Matsya, an incarnation of Vishnu; Vishnu emerges from the mouth of a large fish to kill Hayagriva, the demon king, as Brahma watches. Gouache painting by a Indian painter.

As per one of the myths, Vishnu assumed the form of a fish to save the Vedas (sacred books) from the demon, so that Brahma could be instructed about the work of creation. The main image is surrounded by a decorative border containing small cartouches with paintings of the different incarnations of Vishnu.