Brief Introduction to Machh Avatar

 In Satyug, when Vishnu’s first avatar, known as Machh, came, that's when Brahma’s one kalp day had come to an end and his night had begun. Brahma’s kalp night is just as big as his kalp day. Brahma fell asleep. As he was asleep. Shankhasur took form within the ocean.

One day a Rajarishi (Royal-Saint) was on the banks of Karmanasa performing Jalanjhali. Within Sanatan Dharam, Jalanjhali was a term given when a saint stood in the river and took a scoop of water with his both hands and poured it towards the direction of the sun to commemorate the Gods. When Rajarishi was doing Jalanjhali then in one of the scoops a fish made its way into his hand. He threw the fish back into the river. “Don’t leave me here” The fish begged Rajarishi not to be left in the river. “The other creatures torment me to an unbearable extent...” the fish continued.

The Rajarishi took pity and put the fish in his water pouch. He observed the pouch over time and saw that the fish appears to be growing in size. He took him out and threw him in a well. But, even in the well, the fish was not satisfied and continued growing. The Rajarishi, once again, pulled the fish out of the well and put it in a vast lake.

As three peharas of day had passed the fish grew to an immense size. Rajarishi became fearful and asked the fish if it was an avatar. The fish answered back, “Listen Rajarishi, seven days from now a boat will come to this spot. Once you see it, have a seat. A Machh(fish) will come and tie the boat onto one of the Machh’s horns.” After the fish said this it dove deep underneath the water and wasn’t seen again.

On the seventh day the boat came. The Rajarishi along with 7 other saints sat on it and the boat began to move. After some time a massive Machh appeared. The Rajarishi tied the boat to one of it’s horns as the fish instructed. The Machh pulled the boat forward and through it’s stomach Machh Avatar appeared.

Due to being Kalp night, Brahma had been sleeping. The demon Shankhasur held a devastating war with the Gods and drove them away as well as stole the Four Vedas and disappeared deep within the ocean. When Brahma awoke from his sleep then he noticed his Vedas missing. He remembered the Lord. “Oh True One, my Vedas have been stolen. Bless me and return me my Vedas.” Akal heard the pleas of Brahma and the other Gods and sent Machh Avatar to kill Shankhasur.