Fish Pose Story (Matsyasana)

​Once a upon a time, there was a king named Manu who was performing his spiritual practice by the river. A small fish comes into his hands and just as he is about to throw the fish back into the river, the fish requests the king to save its life. Heeding its request, the king puts the fish into a jar of water but the fish starts growing and the jar is not big enough for it. Then the king throws it into the river, but it soon outgrows the river and the king then throws it into the Ganges. Finally the fish grows so large that only the ocean can contain it.
 
Manu realizes that the fish must be some kind of sacred deity and bows down in submission asking the fish for enlightenment.  Then the fish reveals himself as Lord Vishnu. Vishnu warns Manu that there will be a great flood that will submerge the world and destroy all living beings. Vishnu asks Manu to build a great ship and gather all the worthy sages, birds, animals and plants.
 
The rain begins and it rains, and rains, and rains and rains. The ship is tossed and turned on tumultuous waves amidst the thunder and lightening of the storm. Manu has to steer the ship but he has no idea where to direct it. As promised, Vishnu, as matsya, the giant fish, steadies the ship from behind and leads it to safety.  

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