Matsya

Matsya is a term from Sanskrit meaning fish, and it appears in various Hindu texts and traditions. It is used to refer to both a literal fish and to important symbolic and mythological concepts within Hinduism.

In Hindu cosmology, Matsya is the first avatar of the god Vishnu, one of the ten principal avatars (dashavatara). According to the narratives found in the Puranas, Vishnu manifested as a large fish during a time of cosmic pralaya (flood) to protect the creation. The Matsya avatar saves the seed of life, the Vedas, and Manu, guiding a boat to safety as the waters rise. After the deluge subsides, Vishnu as Matsya reveals his divine identity, establishing the duty of humankind to preserve knowledge and life. The Matsya story is elaborated in texts such as the Matsya Purana, which treats the avatar and related cosmological material in addition to broader religious and moral teachings.

Historically and literarily, Matsya Desha (the Matsya Kingdom) is an ancient Indian realm mentioned in epic literature, notably the Mahabharata. It is described as a northern Indian polity ruled by King Virata, with the Pandavas spending the year of their exile there in disguise. The region is associated with the Matsya Desha geography in traditional Indian geography and is sometimes linked to the broader cultural and political landscape of early Indian kingdoms.

Culturally, Matsya imagery—particularly the fish form of Vishnu and the fish-symbols in temple iconography and scripture—appears across Hindu art and narratives. The Matsya Purana, one of the traditional Puranas, preserves and discusses these themes in more detail.