During one of these events, Matsya, the first avatar of Vishnu, guided Vaivasvata Manu.
In Chinese legend, one of these events is dealt with by Gun, Shun, and Yu the Great before Yu founds the Xia ("shYAH") dynasty. Themis gives a command to throw the "bones of one's mother" behind oneself after another one of them. During one of these events, Matsya, the first avatar of Vishnu, guided Vaivasvata Manu. The Sumerian Utnapishtim became immortal after one of these events, which spared Deucalion and Pyrrha in the Greek telling. A covenant preventing this from recurring was shown to the father of Japheth, Ham, and Shem using a rainbow. For 10 points, name this common fabled disaster, prior to which Noah built an ark.
In Chinese legend, one of these events is dealt with by Gun, Shun, and Yu the Great before Yu founds the Xia ("shYAH") dynasty.
floods [or Great Floods; or deluge; accept any answer indicating survival during any of the above; prompt "extinction of mankind"]