Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c11.s1.33

c11.s1.33

*Fish* FISH. The mythical fish called *matsya*, an incarnation of Vishṇu, is one of the 108 *magul-lakuṇu*. Fish are not often used in pure decoration; but examples are to be found in the ornament of earthenware, as in Pl. XXV., 2. It may be remarked that fish and wavy lines are symbolical of water, as in Pl. I., where fishes are shown in the river, preventing any possible mistake as to what is intended, much as ships and fishes are often shown on the sea in old maps. The seven great rivers of India, in the *magul-lakuṇu* (Fig. 69), are represented by seven squares, each containing a wavy line and a fish.