Matsya Jayanti 2024 : why Lord Vishnu took the Avatar of a fish.

The Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in Chaitra month is celebrated as Matsya Jayanti. This year it will be celebrated on 11 April 2024, Thursday. Lord Vishnu is worshipped on Matsya Jayanti. A variety of Prasadam is prepared and offered to the Lord.

Matsya Avatar of Lord Vishnu

Matsya Avatar is one of the most important Avatars of Lord Vishnu amongst all his Avatars. It is also believed to be the first Avatar of Lord Vishnu. In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu took the form of a fish and saved the world from destruction. Several stories related to this Avatar of the Lord are popular. These stories focus on creation and balance in nature. Matsya Jayanti represents the principle that says humanity is the ultimate religion in all walks of life. Protecting the weak is the best religion.

This Avatar of the Lord shows the beginning of a new journey of a person’s life. This day is celebrated with great excitement and devotion by the Hindus. Lord Vishnu is worshipped and Bhagwat Kathas are organized in various temples. Traditionally people visit religious places and bathe in holy rivers on the occasion of Matsya Jayanti.

Matsya Jayanti Puja Muhurat 2023

Matsya Jayanti is celebrated on the Tritiya Tithi of the Chaitra month. Vrat and Puja are performed on this day immediately after sunrise.

Matsya Jayanti Puja Vidhi

• One should take a bath in holy rivers on the day of Matsya Jayanti.
• If visiting holy rivers is not possible, pure water should be used at home.
• Arghya should be offered to the sun during sunrise.
• Lord Vishnu should be worshipped and ‘श्री नमो नारायण’ Mantra should be recited.
• Place an altar at the place of worship and clean it with Gangajal, place a yellow cloth on it. Place Matsya Avatar idol of Lord Vishnu on the yellow cloth.
• Apply Chandan Kesar Tilak to the Lord.
• Floral garlands should be offered to the Lord.
• Panchamrit, fruits, dry fruits, etc. should be offered to the Lord while worshiping.
  Matsya Avatar Katha should be recited.
• Bhagavad and Matsya Puran Path should be organised.
• Dhoop and Dipak should be used while performing the Vishnu Aarti.
• After the Aarti, Bhog should be offered to the Lord. Kheer and sweets should be used as Bhog.
• After that, it should be distributed amongst the family members.
• Offering food and Dakshina to the Brahmins on the day of Matsya Jayanti is considered highly beneficial.

Perform these work on the day of Matsya Jayanti

• ‘ॐ मत्स्यरूपाय नमः’ - This Mantra should be recited on the day of Matsya Jayanti.
• Small balls of wheat flour should be offered to fishes in rivers and other water bodies.
• Seven types of grains should be donated on this day.
• Harivanshpuran should be donated to temples on this day.

Matsya Jayanti Katha

The story of Matsya Jayanti is mentioned in the Puranas. The first Avatar of Lord Vishnu is Matsya Avatar. When the end of the world was about to occur, Lord Vishnu stepped in and saved the Earth by taking the Matsya Avatar.

The Katha of Matsya Jayanti is as follows - Satyavrat Manu was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. One day Satyavrat Manu goes to the river to worship and performs Tarpan to the Lord. There, a small fish falls in his Kamandal. Satyavrat Manu, being a pious, compassionate and benevolent King, takes the fish to his house, but the fish grows very large. It becomes difficult to keep her in the house. So, Satyavrat transfers her to a pond. As soon as the fish is transferred into the pond, it enlarges so much that it does not fit in that pond. Then king Manu takes the fish out of the pond and transfers it into the river, but again the fish enlarges and becomes larger than the river. Finally, Manu transfers that fish into the sea, yet again the fish becomes larger than the sea.

Manu is surprised to see this form of the fish. He realises that it is not an ordinary fish. He bows to the fish, joins hands and asks the fish to reveal the secret behind all this. Lord Vishnu emerges from the fish and tells him that after seven days there will be Pralay on the Earth. As a result, the earth will submerge in water. Hence he has taken the Avatar of a fish. He then appoints King Manu to follow his instructions to save the world.

Shri Vishnu asks Manu to build a big boat. He asks Manu to then collect all the essential items and keep the same in the boat. He then tells Manu to call the Saptarishi and all other living beings to the boat. In this way, the world can be rebuilt even after the Pralay. Manu follows all the instructions given by the Lord. Exactly after seven days, Pralay occurs. Lord Vishnu once again comes in the Avatar of a fish and asks Satyavrat to tie the boat to the fish. Lord Vishnu stays in the water in Matsya Avatar till the Pralay ends. As the boat is attached to the fish everyone is saved.

Lord Vishnu keeps all the four Vedas with him and gives them to Lord Brahma for rebuilding the world. In this way, God takes the Avatar of Matsya and saves the earth and ensures the welfare of all living beings.