The Matsya avatar is one of Hinduism’s most ancient incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the god known as the Preserver. Mythology states that Vishnu took the form of a fish to save humanity and sacred texts from a catastrophic flood.
King Manu, a deeply devoted and righteous ruler, was engaged in his spiritual practices near the ocean. As he took some water in his hands, he noticed a tiny fish swimming in them.
The fish pleaded with the king to save its life, fearing that it would be devoured by larger creatures. Touched by compassion, the king placed the fish in a small tank within his palace.
To his amazement, the fish began to grow rapidly, outgrowing the tank in no time. The king then moved it to a small pond, but the fish continued to grow until even the pond couldn’t contain it.
Realizing its extraordinary size, King Manu decided to release the fish into a river, and eventually back into the vast ocean.
To his astonishment, the fish revealed itself as Lord Vishnu, the supreme deity, who had taken the form of the fish to test King Manu’s faith and virtue.
As King Manu humbly bowed before the divine Matsya, Lord Vishnu disclosed the forthcoming flood and shared his divine wisdom with the king.