Parashurama Bhargava or Parasurama (Axe-wielding Rama), according to Hindu mythology is the Sixth avatara of Vishnu, belongs to the Treta yuga, and is the son of Jamadagni. Parashu means axe, hence his name literally means Rama-with-the-axe. He received an axe after undertaking a terrible penance to please Shiva, from whom he learned the methods of warfare and other skills. He is a Chiranjeevin, who fought the aggressing ocean to recede thus saving land of Konkan (Maharashtra - Karnataka - Kerala coastline).

Parashurama's creation was a mistake as his mother was given a concoction made to produce a Kshatriya child. Parashurama was of mixed varna. Parashurama's maternal uncle was the mighty King and Brahmarishi Vishwamitra but was a brahmin on his father's side.

The Killing of Jamadagni

King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) and his army visited Jamadagni, a brahmin sage, who fed his guest and the whole army with his divine cow Surabhi; the king demanded the magical cow and Jamadagni refused because he needed the cow for his religious ceremonies. King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) sent his soldiers to take the cow and Parashurama killed the entire army and the king with his axe. In return, the princes beheaded Jamadagni. There is another version of the story(predominant) the army was actually killed by the army generated from the cow. In return the king killed sage Jamadagni.

Attempted Extermination of the Kshatriya Race

When Parashurama returned home he found his mother crying hysterically. When asked why she was crying, she beat her chest 21 times. In a rage, Parashurama vowed to exterminate the world's Kshatriyas 21 times. He killed the entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna), thus conquering the entire earth. He offered his dead father's soul tarpana with the blood of the kings and warriors he slew. He then conducted the Ashwamedha sacrifice, done only by sovereign kings, and gave the entire land he owned to the priests who performed at the yagya, viz. Kashyapa.

Parashurama then became responsible for killing the world's kings and warriors who came to attack him in revenge for the killing of Kartavirya Arjuna, to prevent a Brahmin from being emperor and threatening their position. The Ashwamedha demanded that the kings either submit to Parashurama's imperial position, or thwart the sacrifice by defeating him in battle. They did neither and were killed. Parashurama exterminated the world's Kshatriyas 21 times, thus fulfilling his vow.

Incident with Dasharatha: Parushurama had a very famous incident with Lord Rama's father during one of those raids on the kshatriya clans. When parushurama had visited Ayodhya to annhilate Dasharatha, then the latter had actually prepared for a certain death, knowing that Parushurama had the blessing of the almighty and also that it is not honourable for a kshatriya to show his back to a challenger. But at that time the king had no progeny. So his queens refused to let him to the battlefield and disguised him as a woman(refer to the greek myth illiad where achilles is disguised as a woman by his mother to restrict him from a certain death). Irritated after a long wait, parushurama searched everywhere in the king's palace, then entered the queen's quarters(antahpuram). There he found the king in women's garments. Parushurama discarded dusseratha from a challenge saying that the latter had himself proved lacking of virility!This tale is often told to youngsters that it is often better to face an insult instead of facing a certain death.

Parashurama very easily loses all his power to King Rama and the Brahmin community is deemed incapable of performing the duties of warriors and kings, who are required to be adept at the martial arts, war and administration.

Legends

According to one legend, Parashurama also went to visit Shiva once but the way was blocked by Ganesha. Parashurama threw the axe at him and Ganesha, knowing it had been given to him by Shiva, allowed it cut off one of his tusks.

Siva's Bow

In the Ramayana, Parashurama came to the betrothal ceremony of the seventh Avatara, Rama, to the princess Sita. As a test of worthiness the suitors were required to lift and string the bow of Siva, given to the king Janaka by Parshurama. Rama successfully strung the bow, but in the process it broke in two, producing a tremendous noise that reached the ears of Parashurama.

Parashurama comes to confront Rama as the Ayodhyans make their way back to their city. Rama is himself angered by Parashuramas arrogance and decides to show the might of true kings. With very little effort snatches the bow of Vishnu, strings it, places an arrow and points it straight at the challenger's heart. Rama spares Parashurama as he is relative of his guru Vishwamitra.

At this point, Parashurama feels himself devoid of the tremendous mystical energy he possessed for so long. He realizes that Rama is superior and the true Vishnu incarnate. He accepts Rama's superiority, devotes his tapasya to him, pays homage to Rama and promises to return to his hermitage and not return to the world of men.

In another version of the legend, Rama simply pacifies the angry Parashurama, who is enraged at an ordinary prince breaking the sacred bow of Siva. Eventually Parashurama realises the true identity of rama as the true Vishnu incarnate and to confirm the same asks him to try and place the arrow on vishnu's bow. Rama places the arrow on the bow and proves his identity to Parashurama. Then he tells him that as the arrow cannot be wasted, what should he destroy? Parashuram's religious merits or his ability to move at lightning speed. Parashurama asks his religious merits to be destroyed and hence he returns to his hermitage.

The Mahabharata

In the Mahabharata, Parashurama was the instructor of the warrior Karna, born to a Kshatriya mother but raised as the son of a charioteer, or lower class of Kshatriyas. Karna came to Parashurama after being rejected from the school of the teacher Drona, who taught the five Pandava and one hundred Kaurava princes. Parashurama agreed to teach Karna, believing him to be of Brahmin birth, and gave him the knowledge of the extremely powerful Brahmastra weapon. But one day while Parashurama was sleeping with his head resting on Karna's leg, an insect crawled up and bit Karna. He, not wishing to wake his teacher, did not move or cry out, but the flow of his blood eventually awakened Parashurama. Convinced that only a Kshatriya could have borne such pain in silence and that Karna had therefore lied in order to receive instruction, he cursed Karna that his knowledge of the Brahmastra would fail him when he needed it most.

Kalki Purana

The Kalki Purana states Parashurama will be the martial guru of Sri Kalki, the 10th and final avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is he who instructs Kalki to perform a long penance to Shiva (just as he did) to recieve celestial weaponry.

The Sixth Avatara

The purpose of the sixth incarnation of Vishnu is considered by religious scholars to be to relieve the earth's burden by exterminating the sinful, destructive and irreligious monarchs that pillaged its resources, and neglected their duties as kings.

Parashurama is of a martial Brahmin varna. See Mohyal.

However, unlike all other avatars, Parashurama still lives on earth even today. Secondly, he is an Avesha Avatara, a secondary type of Avatara. In such an Avatara, Vishnu does not directly descend such as that of Rama or Krishna but instead enters the soul of a man with His form. Accordingly, unlike Rama and Krishna, Parashurama is not worshipped. But in South India, there exists one major temple commemorating Parashurama.

Other Names

• Bhrigupati
• Bhargava

References

• Meaning of Parushama, an Avesha avatar
• Parashurama, the Sixth Incarnation of Vishnu
• Types of Avatars

Forms of Vishnu | Chiranjeevins

Parashurama | Parashurama