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"Dasha Avatar"

Matsya Avatar - The Fish Incarnation

Everybody is familiar with the term "VEDAS". It is one of the holy Scriptures of Hindus which remains in the mouth of the Supreme Lord - BRAHMA .The Vedas are the scriptures, with the aid of which, Brahma (the creator God), performs his role.

Once when Lord Brahma was relaxing the Vedas happened to slip out of his possession at a moment of his respite*. An asura,named HAYAGRIVA, who was watching all this thought that, " This is my chance ! I must concentrate with all my mind and the Vedas falling out of the Creator's mouth ( Brahma's Mouth) will enter mine."

But, Vishnu,(the preserver-God) saw Hayagriva absorbing the Vedas. He thought to himself that, " The PRALAYA (Dissolution) was to follow soon and I should retrieve the VEDAS for the next spell of Creation."

As God was wondering what was to be done, he saw the Royal Sage Satyavrata, the staunch devotee offering water to the Manes. God immediately thought of an idea and said," I will take the form of a Fish and retrieve the Vedas while doing a good turn to my Devotee (Satyavrata). He shall live through the Pralaya." Thinking this Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a Fish. As Satyavrata scooped up the next handful of water he saw a tiny fish in his palm, seeing this poor creature he thought that it must be very frightened and that I should put it back into the river.

As Satyavrata scooped up the next handful of water he saw a tiny fish in his palm, seeing this poor creature he thought that it must be very frightened and that I should put it back into the river.

As he was about to do so the fish said,"O noble soul, if you throw me into the water, big creatures might swallow me up. I have come to you for shelter. Will you disown me like that ?" Satyavrata took pity and told the fish not to worry as he will take care of her. He put the fish into his KAMANDALU and went back to his hermitage.

Overnight, the Fish grew too big to be in the Kamandalu. The next morning when the sage looked it up, the Fish requested him to remove him to a larger vessel. Satyavrata did so but soon the fish became too big for the larger vessel also. Addressing the Sage, the Fish said that he should protect him and find a suitable living space for it. Satyavrata then emptied the vessel into a large pond near the hermitage along with the Fish. But, in no time the Fish grew as large as the pond and filled it. Then the Fish exhorted* the Sage to take it to a large and deep lake. Although Satyavrata took it to several lakes, one larger than the other, the Fish kept growing and bigger and bigger. It went on asking for larger and larger living space.

Sathyavarata got vexed and decided to put it into the ocean. While he reached the ocean, the Fish addressed him thus: "Oh Sage, do not put me into the ocean, I am sure to be swallowed by the gigantic creature there."

Satyavrata became suspicious now. He was despairing to know how that wonderful Matsya Avtaar fish could grow so big in one day that it has covered the largest lake.In a flash, he realized that it was Lord Vishnu in the form of Fish.

Satyavrata immediately prostrated before the Fish and prayed to be told why God had appeared in the form of Fish. The Lord told his devotee, "Just a week from now, the ocean will rise and inundate* the entire Universe for the dissolution of creation. At that time a spacious boat send by me will approach you. Do collect all the seeds, plants and animals required for the next spell of creation and get into the boat and await me. Take VASUKI, the king of Serpents, also with you. The SAPTHA RISHIS (seven Sages) will also be with you".

Divine Fish slew* him and recovered the VEDAS and restored them to BRAHMA for him to resume the function of CREATION at the appropriate time.

The Fish left for fulfilling its mission. When Hayagriva saw the gigantic fish approaching him he was overtaken by fear but he knew if he opened his mouth the Vedas will be lost.

He held the VEDAS tightly in his mouth. But soon the Divine Fish slew* him and recovered the VEDAS and restored them to BRAHMA for him to resume the function of CREATION at the appropriate time.

As foretold by the DIVINE FISH, PRALAYA (deluge) set in and on the turbulent waters, a boat appeared. Sage Satyavrata, the Saptha Rishis and all the living creatures found haven in the boat. As the boat was tossed about by the turbulent ocean they suddenly saw the fish approaching, it was in golden color now and had a horn.

As the boat was tossed about by the turbulent ocean they suddenly saw the fish approaching, it was in golden color now and had a horn. He said Loudly," Fasten the Boat to my horn, using Vasuki as a rope. Do not worry, none of you will be harmed."

While the boat floated safely on the rising and enveloping waters, VISHNU taught Satyavrata and the Rishis the highest form of Truth, which has come down to earth as a Puranic Lore, called the MATSYA PURANA.

Lord VISHNU in this manner saved his True Devotees from dissolution so as to hand down divine knowledge to the next generation and saved the VEDAS from destruction so as ensure CREATION after the DISSOLUTION.