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Matsya Avatara (मत्स्यावतारः) (view source)
Revision as of 12:20, 29 October 2019
, 12:20, 29 October 2019Added content with citation
== 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 Shatapatha Brahmana, Mahabharata, Agni Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.<ref name=":0" />
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.
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.
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,
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)
# Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana (Haviryajna kanda, Adhyaya 7, Brahmana 3)
# The Mahabharata (Vana Parva, Adhyaya 187)
# Agni purana (Chapter 2)
# 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>
# 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>
Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, i. 8, 1, 1 (the famous fish of the deluge legend); (Vedic index of names and subjects)
Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, i. 8, 1, 1 (the famous fish of the deluge legend); (Vedic index of names and subjects)
Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana ([http://ignca.nic.in/eBooks/KANVASATAPATHABRAHMAAAM_Vol_II.pdf Vol.2]), Haviryajnanakanda, Chapter 7, Brahman 3.
Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana ([http://ignca.nic.in/eBooks/KANVASATAPATHABRAHMAAAM_Vol_II.pdf Vol.2]), Haviryajnanakanda, Chapter 7, Brahman 3 - in the context of ida offering
# They brought to Manu water for the morning wash, just as they bring noe for the washing of hands. When he was washing, indeed, a fish came into his hand. It spoke to him the word, "Keep me I shall surely save you".
# He said, "From what are you going to save me ?" It said, "A flood will carry away all these creatures. From that I shall save you". He said, "How are you to be maintained ? It said, "Till we are small, till then there arises numerous destruction for us". It further said, "Moreover, fish itself eats fish. Therefore, first keep me in a small jar, when I outgrow that, keep me in a pit. When I out grow that, then take me to the ocean". So it said. "Then I shall be surely out of danger". Soon it became a jhasha (big fish) for, that grows largest (in size).
# It said, "Such and such a year, the flood will come. Then having built a ship, you shall wait upon me. When that flood has risen, you shall take to the ship. Then I shall save you". He (Manu), having reared it in that manner, took it to the sea, the year it had indicated, then having got a ship ready, he remained near it. When the flood had risen he reached the ship. Then the fish floated up to him. He fastened the rope of the ship on its horn. With it, the fish moved fast towards this northern mountain.
# It said, "I have verily taken you across. Leave me. Fasten the ship to this tree. But let not the water cut off you who are on the mountain. May it not leave you. As and when the water subsides, then (step by step) you shall move down". Manu descended in that manner. Therefore, even now there is the name 'the descent of Manu' for this northern mountain. Thus, the flood carried away all the creatures and now Manu, the one person alone, remained.
मनवे ह वा उदकमाजह्रुः प्रातरवनेज्यं यथेदं पाणिभ्यामवनेजनायाहरन्ति तस्य हावनेनिजानस्य मत्स्यः पाणिमापेदे स हास्मै वाचमुवाद बिभृहि मा पारयितास्मि वै त्वेति ॥१॥
स होवाच कस्मान्मा पारयितासीति स होवाचौघ इमाः सर्वाः प्रजा निर्वोळ्हेति तत्वा पारयितास्मीति स होवाच स कथं भार्योऽसीति स होवाच यावद्वै क्षुल्लका भवाम इति बह्वी वै नस्तावन्नाष्ट्रा भवतीति होवाचोत मत्स्य एव मत्स्यं गिरतीति स कुम्भ्यां माग्रे बिभृहीति स यदा तामतिवर्धा अथ कर्षूं खात्वा स यदा तामतिवर्धा अथ मा समुद्रमभ्यवहरतादिति होवाच तर्हि वा अतिनाष्ट्रो भवितास्मीति शश्वद्ध झष आस स हि ज्येष्ठं वर्धते ॥२॥
स होवाचेर्तिथीं वै समामौघ आगन्तेति तन्नावमुपकल्प्योपासासै स औघ उत्थिते नावमापद्यासौ तत्वा पारयितास्मीति तं तथा भृत्वा समुद्रमभ्यवजहार स यतिथी समां परिदिदेश तदयं नावमुपकल्प्योप निषसाद स औघ उत्थिते नावमापेदे त स मत्स्य उपन्यापुप्लुवे तस्य नावः पाश शृङ्गे प्रतिमुमोच तेन हैतमुत्तरं गिरिमधिदुद्राव ॥३॥
स होवाचापीपरं वै त्वा प्र मा मुञ्चेत्यत्र वृक्षे नावं प्रबन्धीष्व मा तु त्वा गिरौ सन्तमुदकमन्तश्छैत्सीन्मा त्वा विहासैद्यावद्यावदुदक समवायत्तावत्तावदन्ववसर्पासीति स ह मनुस्तथान्ववससर्प तद्धाप्येतर्ह्येतस्योत्तरस्य गिरेर्मनोरवसर्पणमिति तदौघ इमाः सर्वाः प्रजा निरिवाहाथेदं मनुरेवैकः परिशिशिषे ॥४॥<ref>Edited and Translated by C.R.Swaminathan (1997), Kanvasatapathabrahmanam ([http://ignca.nic.in/eBooks/KANVASATAPATHABRAHMAAAM_Vol_II.pdf Vol.2]), New Delhi: IGNCA.</ref>
== महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata ==
== महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata ==