parashu
{{short description|Sanskrit term for axe}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Parashu
| image = Parashurama.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Parashurama holding a parashu
| origin = India
| type = Axe
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| is_bladed = Yes
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Parashu ({{langx|sa-Latn|Paraśu}}) is the Sanskrit word for a battle-axe, which can be wielded with one or both hands.{{Cite book |last=Prasoon |first=Prof. Shrikant |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/458319817 |title=Rishis & rishikās |date=2009 |publisher=Pustak Mahal |isbn=978-81-223-1072-6 |location=New Delhi |oclc=458319817}}{{Cite book |last=Rajan |first=Rahul |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1039999907 |title=Rudrāvan |date=2016 |isbn=978-93-5201-765-2 |location=Mumbai, India |oclc=1039999907}}{{Cite book |last=Agarwal |first=Himanshu |title=Mahabharata Retold : Part - 1 |publisher=Notion Press |year=2016 |isbn=9789386073877}}{{Cite book |last=Bane |first=Theresa |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1156664542 |title=Encyclopedia of mythological objects |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-4766-3920-8 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |page=120 |oclc=1156664542}}
Construction
The parashu could be double-edge bladed or single-edge bladed with a spike on the non cutting edge. It usually measures between {{convert|3-5|ft|abbr=on}}, though some are as long as {{convert|7|ft|abbr=on}}. The parashu is usually made of iron or wootz steel. The cutting edge is broader than the edge which is attached to the haft. The haft is often tied with a leather sheet to provide a good grip.{{Cite book |last=Ramsey |first=Syed |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/971924562 |title=Tools of War: History of Weapons in Ancient Times |publisher=Vij Books India Private Limited |isbn=93-86019-80-9 |location= |oclc=971924562}}
Hinduism
The parashu named Vidyudabhi is the weapon of the god Shiva{{Cite book |last=Coulter |first=Charles Russell. Turner, Patricia |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1288466239 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |date=2020 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9179-7 |location=S.l. |language=English |oclc=1288466239}} who gave it to Parashurama,{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Abhilash |date=7 May 2016 |title=Parashu Weapon – The Divine Axe Weapon of Parshuram and Shiva |url=https://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/01/parashu-divine-weapon-of-parashuram-and.html |access-date=2022-03-27}}{{Cite book |last=Chaturvedi |first=B.K |url=http://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9789352967636 |title=Brahmavaivarta Purana |date=1900 |publisher=Diamond Books |isbn=978-93-5296-763-6 |language=English |oclc=1203945947}} the sixth avatar of Vishnu,{{Cite book |last=Rout |first=Professor Sanjay |url=https://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9781716251085 |title=Crystals and Life Transition |date=2021 |publisher=Lulu |isbn=978-1-716-25108-5 |language=English |oclc=1259431189}}{{Cite journal |last=Varma |first=Ravi |title=Vishnu's sixth avatar Parashu Rama. Chromolithograph by R. Varma. |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.24898574 |journal=Vishnu's Sixth Avatar Parashu Rama |JSTOR=24898574}} whose name means "Rama with the axe" and also taught him its mastery.{{Cite book |last=Srinivasan |first=A. V |url=http://www.123library.org/book_details/?id=18312 |title=Hinduism for dummies |date=2011 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-11076-8 |location=Hoboken, N.J. |language=English |oclc=745970735 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Parashurama was the guru of Drona, the guru who instructed the Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata. Bhishma and Karna, the half-brother of the Pandavas, also took instruction in weaponry from Parashurama. Parashurama was known to have terrible temper, having lost his father to the wicked Kshatriya Kartavirya Arjuna{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1241441493 |title=Japan mini-set. F, F |date=2010 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-90356-4 |location=London |page=472 |language=English |oclc=1241441493}} (not to be confused with Arjuna of Mahabharata). Parashurama's weapon had supernatural powers. It had four cutting edges, one on each end of the blade head and one on each end of the shaft.
The parashu was known as the most lethal close combat weapon of the epics. It is one of the weapons of Shiva, Parashurama, and Durga and is still depicted on their idols throughout India. It is also one of the weapons of Ganesha,{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/733724186 |title=99 Thoughts on Ganesha |date=2011 |publisher=Jaico Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8495-152-3 |location=Mumbai |page=45 |oclc=733724186}} and the main weapon of Sahadeva and Shakuni.
Legend
The regional Hindu creation myth of Kerala is often attributed to the parashu of Parashurama. According to tradition, Parashurama was offered boons by both Varuna and Bhudevi, the deities who personify the ocean and the earth, respectively. He is stated to have travelled to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland, and thrown his axe northward, recovering a swathe of land from the ocean, which would become Kerala.{{Cite book |last=Bhargava |first=S. C. Bhatt, Gopal K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDCKdPpbFPAC&dq=parashurama+kerala+axe&pg=PA18 |title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Kerala |date=2006 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-370-8 |page=18 |language=en}}