievous elements. In no circumstance should devotees believe in such stories. Nor should they give them currency by passing them on by word of mouth. You should not lend your ears to such ridiculous reports. It is a sign of weakness to listen to such stories or discuss them.
No disaster is imminent for the world. Over the vast globe, there may be some mishaps here and there, from time to time. The Iran-Iraq conflict lasted ten years. You should not consider it a major war. Even in India, terrorist activities have been going on in the Punjab. Is it a major struggle? Some disgruntled individuals have been resorting to these methods. Whether it is Bharat or any other country, its security lies in the promoting of right attitudes. Who are our friends and who are our enemies? Our own good thoughts are our friends. Our evil thoughts accompany us like shadows. When our thoughts are purified, our lives will be transformed into ideal ones. (SSS Vol.24, p. 19)