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Avatar - matsya - the first incarnation of vishnu
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.

Avatar - matsya - the first incarnation of vishnu
MATSYA - THE FISH

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.

Asura hayagriva
ASURA HAYAGRIVA
Before the latest creation of the present universe, the four Vedas (the holy books fr
Incarnation - matsya
MATSYA

om 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.

Matsya teaching satyavrata
MATSYA TEACHING SAGE SATYAVRATA
Vishnu-Matsya taught the rishi (sage) SATYAVRATA to collect
Matsya sailing with the boat
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.