:Parashurama

{{Hinduism}}

According to Hindu history, Parashurama was born to the sage Jamadagni and his Kshatriya wife, Renuka. In local tradition, it is believed they lived in a hut located at Janapav.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parashurama|title = Parashurama | Hindu mythology| date=6 August 2024 }} They had a celestial cow called Surabhi, which gives them all that they desire (Surabhi is the daughter of cow Kamadhenu).{{cite book|author= Khazan Ecosystems of Goa: Building on Indigenous Solutions to Cope with Global Environmental Change (Advances in Asian Human-Environmental Research)|title = Khazan Ecosystems of Goa: Building on Indigenous Solutions to Cope with Global Environmental Change|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-r_EBAAAQBAJ&q=parashurama+was+saraswath+brahmin&pg=PA29|year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-9400772014|page=29}} A king named Kartavirya Arjuna (not to be confused with Arjuna, the Pandava){{refn|group=note|The Mahabharata includes legends about both Arjuna, one is dharmic (moral) and other adharmic (immoral); in some versions, Arjuna Kartavirya has mixed moral-immoral characteristics consistent with the Hindu belief that there is varying degrees of good and evil in every person.}} learns about this cow of plenty and wants it. He asks Jamadagni to give it to him, but the sage refuses. While Parashurama is away from the hut, the king takes it by force. When Jamadagni pleads his case and seeks for the return of the cow, the king strikes him with his fist, killing him. Parashurama learns about this crime, and is upset. With his axe in his hand, he challenges the king to battle. They fight, and Parashurama defeats and kills the king, according to the Padma Purana.

{{Blockquote|text=The wicked-minded one lost his valour due to his own sin. The mighty son of Reṇukā, being angry, cut off his head, as mighty Indra did the peak of a big mountain, and he who was brave and angry, killed Sahasrabāhu and all the kings with his axe in the battle. Seeing Rāma, the very fearful one, all kings on the earth, struck by fear, ran away as elephants do on seeing a lion. The angry Rāma killed the kings even though they had fled due to the resentment against his father's murder, as the angry Garuḍa killed the serpents. The valorous Rāma made the entire [world] clear of the kṣatriyas, but protected [i.e. spared] only the very great family of Ikṣvāku, due to its being the family to which his maternal grandfather was related, and due to his mother's words.|title=Padma Purana|source=Chapter 241}}

The warrior class challenges him, and he slays every single member of the class, save for those belonging to the lineages of Manu and Ikshvaku. The mighty son of Jamadagni, having rid the world of the Kshatriyas, then performs the ashvamedha sacrifice. He grants the earth with the seven islands to principal rishis belonging to the Brahmin class. Having renounced the earth and his violent deeds, he retires to the hermitage of Nara-Narayana to engage in penance. The legend likely has roots in the ancient conflict between the Brahmin varna, with knowledge duties, and the Kshatriya varna, with warrior and enforcement roles.{{cite book|author= Thomas E Donaldson|editor= Umakant Premanand Shah|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U. P. Shah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC |year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=159–160}}

In the Ramayana, following Rama's wedding to Sita at Mithila and during their homeward journey to Ayodhya, his party comes across a number of inauspicious signs. Amid an earthquake and a dust storm, Parashurama appears before the party. After accepting the libation offered to him, Parashurama challenges Rama to combat, on the condition that the prince show his strength to the sage by placing a bow within the string of the latter's bow, Sharanga, and discharging it. Ignoring Dasharatha's plea to spare Rama this task, Parashurama relays the divine origin of the bow and the history of its ownership, appealing to Rama's skills as a warrior. Rama seizes the bow from Parashurama and strings it, an act that causes the latter to become bereft of his divine power. Humbled, Parashurama acknowledges that Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu and requests the prince to allow him to return to the mountain Mahendra so that he could practice yoga and accrue merit. After circumambulating Rama in worship, Parashurama returns to his hermitage.{{Cite book |last=Valmiki |url=http://archive.org/details/TheRamayan |title=The Ramayana |date= |pages=139–144}}

File:Ramabhadracharya_Works_-_Painting_in_Sribhargavaraghaviyam_(2002).jpg

=== Epic Mahabharata ===

In the Mahabharata, Parashurama intercedes on the princess Amba's behalf, promising to command his disciple Bhishma to do his duty and marry her after her abduction.{{Cite book |last=Uberoi |first=Meera |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Cn_zJhh-rIC&pg=PA25 |title=The Mahabharata |date=2005 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-303358-5 |pages=25 |language=en}} When Parashurama arrives with his retinue at Kurukshetra, he sends a message to Bhishma to inform him of his arrival. Bhishma comes to see his guru, offering him the traditional respects. Parashurama commands Bhishma to accept Amba as his wife. Bhishma refuses, restating that he had taken a vow of celibacy. An infuriated Parashurama threatens Bhishma with death. Bhishma tries to calm the sage, but in vain, and he finally agrees to battle his guru to safeguard his Kshatriya duty. Ganga tries stopping the battle by beseeching her son as well as the great sage, but fails.{{Cite web |author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |title=Section CLXXXI |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05181.htm |work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva |publisher=Sacred-texts.com}} The great battle lasts for 23 days, without any result. On the 24th day, when Bhishma chooses to use a deadly weapon, at the behest of the divine sage Narada and the devas, Parashurama ends the conflict and the battle is declared a draw.{{cite encyclopaedia |year=1975 |title=Amba |encyclopaedia=Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |last=Mani |first=Vettam |author-link=Vettam Mani |pages=27–29 |isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0}}{{Cite web |author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |title=Section CLXXXVIII |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05188.htm |work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva |publisher=Sacred-texts.com}} Parashurama narrates the events to Amba and urges her to seek Bhishma's protection. However, Amba refuses to listen to Parashurama's advice and angrily declares that she would achieve her objective by asceticism.{{Cite web |author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |title=Section CLXXXIX |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05189.htm |work=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva |publisher=Sacred-texts.com}}

File:Parshuramsaraswats.jpg, god of the waters to recede to make land known as 'Parashurama Kshetra' from Gokarna to Kanyakumari for the Brahmins]]

There are legends dealing with the origins of the western coast geographically and culturally. One such legend is the retrieval of the west coast from the sea, by Parashurama. It proclaims that Parashurama, an incarnation of Mahavishnu, threw his battle axe into the sea. As a result, the land of the western coast arose, and thus was reclaimed from the waters. The place from which he threw his axe (or shot an arrow) is on Salher fort (the second highest peak and the highest fort in Maharashtra) in the Baglan taluka of Nashik district of Maharashtra. There is a temple on the summit of this fort dedicated to Parshuram and there are footprints in the rock four times the size of normal humans. This fort on a lower plateau has a temple of goddess Renuka, Parshuram's mother and also a Yagya Kunda with pits for poles to erect a shamiyana on the banks of a big water tank.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

According to the Sangam classic Purananuru, the Chera king Senkuttuvan conquered the lands between Kanyakumari and the Himalayas.{{Cite book |title=Kerala History and its Makers |last=Menon |first=A. Sreedhara |publisher=D C Books |year=1987 |isbn=978-8126421992 |page=24}} Lacking worthy enemies, he besieged the sea by throwing his spear into it.Ancient Indian History By Madhavan Arjunan Pillai, p. 204 {{ISBN?}} According to the 17th-century Malayalam work Keralolpathi, the lands of Kerala were recovered from the sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also called Parashurama Kshetram 'The Land of Parashurama'S. C. Bhatt, Gopal K. Bhargava (2006) "Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: Volume 14", p. 18). Parashurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. According to legend, this new area of land extended from Gokarna to Kanyakumari.{{cite book |author=Aiya VN |title=The Travancore State Manual |publisher=Travancore Government Press |pages=210–12 |year=1906 |access-date=12 November 2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RdzaPW-kEvQC}} The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parashurama invoked the snake king Vasuki, who spat holy poison and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar has theorised that Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the Parashurama legend, which was brought by early Aryan settlers.{{Cite book |title=History of the Tamils: From the Earliest Times to 600 A.D. |last=Srinivisa Iyengar |first=P. T. |publisher=Asian Educational Services |year=1929 |isbn=978-8120601451 |location=Madras |page=515}}

In present-day Goa (or Gomantak), which is a part of the Konkan, there is a temple in Canacona in South Goa district dedicated to Parashurama. Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha) – Ed. Dr. Jarson D. Kunha, Marathi version Ed. by Gajanan Shastri Gaytonde, published by Shree Katyani Publication, MumbaiGomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti Part 1, p. 206, B. D. Satoskar, Shubhada Publication{{cite book |author=Aiya VN |title=The Travancore State Manual |publisher=Travancore Government Press |pages=210–212 |year=1906 |access-date=2007-11-12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RdzaPW-kEvQC }}

Parashurama is generally presented as the fifth son of Renuka and Rishi Jamadagni. The legends of Parashurama appear in many Hindu texts, in different versions:{{cite book|author=Cornelia Dimmitt|title=Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=re7CR2jKn3QC |year=2012|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=978-1-4399-0464-0|pages=82–85}}

In Chapter 6 of the Devi Bhagavata Purana, he is born from the thigh with intense light surrounding him that blinds all warriors, who then repent their evil ways and promise to lead a moral life if their eyesight is restored. The boy grants them the boon.

Parashurama retired in the Mahendra Mountains, according to chapter 2.3.47 of the Bhagavata Purana.{{cite book|author=Thomas E Donaldson|editor=Umakant Premanand Shah|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC |year= 1995|publisher= Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=174–175}}

In Chapter 4 of the Vishnu Purana, Rcika prepares a meal for two women, one simple, and another with ingredients that if eaten would cause the woman to conceive a son with martial powers. The latter is accidentally eaten by Renuka, and she then gives birth to Parashurama.

In Chapter 2 of the Vayu Purana, he is born after his mother Renuka eats a sacrificial offering made to both Rudra (Shiva) and Vishnu, which gives him dual characteristics of Kshatriya and Brahmin.{{cite book|author=Thomas E Donaldson|editor=Umakant Premanand Shah |title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC |year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=160–161}}

Parashurama is described in some versions of the Mahabharata as the angry Brahmin who with his axe, killed a huge number of Kshatriya warriors because they were abusing their power.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07067.htm|title=Drona Parva Section LXX|date=1883|publisher=Sacred Texts|work=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|access-date=15 June 2016|author=Ganguly KM}} In some versions, he even kills his own mother because his father asks him to in order to test his obeisance. After Parashurama obeys his father's order to kill his mother, his father grants him a boon. Parashurama asks for the reward that his mother be brought back to life, and she is restored to life.{{cite book|author=Daniel E Bassuk|title=Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity: The Myth of the God-Man|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3iwCwAAQBAJ |year=1987|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-349-08642-9|page=30}} Parashurama remains filled with sorrow after the violence, repents and expiates his sin.{{cite book|author=Lynn Thomas|editor=Julia Leslie|title=Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QrLKAgAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-77881-0|pages=64–66 with footnotes}} After his Mother comes back to life, he tries to clean the blood-stained axe but he finds a drop of blood which he was unable to clean and tries cleaning the blood drop in different rivers. This is when he moves towards the south of India in search of any holy river where he could clean his axe, finally, he reaches Tirthahalli village in Shimoga, Karnataka and tries to clean the axe and to his surprise, the axe gets cleaned in the holy river of Tunga. With respect towards the holy river, he constructs a Shiva linga and performs pooja and the temple is named as Rameshwara temple. The place where Parashurama cleaned his axe is called Ramakunda.

He plays important roles in the Mahabharata serving as mentor to Bhishma (chapter 5.178), Drona (chapter 1.121) and Karna (chapter 3.286), teaching weapon arts and helping key warriors in both sides of the war.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm|title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna |date=1896 |publisher=Sacred Texts|work=The Mahabharata|access-date=11 June 2015|author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli}}{{cite book|author=Lynn Thomas |editor=Julia Leslie|title=Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QrLKAgAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-77881-0|pages=66–69 with footnotes}}{{refn|group=note|The Sanskrit epic uses multiple names for Parashurama in its verses: Parashurama, Jamadagnya, Rama (his name shortened, but not to be confused with Rama of Ramayana), etc.{{cite book|author=Lynn Thomas|editor=Julia Leslie|title=Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QrLKAgAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-77881-0|pages=69–71 with footnotes}}}}

In the regional literature of Kerala, he is the founder of the land, the one who brought it out of the sea and settled a Hindu community there. He is also known as Rama Jamadagnya and Rama Bhargava in some Hindu texts.{{cite book|author=Julia Leslie|title=Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7LKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA63|year=2014|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-136-77888-9|pages=63–66 with footnotes}} He is the only incarnation of Vishnu who never dies, never returns to abstract Vishnu and lives in meditative retirement. Further, he is the only incarnation of Vishnu that co-exists with other Vishnu incarnations Rama and Krishna in some versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, respectively.{{refn|group=note|These texts also state that Parasurama lost the essence of Vishnu while he was alive, and Vishnu then appeared as a complete avatar in Rama; later, in Krishna.}}

According to the Sangraha Parva, after killing 21 generations of Kshatriyas, he filled their blood in five pools collectively known as the Samantha Panchaka (Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|समंत पञ्चक}}). He later atoned for his sin by severe penance. The five pools are considered to be holy.

The Anukramanika Parva says that the Samantha Panchaka is located somewhere around Kurukshetra. It also mentions that the Pandavas performed a few religious rites near the Samantha Panchaka before the Kurukshetra War.

There is much interpretation of 'Parashurama Kshetra' (Land of Parashurama) mentioned in the Puranas.

The region on the western coast of India from Gokarna to Kanyakumari was known as Parashurama Kshetra.{{Cite book|last=L Eck|first=Diana|title=India : A Sacred Geography|publisher=Harmony/Rodale|date=27 March 2012 |page=37 |language=English}}

The region of Konkan was also considered as Parashurama Kshetra.Stanley Wolpert (2006), Encyclopedia of India, Thomson Gale, {{ISBN|0-684-31350-2}}, page 80

The ancient Saptakonkana is a slightly larger region described in the Sahyadrikhanda which refers to it as Parashuramakshetra (Sanskrit for "The Land Of Parashurama"), Vapi to Tapi is an area of South Gujarat, India. This area is called "Parshuram Ni Bhoomi".{{cite book|last = Chandra|first=Suresh |title=Encyclopedia of Hindu Gods & Goddesses |publisher= Sarup & Sons|year= 1998|page= 376|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC|isbn=9788176250399 }}

File:2 iconographic representations of Parasurama.jpg

The Hindu literature on iconography such as the Vishnudharmottara Purana and Rupamandana describes him as a man with matted locks, with two hands, one carrying an axe. However, the Agni Purana portrays his iconography with four hands, carrying his axe, bow, arrow and sword. The Bhagavata Purana describes his icon as one with four hands, carrying his axe, bow, arrows and a shield like a warrior.{{cite book|author=Thomas E Donaldson|editor=Umakant Premanand Shah|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC |year=1995 |publisher= Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=178–180}} Though a warrior, his representation inside Hindu temples with him in war scenes is rare (the Basohli temple is one such exception). Typically, he is shown with two hands, with an axe in his right hand either seated or standing.

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2023}}

File:A Parasurama temple in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Kerala India.jpg|A Parashurama temple in Kerala

File:Peechi Dam Garden Statue of Parasurama.JPG|Parashurama in a garden

File:Parashurama-statue-at-mango-meadows-agricultural-theme-park-kaduthuruthy.jpg|Statue @ Mango Meadows, Kaduthuruthy

File:Parashurama_Theme_Park_05.jpg|Statute @ Bailur, Udupi

File:Parashu_Rama_challenged_Rama_who_was_on_his_way_back_to_Ayodhya,_Dasaratha_begged_him_to_leave_the_teenage_boy.jpg|Rama and Parashurama with Dasharatha

The Parashurama avatar symbolizes the strict and non-relinquishing aspect of showing daya (mercy), where he has to be harsh for the well being of the srushti (world). {{cite web| date=17 August 2024 | title=दशावतार कीर्तनमाला परशुराम अवतार श्रावण विशेष ह.भ.प. डॉ. चारुदत्तबुवा आफळे #vishnu Dashavtarv | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCPMsz30Mn8}}

On top of the hills of Janapav is a Shiva temple where Parashurama is believed to have worshipped Shiva, the ashram is known as Jamadagni Ashram, named after his father. The place also has a Kund (Pond) that is being developed by the state government.{{cite web |date=8 May 2008 |title=Janapav to be developed into international pligrim centre |url= https://www.oneindia.com/2008/05/08/janapav-to-be-developed-into-international-pligrim-centre-1210264311.html |access-date=Nov 17, 2019 |work= One India}}

The Bhumihar caste of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar claim to be descendants of Parashuram.{{Cite web |date=2 January 2024 |title=सभी भूमिहार-ब्राह्मण परशुराम के वंशज: आशुतोष |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/samastipur/story-all-bhumihar-brahmins-are-descendants-of-parshuram-ashutosh-9145902.html |website=Hindustan}}{{Cite web |title=भूमिहार ब्राह्मण एकता व संस्कार मंच ने मनाई परशुराम जयंती |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/bettiah/news/bhumihar-brahmin-unity-and-sanskar-forum-celebrated-parshuram-jayanti-133002843.html |website=Dainik Bhaskar}} As Parashurama was a Brahmin who carried out warfare like a Kshatriya, Bhumihars thus claim the traits of both the varnas.{{Cite web |title=Bihar Politics: बिहार में 'भगवान परशुराम वंशियों' के गढ़ में कड़ी फाइट, इस दफे फायरब्रांड के लिए आसान नहीं मैदान |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/begusarai/bihar-news-begusarai-loksabha-election-2024-giriraj-singh-seat-will-see-tough-fight/articleshow/109052154.cms |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}}{{Cite web |title=मुजफ्फरपुर में भगवान परशुराम की मूर्ति स्थापित करेगा भूमिहार ब्राह्मण सामाजिक फ्रंट - Bhumihar Brahmin Social Front to install statue of Lord Parashurama in Muzaffarpur |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/muzaffarpur-bhumihar-brahmin-social-front-to-install-statue-of-lord-parashurama-in-muzaffarpur-21506793.html |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}

In Kannada folklore, especially in devotional songs sung by the Devdasis he is often referred to as a son of Yellamma. Parashurama legends are notable for their discussion of violence, the cycles of retaliations, the impulse of krodha (anger), the inappropriateness of krodha, and repentance.{{cite book |author=Thomas E Donaldson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC |title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1995 |isbn=978-81-7017-316-8 |editor=Umakant Premanand Shah |pages=161–70}}

• Bhagwan Parshuram
• Bhagavad Gita
• Chiranjivi
• Heheya Kingdom
• Kalachuri Kingdom
• Parasuram Express
• Śānkarasmṛti (Laghudharmaprakrāśikā)
• Vijaya (bow)

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last= KM |first=Ganguly |title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07067.htm |edition= Drona Parva Section LXX|date=2016 |orig-year=1883 |publisher=Sacred Texts }}

• {{cite book |last= Mackenzie|first=Donald A|title=Indian Myth and Legend|url=http://sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/index.htm |year=1913|publisher=Sacred Texts }}

• {{commons category-inline|Parashurama}}

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{{s-reg|6th Avatar of Vishnu

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| before = Vamana

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| title = Dashavatara
{{small|Treta Yuga}}

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| after = Rama

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{{HinduAvatars}}

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