Matsya: A Swimming Saviour

Suddenly, everything stopped. She slowly laid down her weaponry. Fighting made no sense to her anymore. Her anger left her and her vigor deserted her.

For the first time, she felt blood rush into her face, making her turn away in embarrassment. She felt coy, a feeling she had never sensed before.

Her hands suddenly rose up to her bossom. Gently, she touched and found a cavity where she had known a third breast.

It appeared that the one with eyes as beautiful as fish had finally met her match.

The fish, hereon referred to as ‘matsya’ is a very intriguing symbol to study in mythology. From being the form taken by a god to save the world to being used to describe the otherwise indescribable beauty of eyes to even simply being a symbol of fertility in art forms through paintings and sculptures — it is a widely explored symbol, connected to numerous stories.

An unexpected nod to the biblical story of Noah’s ark, the matsya avatar was considered most appropriate by the god of protection & nurture, Vishnu to reincarnate the world while saving Manu and Shatarupa from invincible floods brought by Shiva.

Matsya is reflective of the Indian subcontinent as well. Perhaps as a result of the many coastal settlements of the peninsular India or because of different communities that recognized its immunity building and healing powers, matsya truly enjoyed the most intriguing incorporation into storytelling and art.

After all, it brings about good luck, it shines and shimmers and represents all that is fluid and flexible in life. What’s not to popularize?