Matsya

Hindus believe that the Matsya was the first important avatar of Vishnu in Dashavatar.

Matsya avatar

As the Matsya avatar, Vishnu took the form of a big fish. Sometimes, it is said that he took the form of a half-man and half-fish. There is a story about this in Hindu scriptures. The story tells about a demon (an asura). That asura was very wicked. He snatched the Vedas, the holy books of the Hindus, and went deep inside the sea. At this point, Vishnu changed his form. He became a matsya, that is, a fish. He entered the sea and brought back the Vedas. He gave the Vedas to Manu. The Hindu scriptures say that Manu was the first man in the world. He may be compared with Noah or Adam.

Matsya Media

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  Matsya, Central India, 9th - 10th century. British Museum.

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  Vishnu-Matsya appearing from mouth of a horned fish, pulling the boat with Manu and the seven sages. Matsya has recovered the Vedic scriptures from the demon Hayagriva, who lies dead in the ocean. c. 1860-1870. V&A Museum.

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  Matsya avatar in British Museum, 1820

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  Manu with the seven sages in the boat (top left). Matsya confronting the demon coming out of the conch. The four Vedic manuscripts are depicted near Vishnu's face, within Brahma is on Matsya's right.

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  Matsya as a golden horned fish pulling the boat with Manu and the seven sages. Matsya's horn is tied to boat with the serpent, who is also depicted behind Matsya as a symbolic support. c. 1890 Jaipur.

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  Matsya temples are relatively rare, but the iconography is found in Hindu temple reliefs. A fish-faced Matsya in Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura.

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  Raja gopuram at Matsya temple of Vedanarayana Temple, Nagalapuram