s. m, Corrupted from the Sanskrit word Matsaya. A male fish, a large fish:—Macch Avtár s. m. The Fish Incarnation. The name of the first of the ten manifestations of Vishnu. It took place during the reign of the seventh Manu. The whole earth which head become exceedingly wicked was destroyed by a flood. All living things perished, except the Manu and seven Rishis, who were preserved by Vishnu in the form of a large fish. He directed them to enter a large ship, and to take with them the seed of all existing things. While the ship floated fastened to the fish, the Manu entered into conversation with Vishnu, and the questions and answers form the Matsya Purán.