INTRODUCTION : 
Matsya is the fish avatar of Lord Vishnu. This avatar is mentioned in Vedic texts, puranas, bhagavatam and in the great epic Mahabharatha. Once when Manu, who was the son of Lord Brahma, and also one of his first and foremost creation, was performing religious rituals on the banks of the Cherivi River, Andhra Pradesh. At that time a little fish asked for its protection. When Manu places the fish in the small bottle, it grows rapidly in size and again he put the fish into a tank, and then to the holy Ganges River, and finally to the ocean. The great Matsya who was in the form of fish has advised Manu to carry with him the Rishis with sufficient food grains in a ship, on the day of the expected deluge (PRALAYAM). Manu ties the ship to the fish and then drove the ship to the Himalayas. The fish then reveals himself as Lord Vishnu and gives the power of creation to Manu.
TEMPLES FOR LORD MATSYA :
1. Shankhodara temple in Bet Dwarka
2. VedanarayanaTemple in Nagalapuram
3. Matsya Narayana Temple in Bangalore
IMPORTANCE :
Lord Vishnu has taken this avatar several lakhs of years before. He has taken care of Manu and the great rishis, and protected them from the deluge. CONCLUSION Lord Matsya who has safeguarded the holy beings and took care of them, will also protect us throughout our life, if we sincerely worship him with pure bhakti. He is expecting the sincere faith and devotion on him and nothing more else. Even if we offer few flowers and worship him with true bhakti, he will readily accepts it and bless us. Let us worship Lord Matsya and be blessed.
“OM SREE MATSYA MAHA VISHNUVE NAMAHA”
SENT BY
R.HARISHANKAR
