India: Lord Matsya, the first Avatar of Vishnu, rescuing Satyavrata. Painting, Uttar Pradesh, c. 1870. According to the Matsya Purana, the king of pre-ancient Dravida and a devotee of Vishnu, Satyavrata, who later was known as Manu, was washing his hands in a river when a little fish swam into his hands and pleaded with him to save its life. He put it in a jar, which it soon outgrew. He then moved it to a tank, a river and then finally the ocean but to no avail. The fish then revealed himself to be Vishnu and told him that a deluge would occur within seven days that would destroy all life.

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Size: 3500px × 4905px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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