God incarnates Himself on the earth to protect the devotees and the Universe. Incarnation will be called as AVATHARA in Sanskrit. Avatharana means stepping down from a higher position. Though God has the divine Vaikunta lo:ka as His abode, He incarnates Himself several times to the  mundane lo:ka i.e. Bhulo:ka. Thus, His incarnations were called as Avatharas. Incarnations are many in number. Among infinite Avatharas we know mainly dasa avatharas (dasa=10).

                            God took different forms according to the need of that particular yuga. We know God came in the form of Rama and Krishna into the human world to protect devotees from demons like Ravana and Kamsa. In the form of Varaha (Pig god) to uplift the earth from the water, as Narasimha (Lion headed god) to kill Hiranya kasipu according to his boons. In the same way once He took the form of a Mathsya (Fish) also to protect the Vedas, sages and different species of the whole universe.

                                The Chathur mukha Brahma (four headed god) will create the whole universe under the guidance of Lord Narayana. The day time 12 hours period according to Brahmas calendar will be called as a Kalpa. When Brahma Complete his day time and fell asleep, that will be the end time for the universe. Then the whole universe will be drowned in the water because of a big tsunami at the end of every kalpa i.e. the night  time for the Chaturmukha Brahma. Now we are in the period of Swetha Varaha Kalpa. Just at the end of the previous kalpa, when Brahma fell asleep a demon called Hayagriva came and escaped with all the Vedas. At that time God incarnated as Mathsya swarupa (form) to protect Vedas and all the species.

In the previous kalpa, there lived a king named Sathyavratha. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. One day as he was worshipping the Sun god after bathing in a river, a small fish came into his hands. When he was about to throw the fish back into the river, the fish requested the king to save its life.  The king was surprised to listening to the fish. He took the fish along with him and put in a kalasam (a small vessel). Immediately, the fish was grown in size and occupied the entire kalasam. Then the Fish requested to changes its place. King transferred the fish into a big kamandalu. Immediately the fish became too big to fit in to. Then the king threw it into a pool, but it soon outgrew the pool. So, the king took the fish and put it in a lake and then into the river. In the river also, the fish grew bigger. Then the king took the Fish to a ocean. For his great surprise even in the ocean the Fish became gigantic.

                Then, king became puzzled about this magic Fish which is growing upto 100yojans length withing one day. Being  a great devotee, he realized that it was Lord Vishnu Himself. The king Sathyavratha prayed to Lord Vishnu to reveal the reason to take this Fish form. Then Vishnu appeared before him and told the king that, He took the form to protect the Vedas, sages and the species during kalpantha. It is going to be end of the kalpa. So, exactly on the seventh day from today there will be a big tsunami to drown the whole universe and all living beings on the earth. In the mean time, you should go and collect all seeds, plants, animals of each type.  And also be ready with seven sages and Vedas.

        I will come in a large boat, you place all these in that and then fasten the boat to my horn with a huge snake. After saying this, the Fish god disappeared.

True to his word, on the seventh day, the tsunami started. All the worlds started to sink under the water with great storms and rain. At that time to save the world from the destruction, Lord Vishnu appeared in Fish form.  And a big boat came to Sathyavratha with the blessings of the Lord Vishnu. The king Sathyavratha and seven sages entered into the boat and loaded the boat with all types of animals, plants, seeds of all varieties. Then he tied the boat with a  big snake to the huge horn of the Fish . Then, Lord Vishnu in Mathsya form took all of them and protected until the tsunami was over. And the Mathsya swrupa killed the demon Hayagriva and recollected the Vedas also. After the pralaya (destruction) was over, that is the completion of the night to the Brahma. So, agin on the next day i.e. our present kalpa, Brahma started again the creation of the new era with the samples protected by lord Vishnu in the boat. Sathya vratha  was born as a son to Vivaswatha and became the Manu. He is the ruler of present Manvanthara. Being the son of Vivaswatha, he will be called as  Vaivaswatha. Now we are in Vaiswatha manvanthara. The ruling period of a Manu will be called as Manvanthara.

Thus, Vishnu took the form of Mathsya according to the need of the tsunami time and saved the Vedas, sages and different species for next kalpam.

1) Avathara means 

a) descending from a higher position                  b)ascending from a lower position

c) climbing up                                         d)falling down

2) God took incarnation to 

a) protect the devotees       b) get relax   c) to play       d)change his form

3) Kalpa means day  time of_____________according to his calendar

a) Brahma                b) man           c) Indra                   d) Lord Vishnu

4) Every Kalpa ends when Brahma_________

a) fell asleep             b)starts creation      c)stops creation       d)wakes up

5) God took different forms according to

a) the need of the yuga        b)prayer of Indra     c)His wish               d)Veda

6) God took the forms of ___________and ______________in the human world.

a) Rama and Krishna  b)Mathsya and Kurma   c)Mathsya and Rama  d)Krishna and Kurma

7) God took the form of Mathsya to

a) protect Vedas, sages and species b) swim in the waters  c) test His devotee d)none                                 

8) The king _________________________was the first devotee to see lord in Mathsya form

a) Sathyavantha          b) Dharmavratha      c) Sathyavratha                      d) Sathyapala

9) The demon ______________took the vedas when Brahma fell asleep

a) Hayavadana            b)Hayagriva     c)Hayakantha                  d) Hayapada

10) The Fish was able to grow upto_________ in a day.

a) 800 yojanas                   b)100yojanas   c)500 yojanas          d)10yojanas

1. The king Sathyavratha became a Manu later.

2. Mathsya Avathara happened in the previous kalpa of present kalpa.

3. Hayagriva is the name of a demon too.

4. Sathyavratha collected all the seeds , plants, and animals of all species.

5. The boat was tied up to the  horn of Mathsya swarupa with the help of a rope. 

6. At present we are in Sathyavratha Manvanthara.

7. Brahma will start the new creation on his own.

8. Sathyavratha was born as the son of Vivaswatha.