In Rigveda, Panis (demons) stole the cows belonging to Angirasas, sons of Sage Angiras, & hid them in a cave. The Angirasas approached Indra & other gods to help them. Indra ordered Sarama, a bitch in his court to find out where the cows were. She did & negotiated with the Panis, who initially were stubborn. When she related Indra's might, they tried to bribe her with a share, saying she was like a sister to them. She said that she was nobody's sister & returned to Indra, who raided the cave & recovered the cows.
In Semitic literature also, there is the story of the Seven Sleepers in the Christian tradition (not in the Bible). These were seven Christian men who hid in a cave to avoid persecution by the Roman Emperor, who sealed the entrance. After about 200 years, when Christianity was established, the cave was opened. The seven, who were sleeping, came out & like the later Rip Van Winkle, thought they were asleep for only a short time!
A reference to this is in the Qur'an also, but the duration is about 300 years & the number of sleeping men is not specified. But a dog, probably named Al-Raquim was also stretched out at the mouth of the cave. (Surah 18, Verse 9). All were supposedly alive.
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