Hayagriva was a very powerful demon and was causing a lot of trouble to the Devas

and others as was wont with the Asuras. Brahma's (the creator's) day and night -
each comprises several million years unlike our day and night. When Brahma's day is
over he goes to sleep having been busy all through with continuous work. This is
said to be the the end of a very long period of time. When he goes to sleep utter
darkness prevails and the earth will be submerged in water. It is called the
Deluge. This continues throughout Brahma's night and again it is a very long period
of time. After many many thousands of years of darkness and deluge the earth slowly
comes out of the water as the water too begins to recede slowly.

It is at this time the horse-headed demon Hayagriva conspired with his evil friends
and decided to take away the Vedas. He knew that the Pralaya or the deluge was to
come and all living beings including plant life would be exterminated. The Vedas
were the breath of the Devas, Sages and all virtuous people and because of the
Vedas they were able to reset the Asuras and were always having an upper hand. So
he decided to carry away the Vedas without anyone's knowledge as soon as Brahma
began to sleep. (The four Vedas were given to us by Brahma - the Creator). With the
Vedas in his possession Hayagriva wanted to hide himself in some deepest abyss
appear as before and not finding the Vedas, the Devas, and the Sages would be
utterly powerless. At such thought he heaved a sigh of great relief and was waiting
for the night of Brahma to come.

At that time a great royal sage by name Satyavarta was performing penance,
absolutely devoted to Lord Narayana sustaining himself only on water, observing
severe austerities.

Once Satyavarta was offering water libation in the Kritamala river. When he took
water in his hand for this purpose there came a tiny fish with the water into his
hand. The good Satyavarta put the fish into his small water-pot out of compassion
and went to his abode. Next morning when the Rajarishi took his water-pot, he saw
the tiny fish had grown to the size of the pitcher. Wondering at this the good
Satyavarta put the fish in a big tub. To his wonder he saw the fish growing bigger
and bigger occupying the entire tub. The fish now spoke and said "O! good king show
mercy on me". So the good Satyavarta took the fish and put it in a big well nearby
and went for his work. Next morning he went to the well and saw the fish occupying
the whole well. He was really confused. But out of pity he removed it carefully to
a big lake nearby. To his consternation he observed the fish growing and in a short
time occupied the entire lake.

No more patience had the Rajarishi, so he asked the fish "Who are you that bewilder
us in the form of a fish? You must be only Lord Narayana in this form". The fish
replied, "I am pleased with you. I am a friend of man. Listen to me. Brahma's night
is coming in seven days. That means, there will be pitch darkness. The sky will
open out and there will be severe downpour - a great and unprecedented flood will
come. All the three worlds will be covered with water. All the mountains will be
under water. Everything will perish unless suitable steps are taken in time. I have
come to warn you of this great deluge. I also want to instruct you as to what you
should do to save the species of men, animals and plant life from extinction. Mark
my words! Keep a few human species, a few animal species, and some seeds of plant
life besides the seven sages (Saptarishis). When the deluge comes the three worlds
will begin to disappear in the vast waters. At that time a spacious boat will be
seen approaching you. Get into the boat with all the creatures and the boat will
sail down the Ganges. When it reaches the sea give me a call. I shall appear before
you with an elongated nose portion. Tie the boat to my nose without waste of time.
By that time the gale, the wind, the storm and the heavy downpour will increase to
an unimaginable degree. Have no fears. I shall drag you along with the inmates of
the boat on the turbulent water and be moving about till Brahma's night comes to an
end. When Brahma's day begins the water will begin to recede and slowly the world
will begin to appear. In course of time the samples of men, animals and plants will
be useful to fill the land again with their respective species, of course the seven
sages will be of great help". Saying so Lord Hari in the form of the fish vanished.

The king awaited that time contemplating on the Lord. On the seventh day the ocean
began to rise. There was heavy downpour of rain. The world was engulfed. While he
was ruminating over the command of the Lord, Satyavarta beheld the huge boat
approach. He got into the boat with the sages the medical herbs, men and animals.
As instructed, he called Lord Hari. There appeared in the vast expanse of water a
golden fish of an extraordinary size, with an elongated nose almost looking like a
tusk. He tied the boat to it. The boat moved on. The wind, the gale, the high
waves, the downpour - nothing affected the boat. It was just moving while the Lord
in the form of the fish imparted to Satyavarta the eternal truth as well as Matsya
Purana and all things connected with the secret knowledge of the soul.

As soon as darkness fell and Brahma closed his eyes Hayagriva stole the Vedas from
the creator and found his place of hiding in some deepest part of the ocean. As it
was a deluge and the whole world was under water, he thought no one could find out
his place of hiding. He chuckled within himself thinking that he had destroyed the
Devas, Sages, and all virtuous men in all the three worlds, for such men cannot do
anything without the Vedas.

Time passed on the floods subsided. Lord Hari in the form of the great fish was
able to find the Hayagriva in his hiding place. A terrible fight ensued. The Lord
killed him and took possession of the Vedas. He restored it to the proper person
that is Brahman for the benefit of the three worlds. Brahma too had risen from his
slumber by that time.

Satyavarta was there safe in his boat with all the precious things. Men, animals
and plants flourished once more. By the Grace of Lord Vishnu the Rajarishi
Satyavarta came to possess knowledge and spiritual wisdom. It is he who became Manu
- the son of Vivasavan in the next a eon-age. "In the act of searching for the
Vedas in the unfathomable depths of the ocean, Lord Hari who has taken the form of
a huge fish, throws out his glances here and there and everywhere moving fast in
the water. The eyes of the fish look like lotus flowers and because of the rapidity
of movement the entire area of the ocean seems to be covered with blossomed
lotuses. At the same time because of the movement of the fish the still water being
disturbed produces light movement forming light waves which in turn is like the
mild swing of a cradle