Matsyabatar ( मत्स्यावतार) of Lord Vishnu

Matsya Avatar

Legend has it that whenever Lord Brahma’s sleeping time arrives the whole world faces a Great Deluge(प्रलय). While Lord Brahma fell asleep the four Vedas fell from his hand. At that time a  demon named Hayagriv was near Lord Brahma. Taking this opportunity Hayagriv stole the four Vedas to stop the recreation process of the universe. Lord Vishnu came to know about the mischief of the demon Hayagriv and took the avatar of Matsya(Fish). At that time the king of Dravid dynasty, Rajarishi Satyavrata, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu was doing penance(meditation) on the peak of Malaya mountain. 

One day king Satyavrat was offering water to Suryadev(Sun god) in the river Kritmala, when Lord Vishnu taking the form of Matsya(fish) fell into the palm of King Satyavrat.The king released the fish into the river, but the fish prayed to the king to not leave him in the river as other big fishes might eat him. Hearing the pleadings of the fish king Satyavrat kept the fish in his water pot. Overnight the fish grew too big for the pot, seeing this the king transferred the fish into a well. The fish again grew too big for the well, then the king transferred him to a pond. After this the fish grew even bigger every night, the king kept transferring him from one place to a little bigger place. After the pond the fish was transferred to a river then to an ocean where to the disbelief of the king the fish grew into a huge and gigantic size. 

Seeing this the king realises that this was not a normal fish, it was a divine power in the form of the fish. Then the king prays to him to show him his real form. Hearing this the fish comes to his real form which was none other than Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu tells the king that seven days after today the Great Deluge would come and submerge the entire universe. He also said that on the day of the Great Deluge, a large boat tied to the tail of his fish form would come, and he directed the king to carry all the necessary items for the creation of the universe again. He tells the king to get aboard on the ship as soon as he sees it. He tells that he would carry all of them in the boat and roam around the ocean until Lord Brahma’s night is over. The day of lord Brahma signifies recreation of the universe.Lord Vishnu also said that the Saptarishi(divine seven sages) would also travel with them. 

As said by lord Vishnu the Great Deluge arrived on the proposed day, king Satyavrat was ready with everything necessary for the recreation of the universe. As commanded by lord Vishnu the boat tied to the fish form (मत्स्यावतार) came and the king boarded the boat with all the people  and items. They roamed around in the ocean on the boat pulled by the great fish until the Pralay(Deluge) was over. After this all the people in the leadership of King Satyavrat and guidance of the Saptrishi established a new universe.

After this incident King Satyavrat became known by the name Vaivatsva Manu.This was the first avatar of Lord Vishnu to save the universe from destruction.

Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran