Matsya Dwadashi 2024: Date, Time, Puja Vidhi and Significance

Matsya Dwadashi 2024

Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, is known for taking various incarnations to protect the world and uphold dharma. The first of these incarnations was in the form of Matsya—a divine fish. This year, the occasion falls on Thursday, December 12, 2024. According to Hindu scriptures, it is believed that Lord Vishnu assumed this form on Dwadashi Tithi, the twelfth day of the Shukla Paksha during the month of Margashirsha. This day is commemorated as Matsya Dwadashi, a significant occasion for worshipping Lord Vishnu in his Matsya avatar.

Matsya Dwadashi 2024: Date and Time

Matsya Dwadashi 2024: Puja Vidhi

The Matsya Dwadashi rituals begin with a purifying bath at dawn. After cleansing oneself, devotees set up an altar to honour Lord Vishnu in his Matsya form. Here’s how to perform the puja step-by-step:

• Spread a yellow cloth on a clean platform.
• Place an idol or image of Lord Matsya on the altar.
• Offer yellow flowers, fruits, incense sticks, lamps, sandalwood paste, vermilion, and sacred food (prasad).
• Recite mantras dedicated to Lord Vishnu and chant the Matsya Avatar Stuti Mantra for blessings.
• Meditate on Lord Vishnu, seeking his divine protection and wisdom.
• Fasting on Matsya Dwadashi is also considered highly auspicious, symbolising devotion and surrender to Lord Vishnu.

Matsya Dwadashi: Significance

Charity holds special importance on Matsya Dwadashi. Offering donations on this day is believed to bring relief from difficulties and improve one’s karmic balance. The Matsya avatar is one of the earliest and most significant incarnations of Lord Vishnu. According to ancient mythology, a demon named Hayagriva stole the sacred Vedas from Brahma and concealed them in the depths of the ocean, plunging the world into darkness and ignorance.

To restore the balance of the universe, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a mighty fish and descended into the ocean. In this avatar, he defeated Hayagriva, retrieved the Vedas, and returned them to Brahma. This act symbolises the preservation of knowledge, the restoration of dharma, and the protection of creation.

The story of the Matsya avatar is detailed in several Hindu scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, and Vishnu Purana. It emphasises the significance of divine intervention in overcoming ignorance and restoring order in the world.

Matsya Dwadashi is not only a day to honour the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu but also a reminder of the eternal battle between knowledge and ignorance. Through fasting, worship, and acts of charity, devotees can connect with the divine and seek spiritual growth.

By observing Matsya Dwadashi with devotion and faith, one can align with the principles of dharma and embrace the protective grace of Lord Vishnu.