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Matsya, the
Fish, is the first manifestation of Vishnu in the course of the Deluge:
He saved humanity's forebears from the flood. While Brahma was falling asleep,
at the end of the Kalpa, 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 retreive the Vedas, took the form of a fish. Then Vishnu-Matsya
taught the rishi (sage) Satyavrata to collect herbs, seeds and animals,
to ghather toghether 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 troughout the
night of Brahma. Thus Vishnu saved the mankind from dissolution. |
