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Matsya Avatara (Samskrit: मत्स्यावतारः) is the first and the foremost of the ten complete incarnations Dashavataras (दशावताराः) of Mahavishnu. The ten avataras (incarnations) according to the Puranic Encyclopedia are as follows:<blockquote>''मत्स्यः कूर्मो वराहश्च नरसिंहश्च वामनः । रामो रामश्च रामश्च कृष्णः कल्किर् जनार्दनः ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>Matsyaḥ Kūrmo Varāhaśca Narasiṁhaśca Vāmanaḥ  । Rāmo Rāmaśca Rāmaśca Kṛṣṇaḥ Kalkir janārdanaḥ  ।। </blockquote>Meaning: Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Turtle), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (Lion-man), Vamana (Dwarf), Rama (Parashurama), Rama (Sri Rama), Rama (Balabhadrarama), Krshna (Sri Krshna), Kalki (Yet to come). These are the ten incarnations of Janardana.<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), Puranic Encyclopaedia, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, See: [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/492 Matsya].</ref>

Matsya Avatara (Samskrit: मत्स्यावतारः) is the first and the foremost of the ten complete incarnations or Dashavataras (दशावताराः) of Mahavishnu. The ten avataras (incarnations) according to the Puranic Encyclopedia are as follows:<blockquote>''मत्स्यः कूर्मो वराहश्च नरसिंहश्च वामनः । रामो रामश्च रामश्च कृष्णः कल्किर् जनार्दनः ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>Matsyaḥ Kūrmo Varāhaśca Narasiṁhaśca Vāmanaḥ  । Rāmo Rāmaśca Rāmaśca Kṛṣṇaḥ Kalkir janārdanaḥ  ।। </blockquote>Meaning: Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Turtle), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (Lion-man), Vamana (Dwarf), Rama (Parashurama), Rama (Sri Rama), Rama (Balabhadrarama), Krshna (Sri Krshna), Kalki (Yet to come). These are the ten incarnations of Janardana.<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), Puranic Encyclopaedia, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, See: [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/492 Matsya].</ref>

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

The son born to Rshi Kashyapa (son of Rshi Marichi and grandson of Brahma) and his wife Aditi was called Vivasvan and the Manu who was the son of Vivasvan is known as Vaivasvata Manu or Satyavrata Manu. It was during the time of this Manu that Vishnu incarnated as a Matsya (fish). The story of Matsyavatara occurs in the Mahabharata, Agni Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.<ref name=":0" />

The son born to Rshi Kashyapa (son of Rshi Marichi and grandson of Brahma) and his wife Aditi was called Vivasvan and the Manu who was the son of Vivasvan is known as Vaivasvata Manu or Satyavrata Manu. It was during the time of this Manu that Vishnu incarnated as a Matsya (fish). The story of Matsyavatara occurs in the Mahabharata, Agni Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.<ref name=":0" />

Once, while Brahma was reciting the Vedas (the Scriptures) Hayagriva, an asura, stole the Vedas from the side of Brahma and with them he went under water to the bottom of the ocean and hid himself there. So Mahavishnu decided to take the form of a fish to recover the stolen Vedas.

Once, while Brahma was reciting the Vedas, Hayagriva, an asura, stole the Vedas from the side of Brahma and with them he went under water to the bottom of the ocean and hid himself there. So Mahavishnu decided to take the form of a fish to recover the stolen Vedas.

Vaivasvata Manu, was once doing penance in a place known as Badari. He got down into the river krtamala to take a bath. Then a small fish said to Manu: “Oh Raja, I am afraid of large fishes. So please don't forsake me”. Hearing this the kind Manu took the fish in his hand and put it in an earthenware pot and brought it up. In a few days the fish began to grow. When the pot became insufficient the Raja put it in a larger pot. When that also became too small, the he put the fish in a pond. When the pond could not hold the fish any longer he put it in the Ganges at its request. After a few days the Ganges also became too small for the fish. Finally the fish told the Raja: “Oh, Raja, within seven days there will be a great flood in the world. You should make a boat and take the Saptarshis with you in the boat and escape. I will help you.”

Vaivasvata Manu, was once doing penance in a place known as Badari. He got down into the river krtamala to take a bath. Then a small fish said to Manu: “Oh Raja, I am afraid of large fishes. So please don't forsake me”. Hearing this, kind Manu took the fish in his hand and put it in an earthenware pot and brought it up. In a few days, the fish began to grow. When the pot became insufficient, the Raja put it in a larger pot. When that also became too small, he put the fish in a pond. When the pond could not hold the fish any longer he put it in the Ganges at the request of the fish. After a few days, the Ganges also became too small for the fish. Finally, the fish told the Raja: “Oh, Raja, within seven days there will be a great flood in the world. You should make a boat and take the Saptarshis with you in the boat and escape. I will help you.”

Hearing this he got an immensely large boat ready and obeyed the instructions of the fish. Within seven days rain started in torrents. Everything in the world, the moving and the not moving, were under the flood. A horn began to sprout from the head of the fish. Manu tied his boat on that horn. The fish reached the summit of the Himalayas with the boat, which was tied to the highest peak. Since the peak came to be called ‘Naubandhana Shrnga’ (The peak to which boat is tied). The rain ceased to pour. It was seen that everything in the world had been destroyed except Manu and the Saptarshis and some of the germs, saved in the boat. (This story occurs in Mahabharata Aranya Parva, Chapter 187; Agni purana, Chapter 2; bhagavata 8th skandha, Chapter 24).<ref name=":0">Vettam Mani (1975), Puranic Encyclopaedia, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, See: [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/78 Avatara].</ref>

Hearing this, Manu got an immensely large boat ready and obeyed the instructions of the fish. Within seven days rain started in torrents. Everything in the world, the moving and the not moving, were under the flood. A horn began to sprout from the head of the fish. Manu tied his boat on that horn. The fish reached the summit of the Himalayas with the boat, which was tied to the highest peak. Since then, the peak came to be called ‘Naubandhana Shrnga’ (the peak to which boat was tied). The rain ceased to pour. It was seen that everything in the world had been destroyed except Manu and the Saptarshis and some of the germs, saved in the boat. This story occurs in,

# The Mahabharata (Vana Parva, Chapter 187)

# Agni purana (Chapter 2)

# Bhagavata Purana (8th skandha, Chapter 24).<ref name=":0">Vettam Mani (1975), Puranic Encyclopaedia, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, See: [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/78 Avatara].</ref>

 

 

== महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata ==

== महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata ==

The story of Matsyavatara occurs in [https://archive.org/stream/MAHABHARATA_201902/MAHABHARATA-02#page/n595/mode/2up Adhyaya 187] of the Vana Parva in the Mahabharata. Rshi Markandeya narrates the story to Yudhisthira on his request.  

The story of Matsyavatara occurs in [https://archive.org/stream/MAHABHARATA_201902/MAHABHARATA-02#page/n595/mode/2up Adhyaya 187] of the Vana Parva in the Mahabharata. Here, Rshi Markandeya narrates the story to Yudhisthira on his request.  

 

मत्स्यपुराणे १ अध्यायः ॥ दशावतारान्तर्गतप्रथमावतारः । (Kalpadruma)

मत्स्यपुराणे १ अध्यायः ॥ दशावतारान्तर्गतप्रथमावतारः । (Kalpadruma)