In his avatar as Mathsya, a big fish, Vishnu rescued the world from a great deluge. The first man, Manu, caught a small fish that became huge. When the flood came, Manu tied his boat to the horn on the head of the fish and was able to stay afloat. Chanting this Matsya Gayatri Mantra is said to ensure smooth sailing if one is traveling by sea, etc. It is also believed to benefit marine-related businesses/ industries. The best time to chant it is Ekadasi thithi and Saturdays. It should be recited 11, 108, or 1008 times.
