15/09/2023
Finding Fish in Faith
The pair of silver fish dominates the display in JM. The beautifully crafted silver fish depicts perfect anatomy showing head, gill cover, fins, pelvic fins, a**l fins, adipose fins, scales and even the lateral line. The 19th century object has a length of 20.4 cms.
India is a home to numerous religious groups, indigenous communities, ethnic groups and regional culture each with their own thoughts and taboos.
Fish as a matter of worship and good luck is found in many cultures throughout the world to represent creation.
In Hinduism fish is considered as an inhabitant of water world who often interact with humans and help them in their tasks. They live in Matsyalok along with other inhabitants like Nagas, Nymphs ie Jalkanyas and water spirits. Matsya Puran describes as how Lord Vishnu took the incarnation upon the earth as a fish and rescued the Vedas when the world was inundated by a massive flood.
Satyavati, the wife of Shantanu was a Matsyakanya known as Matsyagandha. During their exile Pandavas spent a year in the land of fishermen known as ‘Matsya Kingdom’and Matsya was also one of the 16 Mahajanpadas and Viratnagar was its capital. Similarly the story of Matsya and Manu is a Hindu creation story that shares many similarities with the Biblical story of Noah.
Even in Christianity the symbol of fish represents the Christ. Ichthys (Greek name for Fish) where (Iesous- Jesus) ch (Christos) th (thou of God) u (son) s (sotes savoiur) dates back to 2nd millennium BC and is still used to express faith in Christ.
Even the Sindi saint Jhulelal is depicted riding a fish and was considered as a man sent by Vedic God Varuna.
