Matsya Avatara (मत्स्यावतारः)

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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:

मत्स्यः कूर्मो वराहश्च नरसिंहश्च वामनः । रामो रामश्च रामश्च कृष्णः कल्किर् जनार्दनः ।।

Matsyaḥ Kūrmo Varāhaśca Narasiṁhaśca Vāmanaḥ । Rāmo Rāmaśca Rāmaśca Kṛṣṇaḥ Kalkir janārdanaḥ ।।

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.

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 Shatapatha Brahmana, Mahabharata, Agni Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.

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, 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, 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,

1. Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana (Haviryajna kanda, Adhyaya 7, Brahmana 3)
2. The Mahabharata (Vana Parva, Adhyaya 187)
3. Agni purana (Chapter 2)
4. Bhagavata Purana (8th skandha, Chapter 24).

an अवतार् of विष्णु;

1: Bhagavata Purana I. १५. ३५; X. 2. ४०; XI. 4. १८;

Brahmanda Purana. III. 7. ४३३; २२. ६६; ५७. ६१; IV. 4. २२; २९. १३६;

Matsya Purana. २६०. ३९; २८५. 6; २९०. २३; Vi. I. 4. 8.

Sacred Books of the Hindus Chapters 1, 2

once during a Pralaya an Asura, हयग्रीव, carried off the Vedas when Hari took the form of a fish with one horn and fell into the palm of the द्रविड king Satyavrata, performing ablutions; finding that it outgrew the size of his palm he took it to a pond; it outgrew the size of the pond when it was taken to a lake; it was also too small to hold it; hence after many trials it was taken to the sea; addressed by the king the fish revealed to him his true form and warned him of the Pralaya coming in a week and prepared him to get into a boat to be sent by him and have it tied to its horn; the deluge came and Satyavrata did as was directed; when they were all floating on the sea, Matsya Hari narrated to him the मत्स्य पुराण; after the deluge Matsya killed the demon, हयग्रीव and recovered the Vedas; through his blessings Satyavrata became Vaivasvata Manu;

2: भा. VIII. ch. २४ (whole). appeared to Vaivasvata Manu during deluge; protected Manu and others;

3: Ib. II. 7. १२; XI. 4. १८; M. २२. ९२. the form of विष्णु worshipped in Ramyaka.

4: भा. V. १८. २४. (Purana Index Dev.)

शतपथब्राह्मणे मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Shatapatha Brahmana

Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, i. 8, 1, 1 (the famous fish of the deluge legend); (Vedic index of names and subjects)

Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana (Vol.2), Haviryajnanakanda, Chapter 7, Brahman 3 - in the context of ida offering

1. 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".
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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॥

महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata

The story of Matsyavatara occurs in Adhyaya 187 of the Vana Parva in the Mahabharata. Here, Rshi Markandeya narrates the story to Yudhisthira on his request.

ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विशालायां बदर्यां स नराधिपः। एकपादस्थितस्तीव्रं चकार सुमहत्तपः ॥४॥

अवाकूशिरास्तथा चापि नेत्रैरनिमिषैर्दृढम्। सोऽतप्यत तपो घोरं वर्षाणामयुतं तदा ॥५॥

Once, Manu went to Badarikashrama and did great penance for 10,000 years standing on one feet with his arms raised up in the air and head bowed low.

तं कदाचित्तपस्यन्तमार्द्रचीरजटाधरम्।। चीरिणीतीरमागम्य मत्स्यो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥६॥

भगवन्क्षुद्रमत्स्येस्मि बलवद्भ्यो भयंमम। मत्स्येभ्यो हि ततो मां त्वं त्रातुमर्हसि सुव्रत ॥७॥

दुर्बलं बलवन्तो हि मत्स्या मत्स्यं विशेषतः। भक्षयन्ति सदा वृत्तिर्विहिता नः सनातनी ॥८॥

तस्माद्भयौघान्महतो मज्जन्तं मां विशेषतः। त्रातुमर्हसि कर्तास्मि कृतेप्रतिकृतं तव ॥९॥

One day as Manu was practicing penance in the banks of the river Chirini, a fish came and said, "Oh lord, I am a small fish. I always have fear of bigger fish. Therefore, I request you to save me from them. Strong fish make the weaker ones their food. Therefore, I am sinking in the great ocean of fear. You please try to save me and I will surely help you in return.

Verse 10 onwards...

Having heard the fish, Manu was overcome with compassion. He picked the fish who was as white as the rays of the moon and put him in a pot. He took very good care of the fish who began to grow. And after a long time, it was impossible for the fish to fit within the pot. Therefore, on the request of the fish, Manu took him to a huge well where the fish continued to grow for many more years. That well was 2 yojanas in length and 1 yojana in breadth. However, the fish outgrew the same. The fish then requested Manu take him to the Ganges. Then one day the fish said, "Oh Lord, my body has grown so much that I am unable to move about even in the Ganges. Therefore, take me to the ocean." Interestingly, though the fish had grown huge, when Manu would carry him, he would become that which is easy to carry. Thus, when Manu released him in the sea, the fish said with a smile, "Oh Lord, you have taken special care for my protection. Let me know tell you the opportunity I have got to help you. This entire creation, movable and immovable, is going to be destroyed soon. The time has come for the final Pralaya where everything will become one in the flood of waters. Therefore, I will tell you what is best for you. You should create a strong boat with a rope tied to it and ascend the same with the Saptarshis. You should also carefully collect all kinds of seeds enumerated by the ancient seers separately and place them in the boat. Having done this, you should wait for me in the boat. I will come to you with a horn in my forehead by which you can recognise me." Saying thus, the fish took leave of Manu.

Manu also gathered all the seeds, as advised, on a boat and thought of the fish. Knowing this, Lord in the form of a fish with horn came there. Manu tied the boat's rope to the horn on the head of Lord Matsya who pulled them through the salty waters for many years to come. When the entire universe was submerged in waters, only 9 people viz. the Saptarshis, Manu and Bhagavan Matsya were visible. Bhagavan Matsya pulled the boat towards the highest peak of the Himalayas asked the rishis to tie the boat to the peak. From then on, that peak came to be known as 'Naukabandhana'. Bhagavan Matsya the said to the Rishis, "I am Prajapati Brahma. I took the form of a fish in order to save you all from this calamity. Now Manu has to take up the responsibility of creating the everything movable and immovable, the power for which he will gain from serious tapas. And by my grace, he will be devoid of attachments (moha) while creating the universe. Saying thus, Bhagavan Matsya disappeared.

The Mahabharata further enumerates that this story destroys all papas. One who hears this story of Manu everyday becomes happy, attains all his desires abd can travel to all lokas.

अग्निपुराणकथा ॥ Story in the Agni Purana

Once, Vaivasvata Manu was practising penance for gaining objects of enjoyment and for release from mundane existence. When he was offering water as a ritual in the river Krtamala, a small fish came from the waters into his folded palms. As he was about to throw it back into the waters, the fish requested him not to do so as there was fear of crocodiles in the waters. Having heard this, Manu put the fish into a vessel. When it grew in size, the fish requested for a bigger vessel. But soon, it outgrew the big vessel also and was put into a tank. And eventually, as it grew as big as the tank, Manu released the fish into the ocean and in a moment the fish grew in size extending to one lakh yojanas. Manu then realised the fish to be none other than Sri Vishnu and at his behest the lord in the form of a fish said, “I have manifested for the protection of this universe and for the destruction of the wicked. On the seventh day, the ocean would flood the earth. Having collected the seeds of creation in the boat that would approach you, you should spend a night of Brahma (equal to 1000 mortal years) on it being encircled by the saptarshis. And bind the boat to my horn with the big serpent (as the rope). Saying thus, the fish disappeared. As the appointed hour approached and the ocean began to swell, Manu boarded the boat as instructed. The fish now appeared with a single golden horn of one million yojanas in length. And Manu tied the boat to its horn. Manu praised the lord in the form of a fish with adorations. And it was at this hour that the Matsya Purana, capable of destroying papas, was revealed by the lord in the form of a fish to Manu. This story of the Matsya Avatara occurs in the second chapter of the Agni Purana.

मत्स्यपुराणकथा ॥ Story in Matsya Purana

Chapter 1

In ancient times, Vaivasvata Manu, the first raja of the solar dynasty, after making over his kingdom to his son, devoted himself to rigid asceticism. 10-11

After a period of a million of years of continued asceticism, Lord Brahma became pleased towards him and told him to ask for a boon. 12

Having been thus addressed by Brahma, the raja, after saluting Him, said: "Lord! I have only one boon to beg of you, which is above all other boons. May I have power sufficient for the protection of the whole creation, movable and immovable, when the hour of Pralaya will come. 13-14

Lord Brahma, the atman of the universe, after granting the prayer of the raja saying, "Be it so", disappeared then and there and the devas profusely showered a rain of flowers from the ethereal regions.15

One day, in his hermitage, when the raja was making a libation of water to the manes of his deceased ancestors, a carp (small fish) fell into his hands along with the water. 16

On seeing that tiny fish, the merciful raja, out of compassion, wanted to preserve it and put it into his water jar. That tiny fish, in course of a day and night, grew into the form of a large fish, measuring sixteen fingers in length, and feeling uncomfortable inside the water jar where it was placed by the raja, cried for deliverance. 17-18

The raja took it out of the water jar and put it in a large pitcher but there also, in course of a night, it grew three hands in length. "I am at your mercy, come to my succour." The raja, again hearing these cries of the fish took it out of the pitcher and deposited it in a well. Later on, the well also proved insufficient. The raja then accommodated it in a tank. 19-20

In the tank, again, the fish grew a yojana (eight miles) in length, and again appealed to the raja, in a plaintive tone, to help it out of the tank. Then the raja put the fish in the Ganges and, finding that it increased there too, he placed it in the ocean. The fish went on increasing and increasing in bulk, until it very nearly filled the vast expanse of the great ocean. The raja, seeing this, was awe-stricken and said, "Are you the chief of the Asuras ? Or are you Vasudeva; who else has such an extraordinary power to assume such a tremendously big form extending to sixteen hundred miles ? 22-25

I have come to know you, O Keshava ! You are puzzling me in the form of a fish. I bow down to YOu, O Hrshikesha , Jagannatha, Jagaddhama."26

Being thus addressed, Bhagavan Janasdana, in the form of a fish, complimented him and said: "O Spotless One, I have been truly known by you. In a few days time, O raja, the universe shall be deluged with water, along with the mountains and forests. The Devas have made this boat to rescue the creation from such a calamity, placing in it svedajas, andajas, udbhijas and jarayujas. O raja ! you take charge of this boat and help the distressed at the time of the impending danger. When you find the boat in danger of being blown away by the strong gusts of wind, tie it to my horn. By rescuing the afflicted from such an awful misfortune, you will be rendering a great paternal seva (सेवा | selfless service) to the creation. And O blessed sovereign ! You shall reign for one Manvantara, from the beginning of the Krtayuga, and shall be venerated by all the devas.

Chapter 2

On hearing such words of the Lord, the raja begged Him to reveal to him in how many years the time of destruction was likely to come. The raja also entreated the Lord to point out to him the means of saving the creation from such a distress and to let him know when he would again be fortunate enough to meet Him face to face. 1-2

The fish replied that from that day there would be no rain for a hundred years, and the universe would be overtaken by a dire famine. After that, all the inferior beings of the universe would be scorched to death by the seven ordinary rays of the sun which shall become seven times more powerful. 3-4

In addition to all that, the subteranean fire would shoot-out, Shesha, from his abode in the lower regions, would send forth venomous flames from his thousand mouths, and a furious fire would emerge from the third eye of Shiva. 5

Thus the three worlds would be crumbled to ashes by the combined fury of all those various fires. The sky, with all the stars and planets, would also be destroyed by the heat thus originated. 6-7

Then seven destructive clouds viz. Samvarta, Bhimanada, Drona, Chanda, Balahaka, Vidyut pataka and Sona, would spring up from the vapours arising out of such a heat, and would rain in torrents till all the seas become united into one great mass. In fact the whole earth would be covered with one vast expanse of water, then get hold of that yonder boat and put the seed of creation and the sacred Vedas in it. After that, fasten the boat to my horn by means of this rope that I give you, and then the contents of the barge will be saved by my glory." O Piouos One ! when everything will be destroyed, your good-self, the moon, the sun, myself, Brahma, the sacred river Narmada, the great sage Markandeya, the sacred Vedas, The Puranas, The God Shiva, the various sciences, will alone be saved, and the reign of the raja Chakshusha Manu shall terminate with the coming partial dissolution. 8-14

At the beginning of the recreation of the Universe which would follow the period of destruction, I shall propogate the Vedic knowledge." So, saying, He suddenly vanished away. 15

The raja, till the time of dissolution, of which intimation was given to him by Lord Vasudeva, engaged himself in the practice of Yoga. 16

At the commencement of dissolution, the Lord appeared again in the form of horned fish. At the same time, Shesha, the Serpent Raja, appeared before the raja Vaivasvata Manu in the shape of a rope, and the raja, through his yogic power, collected together all living beings and piut them in the boat. And, after fastening the boat to the horn of the fish, by means of the rope, the raja saluted the Lord and got into it. 17-19

भागवतपुराणे मत्स्यावतारः ॥ Matsyavatara in Bhagavata Purana

Skandha 1, Chapter 3 - Description of twentyfour incarnations of Lord Vishnu

Skandha 8, Chapter 24 - The fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu.