Shrimad Bhagwat Puran – Chapter 5: The Story of Matsya and Kurma Avatars

Matsya and Kurma Avatars Story

In the Vamana Avatar, Lord Vishnu pacified King Bali's ego and restored their kingdom to the gods. However, the challenges for the gods were not yet over. Something was about to happen in the depths of the ocean that would shake both heaven and earth. To protect Dharma and obtain Amrita, the Lord had to weave another divine play.

The Deluge and the Matsya Avatar

Eons ago, as the day of Lord Brahma was about to end, a great deluge began to engulf the entire Earth. Rivers overflowed their banks, oceans surged, and torrential rains poured down. Life on Earth was thrown into disarray. Sages and common people alike were terrified by the wrath of the waters. Chaos reigned everywhere, and the fear of the end of creation loomed.

In such a terrifying time, there was a righteous king named Satyavrata, a devout devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was bathing in the river when a tiny fish landed in his cupped hands. The king thought, "How will this little fish survive this deluge? I must protect it."

The Protection of Manu and the Matsya Teachings

King Satyavrata placed the fish in his water pot. However, the fish immediately grew larger. He then transferred the fish to a larger vessel, but its size continued to increase. Finally, the king released the fish into the river. The fish then spoke, "O King! This river is too small for me. Take me to the ocean."

Upon being released into the ocean, the fish became colossal and informed the king that a deluge would occur on the seventh day, submerging the entire Earth in water. Lord Vishnu had appeared in the form of Matsya (the fish). He commanded King Manu to build a massive boat and instructed him to board it with all kinds of seeds, herbs, and pairs of creatures. The Lord also sent a giant serpent to tie the boat to the Himalayas.

When the deluge came, King Manu, the Saptarishis, and all living beings remained safe in the boat. Lord Matsya guided the boat and kept them safe until the end of the deluge. After the deluge subsided, Lord Matsya imparted the knowledge of the Vedas to King Manu, enabling the beginning of a new creation. By the Lord's grace, Dharma was established, and the light of knowledge spread.

The Churning of the Ocean and the Kurma Avatar

After the deluge, it was decided between the gods and the demons to churn the ocean to obtain Amrita. Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod, and the serpent Vasuki was employed as the rope. However, as the churning began, Mount Mandara started sinking into the ocean. The efforts of the gods and demons seemed to be failing.

The gods prayed to Lord Vishnu. Then, Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma (the tortoise) and supported Mount Mandara on his back. The mountain became stable on the vast shell of Lord Kurma, and the churning of the ocean began successfully.

Many divine objects emerged from the churning of the ocean, such as poison (which Lord Shiva held in his throat), Kamadhenu (the wish-fulfilling cow), the horse Uchchaihshravas, the elephant Airavata, Goddess Lakshmi, and finally, Amrita. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini and enchanted the demons, serving Amrita to the gods. Thus, the gods attained immortality, and the demons were defeated. Lord Vishnu once again protected Dharma and brought balance to creation.

Establishment of Dharma and the Wait for the Next Divine Play

In the Matsya Avatar, Lord Vishnu saved King Manu from the deluge and gave him the knowledge of the Vedas. In the Kurma Avatar, he assisted in the churning of the ocean and helped the gods obtain Amrita. In this way, Lord Vishnu has been protecting Dharma for ages. Now was the time for another avatar, the birth of a prince who would end a powerful demon like Ravana to establish Dharma. The next chapter will narrate the story of Lord Rama, who will be born in Ayodhya and pave the way for the victory of Dharma.