|
|
|
|
|
|
Hindu Bhakti (Devotional) Stories Index
Matsya Avatara
Avataras of Lord Vishnu, Incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Stories of Lord Vishnu, Hindu Mythology Stories, Stories from Puranas, Stories from Hindu Mythology, Stories from Bhagavata Purana, Hindu Devotional Stories, Lord Vishnu Avataras
|
|
|
Matsya (Fish in Sanskrit) was the first Avatar of Vishnu in Hindu mythology.
Once while lord Brahma was sleeping and the Vedas were not under protection, the demon Hayagriva stole them. According to the Matsya Purana, the king of pre-ancient Dravida and a devotee of Vishnu, Satyavrata who later was known as Manu was washing his hands in a river when a little fish swam into his hands and pleaded with him to save its life. He put it in a jar, which it soon outgrew. He then moved it to a tank, a river and then finally the ocean but to no avail. The fish then revealed himself to be Vishnu and told him that a deluge would occur within seven days that would destroy all life. Therefore, Satyavrata was instructed to take "all medicinal herbs, all the varieties of seeds, and accompanied by the seven saints” along with the serpent Vasuki and other animals.
Then to restore the Vedas Matsya dived into the ocean to kill Hayagriva and a battle ensued between Vishnu as Matsya and the demon Hayagriva in which Hayagriva was defeated and the Vedas were restored.
The deluge occurred and the lord reappeared as promised and advised Satyavrata to board the boat and fasten the serpent Vasuki to his horn as a rope to the boat.
Matsya is generally represented as a four-armed figure with the upper torso of a man and the lower of a fish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
