Dashavatara : Introduction

Matsya (1st Incarnation)

Matsya is a significant figure in Hindu mythology. In Hinduism, Matsya is believed to be the first avatar (incarnation) of the god Vishnu. Matsya is depicted as a fish and is associated with a great flood. This avatar is said to have appeared in the Satya Yuga, the first of the four yugas (ages) in Hindu cosmology.

According to the legend, Matsya saved the sage Manu and a variety of animals from a catastrophic deluge by carrying them in a boat. This event is similar to the biblical story of Noah's Ark. The appearance of Matsya in the Satya Yuga is considered a divine intervention to protect dharma (righteousness) and restore balance in the universe.

Story :

Matsya was the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who appeared in the form of a fish to save the world from a great flood. The story of Matsya is mentioned in various Hindu scriptures, such as the Matsya Purana, the Shatapatha Brahmana, and the Mahabharata.

According to the legend, there was a king named Satyavrata, who was also known as Manu, the progenitor of mankind. He was a devout worshipper of Vishnu and performed austerities on the banks of the river Kritamala. One day, he found a small fish in his water pot and decided to spare its life. The fish requested him to protect it from bigger fish and promised to save him from a future calamity. Manu agreed and placed the fish in a jar, but soon it outgrew the jar. He then transferred it to a bigger vessel, then to a pond, then to a lake, and finally to the ocean. But the fish kept growing and revealed itself to be Vishnu in disguise.

Vishnu told Manu that he had come to warn him about a great flood that would destroy all life on earth. He instructed Manu to build a large boat and take along with him seeds of all plants, specimens of all animals, and seven sages. He also gave him a sacred rope and told him to tie it to the horn of the fish when the flood came. Manu obeyed Vishnu's command and prepared for the deluge.

Meanwhile, another event took place that threatened the existence of the world. A demon named Hayagriva stole the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism, from Brahma, the creator god, while he was asleep. Hayagriva hid himself at the bottom of the ocean and guarded the Vedas with his power. Vishnu decided to retrieve the Vedas and destroy Hayagriva as part of his mission as Matsya.

When the time came for the flood, Manu boarded the boat with his companions and tied it to the horn of Matsya using the sacred rope. Matsya then swam across the waters, pulling the boat along with him. He also fought with Hayagriva and killed him after a fierce battle. He then recovered the Vedas and handed them over to Brahma. He also taught Manu the essence of the Vedas and revealed to him the secrets of creation, preservation, and destruction. He also blessed him with a son named Ila, who became the ancestor of all human beings.

After the flood subsided, Matsya guided Manu to Mount Meru, where he established his kingdom and performed sacrifices. Matsya then disappeared after completing his task as an avatar. He was followed by nine more avatars of Vishnu in different ages, who came to restore dharma (righteousness) whenever it was threatened by evil forces.

Matsya Purana

The Matsya Purana is one of the oldest and most comprehensive Hindu scriptures, classified as a Mahapurana. It is named after the fish (matsya) avatar of Vishnu, who saved the world from a great flood. The Matsya Purana contains various topics, such as cosmology, genealogy, mythology, geography, temple architecture, yoga, dharma, charity, festivals, and kingship. It also provides a definition of a Purana genre of literature, which consists of five characteristics: sarga (primary creation), pratisarga (secondary creation), vamsha (genealogy of gods and sages), manvantara (periods of Manu), and vamshanucharita (history of royal dynasties). The Matsya Purana is considered to be a Vaishnava text, but it also praises other gods and goddesses, such as Shiva and Devi. The Matsya Purana has survived in many versions, with varying number of verses. The original text is said to have 20,000 verses, but the extant manuscripts have between 13,000 to 15,000 verses. The Matsya Purana is also known as the oldest witness of the Ramayana story in Sanskrit literature.

Fig : Two Images Of Matsya Purana (From Gita Press Gorakhpur)

Fig : Lord Vishnu As Matsya Avatar