Hindu Shastras says that there have been 4 Yugas: Kal Yuga, Dwapar Yuga, Treta Yuga and Sat Yuga. Lord Brahma, the creator of every Yuga, is believed to go for a sleep till the creation of the next Yuga. And Lord Vishnu, the preserver and the savior of this Universe, is considered to take different forms (Avatars) to protect the earth. Till now, he has taken a total of 10 incarnations to protect his people. Lord Matsya (literally meaning fish) is considered the very first incarnation of Lord Vishnu during Sat Yuga. His Matsya Avatar is a one-horned gigantic fish that appeared during Mahapralaya. Hence every year "Matsya Jayanti'', the birth anniversary of Lord Matsya, is celebrated on the 3rd day (Tritiya tithi) of Shukla Paksha during Chaitra month according to the traditional Hindu calendar. As per Gregorian calendar, it lies in either March or April. This year, it is on the 31st of March 2025.
As per “Drik Panchang”, the “tithi” for “Matsya Jayanti” in the year 2025 is as follows:
Matsya Jayanti falls between Chaitra Navratri and Gangaur festivities. For Hindus, this holy festival holds an immense importance. On this day, Lord Vishnu is worshiped in his Matsya Avatar as a four-armed idol with the upper torso of a human and the lower of a fish and the Sudarshan Chakra is in ready for release posture.
As per “Drik Panchang”,
On this auspicious day, devotees wake up early, take a holy bath, and visit temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Many observe a strict fast, chanting Vedic hymns and reciting scriptures like the Matsya Purana and Vishnu Sahasranama. Special prayers and bhajans are organized in temples and households, invoking divine blessings. Some devotees perform rituals near water bodies, symbolizing the connection of Lord Matsya with the cosmic ocean. Additionally, acts of charity, such as feeding the poor, donating clothes, and offering food to fishes, are considered highly meritorious, bringing spiritual benefits and prosperity.
There has been a great legend behind Matsya Avatar of Lord Vishnu:
In Sat Yuga, there was a pious king named Manu or Satyavrata. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu & wished to witness him directly once in his life. When Sat Yuga was at its end, a demon named Hayagriva conspired to take away all the Vedas and have all the sacred knowledge. He hid himself in an ocean. When Lord Brahma got to know about it, he asked Lord Vishnu for the preservation of those Vedas. Ultimately Lord Vishnu took his Matsya Avatar & rescued the holy Vedas from Hayagriva.
One day, King Manu went to Krithamala river for his morning rituals. As he took some water in his palms, a fish came with the water in his hands. Being a kind and generous person, he placed that fish again in the water. But the fish emerged again & asked a shelter from the King to stay safe from the big fishes. On hearing this, King Manu took the fish and placed it into a vessel. As the fish kept on growing big, he also kept on changing its living place from a vessel to a well to a river. Now the fish became so huge that the King had to pour it into the ocean. After a while, the fish became bigger and even the ocean couldn't bear it. Then Lord Vishnu appeared in Matsya Avatar in front of King Manu & informed him that this Yuga is going to end in the coming 7 days. Lord Vishnu instructed him to build a ship, collect seeds of all plants, animals, Vasuki (the snake God) & the sacred 7 sages. When adversity arose & the great floods came, Lord Matsya appeared before King Manu. He, with the help of King Vasuki, tied the ship with Matsya's horn. The fish swam across the ocean for the entire night which was equal to 4.32 billion years and took everyone on the ship to the Himalayas safely. After the floods subsided, Lord Vishnu gave the Vedas and everything that King Manu had kept in the ship to Lord Brahma. Ultimately Lord Brahma initiated a new Yuga. Life began on the earth again. Since then, Matsya Jayanti is observed to seek the blessings of the Almighty.
In India, 'Nagalapuram Veda Narayana Swamy Temple' (close to Tirupati) in Andhra Pradesh is the only Matsya Avatar temple of Lord Vishnu. This temple is an architectural wonder. Every year, on Matsya Jayanti, the sun rays directly fall on the Murti worshiped in this temple. On Matsya Jayanti, grand programmes are organized here with endeavor. In the morning hours, the processional deity is taken around the streets and in the evening, it is taken atop Garuda Vahana around the streets. Offering donations, food, clothes and money to the Brahmins and the needy is also very meritorious. Feeding fishes and other animals is also believed to redeem one from all the sins. Vaishanava and ISKCON temples also celebrate this holy festival with immense joy and devotion.
Performing charitable acts on this auspicious day is believed to bring immense spiritual benefits and blessings from Lord Vishnu. Devotees engage in selfless service, practicing daan (charity) to accumulate positive karma.
Offering food, clothes, and money to Brahmins and the needy is considered highly meritorious. Many devotees visit temples and ashrams to make donations, ensuring that underprivileged individuals receive essential support. Distributing prasad and annadan (free food distribution) is a common practice, reflecting the spirit of generosity and kindness.
Feeding fishes and animals is believed to cleanse one from all sins. Since Lord Matsya symbolizes protection and preservation, offering food to aquatic creatures is seen as an act of devotion. Many people visit rivers, ponds, and lakes to feed fish, reinforcing their connection with nature and the divine. Additionally, lighting lamps and offering flowers at Vishnu temples enhance the sanctity of the occasion.
Vaishnava temples and ISKCON temples across India celebrate this holy festival with immense joy and devotion. The festivities begin early in the morning with an elaborate abhishek (ritual bathing) of Lord Vishnu’s idol, followed by grand aarti and special puja ceremonies. The devotees decorate temples beautifully with flowers and lights, creating a divine atmosphere that attracts thousands of devotees. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims find their ways to Vaishnava and ISKCON temples, offer prayers, read holy books, and attend discourses on Matsya Purana by spiritual leaders.
On this Matsya Jayanti, let us all remember the fact that ‘divine grace always prevails.’ Every avatar of Lord Vishnu, including Lord Matsya, guides humanity toward righteousness and harmony.
|| Shubh Matsya Jayanti ||
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