Matsya

Matsya (Sanskrit मत्स्य matsya m. "Fish") is a mythological fish in Hinduism and the first incarnation of Vishnu. The Puranas tell about it in different versions.

Mythology

• According to various stories in the Puranas, Brahma is asleep after the end of a cycle of creation and the beginning of the following cycle, 4.32 billion years long - a Brahma - night. In one version, it is the horse -headed demon Hayagriva of the Vedas robbed him at this time that he receives back using Vishnu in his form as fish.
• According to the Padma Purana, however, a demon named Shankhasura steel (also called Makara ) the Brahma during his long sleep, the Vedas. Due to this loss, as time went also lost the righteousness of the people and their lives have been marred by all sorts of vices. Brahma and other celestials prayed to Lord Vishnu and asked for his help. Shankhasura chatted with the stolen Vedas in his underworld hidden on the bottom of the ocean, hidden in a conch named Panchajanya. Due to the entreaties Vishnu appeared in the form of a great fish, Matsya and killed the demon. Then he blew the conch Shankhasuras and it came the sound of "Om " from which returned the Vedas, because without this Brahma had the worlds can not recreate. Since then, the conch shell, one of the symbols of Vishnu is considered, as a visible sign of this victory. Brahma awoke, and Vishnu - in the form of Matsya - gave him the Vedas. A new creation could begin.

• According to the Matsya Purana and Bhagavata Purana Vishnu saved in his fish incarnation the wise Manu in an ark before the flood and preserved by the world from destruction. The story is about King Satyavrata Manu, who had practiced austerities for thousands of years. When he tried to draw in the river water, a small fish had swum into his hand. Just as he wanted to throw him into the water, asked this to rescue him from the dangers of the river. Manu was the fish in a small pot with water. But he instantly became larger and the pot was too tight. Since Manu threw the fish into a well where he continued to grow. So he brought him into a lake, and ultimately into the ocean. King Satyavrata realized now that it had is here to Vishnu himself up, who had assumed the form of a fish. Thereupon, Vishnu revealed his identity: " O king, in seven days the three worlds are flooded by the ocean of destruction. I'll send you a huge boat. Collect until then all kinds of herbs and seeds and rise with the seven great Rishis ( the sages Kashyapa, Atri, Vasishtha, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja ) and all kinds of creatures in the huge boat. You'll travel freely in the bitterness over the ocean of destruction and only the light of the seven Rishis will break through the darkness. I always stay near you, and if the boat is then thrown by the winds back and forth, tie it with Vasuki ( a huge mythical snake ) on my horn. I'll pull the boat with you and the Holy long through the ocean of destruction until Brahma awakened from its slumber. " ( Bha 8.24.32-37 )

The adult fish Matsya Avatar is described in the Bhagavata as follows: " While the king was meditating on the Lord, a tall, golden shimmering fish appeared before him in the vast ocean of destruction with a horn. He was a million yojanas long (about 13 million kilometers ). " ( Bha 8:24:44 )

Matsya Purana

During the journey through the raging ocean of fish Manu told his doctrine, which is content of the Matsya Purana.