Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a wise man named Manu. He was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu and spent his days in meditation and prayer. One day, Lord Vishnu appeared before him in the form of a fish, known as Matsya.

Matsya told Manu that a great flood was coming and that he must build a boat to save himself and all the creatures of the earth. Manu was shocked and scared, but he trusted in Lord Vishnu and set to work building the boat.

As the days passed, the sky grew dark and the winds howled. The rain poured down in sheets, and the rivers began to overflow their banks. Manu and his family, along with all the animals, birds, and insects, boarded the boat and waited for the flood to come.

For many days and nights, the boat floated on the raging waters. The rain never stopped, and the waves grew higher and higher. But Manu and the creatures on board were safe and protected by Lord Vishnu’s grace.

Finally, after many weeks, the flood began to recede. The boat came to rest on the top of a mountain, and Manu and his family, along with all the creatures, stepped out onto dry land.

Manu was filled with gratitude to Lord Vishnu for saving them all from the flood. He built a temple in honor of Matsya, the fish who had warned him of the disaster, and worshipped Lord Vishnu for the rest of his days.

And so, the story of Matsya, the flood story, became a legend that was passed down from generation to generation. It taught people to trust in the divine and to have faith that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and salvation.