Matsya and
the Great Flood
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At the shelter in the mountains, the rain continued to fall at a furious rate. The sky was at first a light gray, and then grew darker and darker with each passing moment. The clouds seemed to be alive as they boiled above, seething and frothing, growing heavier with their incredible burden of water just waiting to unleash what they were called to do. The thunder that had first cracked the shell of the sky to release the deluge continued and grew louder and more intense as it shattered each cloud above filling the sky with drops of water more numerous than all of the stars in the universe. Torrents and torrents of water fell from the sky and crashed to the earth, dislodging soil, rock, and plants, sending them hurling down the steep slopes of the mountains. The water rushed down the hillsides carrying everything before it, and the valleys below began to transform into a watery grave for those that would not be traveling to the next age, the Satya Yuga.
Kalki silently whispered, "It is time..." - and despite the inaudible nature of the command, everyone who had been called to the mountains that day responded, "We are ready". The group left the relative safety of the shelter and followed Kalki out into the blinding maelstrom. This would be the beginning of their journey to an age where man is pure and goodness rules the earth - the end of the Kali Yuga was near. The valleys below them filled with water and the filth of four hundred thousand years.
Suddenly, as water coursed through every crack in the mountain side, the once solid rock began to split, and huge sections of the slope thundered into the rising waters below creating massive waves that traveled to adjoining hillsides washing completely over them. All around the travelers, the mountain first split, and then by the burden of its own massive weight, it crashed into the rising sea that was beginning to swallow the earth. Many of the followers believed their destiny was upon them. As avalanches of rock dislodged all around them and disappeared into the growing watery horizon, the only land to be seen was under their feet. The only land left above the water's surface was occupied by the terrified travelers - any further slide of rock would take someone with it. Kalki turned to the trusting but frightened group and said, "This part of our journey is nearly complete." And with that, the land beneath Kalki's feet gave way. Kalki plunged into the water below leaving the chosen group high upon what seemed to be the last land on earth.
In the distance, a boat appeared being towed by a fish. It was the first avatar of Vishnu, Matsya. Kalki had temporarily taken the form of the first avatar of Vishnu to rescue the chosen group and transport them to the next destination on their journey, the age of truth, the Satya Yuga. The group boarded the boat with great relief, and then Matsya told them a short story that helped to explain their experience.
Matsya began, "Welcome to the first half of your journey to the age of truth. The fourth and final age of the current cycle has come to an end, and it is time for the cycle to begin once again - the Satya Yuga is nearly upon us. The massive flood you see around you has come to cleanse the earth for the coming of the age of truth. I come to you today as Matsya to tell you the story of a previous visit just like this one that came toward the end of a previous wicked age. I was found by King Manu as a minnow in a tiny pond. This was not an accident, as I had been sent to warn of an impending flood. King Manu scooped me up and placed me in a jar. I did not want to waste any time, so I grew as fast as possible. Within a day, I was too big for my jar and he placed me in a well. Again, I grew rapidly, and King Manu placed me in a river. Determined to complete my mission, I grew again and was now so large that Manu placed me in the ocean. Manu was baffled. He wondered if I might be the great god, Vishnu, and I admitted that he had guessed correctly. I knew I needed to explain my presence quickly so I quickly expounded on my visit. I told him, 'You are correct, Manu. I am an incarnation of Vishnu, and I need your help. I need you to gather all living things and build a boat to shelter them. A massive flood is destined to begin any day.' Manu did as he was asked, and the enormous flood occurred as promised. Manu tied the boat to me, and I guided us through the flood till the waters receded. Manu was saved, and then he began to repopulate the earth."
Then Matsya guided the group safely through the flood just as he had done with Manu so many years before. The flood would destroy all that remained, but the age of truth grew closer. As the waters began to recede, Matsya disappeared beneath the waves, and the group drifted slowly across the waters surface. The chosen group began to relax and talk among themselves, but what they did not know was that several among them harbored a secret - a secret that was about to be revealed. Your journey to the Satya Yuga continues here...
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Author's Note: I retold the story of Matsya, the first incarnation of Vishnu. I really wanted to focus most of my energy on the frame tale. I've noticed while reading other storybooks how important the frame tale is to the story retelling. In many ways, it seems as though the story retelling itself is more like a parable and acts more like a background to mirror the more elaborate frame tale. That is how I approached this story. I really wanted the reader to experience the story in the frame tale, so that when they read the retelling of the story there would be a greater sense of familiarity. I had a very strong visual in mind when creating the first several paragraphs that described the violent flood event as it unfolded. I really wanted to paint a picture that allowed the reader to imagine themselves being part of this chosen group. Their experience was supposed to be terrifying, prophetic, miraculous, and enlightening simultaneously. The chosen travelers had an innate understanding that this had happened before - that this was just the continuation of a cycle. They knew that they had been selected for this journey, they just did not know why.
Bibliography: "Matsya". Wikipedia. Website: Wikipedia for Matsya
"Hindu Measurements of Time." Wikipedia. Website: Wikipedia for Hindu Measurements of Time
"Kali Yuga". Wikipedia. Website: Wikipedia for Kali Yuga
"Satya Yuga". Wikipedia. Website: Wikipedia for Satya Yuga
Image Information: Image of Matsya. Website: Overview of Lord Vishnu Site