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| MATSYA - THE FISH |
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| MATSYA - THE FISH |
In his first incarnation, Vishnu has the lower part of his
body like that of a fish (Matsya) and the upper part like that of a man. He has four arms; with
two he holds a conch-shell and a wheel, while the other two are holding a lotus
or a mace or are in the protection and boon giving modes.
There are several explanations as to why Vishnu assumed the form of the fish.
One of them describes him as turning into a fish so as to be able to tow a ship
in which Manu, the progenitor of the new human race, had taken refuge from a
devastating flood. The same story is found in the Mahabharata where the fish
is described as having a horn.
In the Bhagvada-Purana the story is further elaborated
by the addition of a fight between Matsya and the demon Hayagriva, who had stolen
the Vedas when Brahma was asleep.
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| ASURA HAYAGRIVA |
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| MATSYA |
Before the latest creation of the present universe, the four Vedas (the holy
books from the mouth of the Supreme-Deity) remained drowned in the waters. It
was necessary to get hold of them to instruct Brahma about the work of creation.
Vishnu was therefore appointed to bring up the Vedas from the deep.
While Brahma was falling asleep, at the end of the KALPA (one day of Brahma -
equal to 4320 million years), the asura HAYAGRIVA wanted to take advantage of
the circumstances to steal from him the Vedas. But Vishnu caught the asura in
the act, and to retrieve the Vedas, took the form of a fish (Matsya), descended
into the waters and brought up the sacred books.
As the PRALAYA (Brahma's night - when the Universe will be reabsorbed in his
divine sleep) was fast approaching it was necessary to collect all the plants,
seeds, herbs, and animals so that they would continue to exist in the new creation.
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| MATSYA TEACHING SAGE SATYAVRATA |
Vishnu-Matsya taught the rishi (sage) SATYAVRATA to collect
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| MATSYA TOWING THE BOAT |
herbs, seeds and
animals, to gather together the seven rishis, and to wait.
At the PRALAYA'S beginning the gigantic fish defeated the asura, restored the
Vedas to Brahma; when the rain poured down, the ocean began rising and the waves
began swallowing the earth, a boat came where Satyavrata was waiting. When the
rishis, the animals and the seeds were boarded, the boat was fasten to the fish's
horn, using Vasuki, king of the serpent, and they sailed the water throughout
the night of Brahma. Thus Vishnu saved the mankind from dissolution.
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