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Shri Bhagwan
Parashurama
Parashurama
has been mentioned in several scriptures - Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and
Bhagavata and Kalki Puranas. He is famous for killing the Haihaya-Kshatriyas on
the earth 21 times for their Ahankara (pride/arrogance). He wanted to spread
& preserve the Vedic culture on Earth. Major parts of India & Indian
villages have been said to be built by him. He was the most obedient descendants
of the Bhargava gotra, who always followed the teachings & orders of his
Gurus & parents. He respected the elders (jeshtas) and never insulted them.
His Bhaava(emotion) was to keep this jeev shrishti(earth) alive with its beauty
of nature. He requested the Ocean to recede so that he can build a place to live
for the growing population situated in modern day Konkan. He wanted this earth
to stay alive for Jeev shrishti like Birds, animals, Trees, Fruits & whole
of Nature. He explained that Dharma of Raja was to spread Vedic life & not
empowering its praja through kingdom. He was born a Brahmin but is Kshatriya by
Karma, or deeds. He is also known as Bhargava.
It
is also learned that Parashurama had learned most of the vidyas in his
balyaavastha (the education given to children under 8 years or age) with his
mothers teachings. He understood & spoke to the animals. Even the wildest of
all animals became his friends after he touched them.
He
always taught the military arts only to Brahmins. However, there were
exceptions. His well known students are -
1.
Bhishma
2.)
Drona, the teacher of the Pandus and Kurus, father of Ashwatthama
3.)
Karna: Because Karna lied to Parashurama about being a Brahmin to earn tutelage
under Parashurama, once Parashuram found out the truth of Karna's Kshatriya
birth, he cursed Karna that he will forget all that he learned at a critical
point when he needs it the most. Thus, when Karna and Arjuna square off on
Kurukushetra, Karna loses to Arjuna simply because he could not remember the
vital mantra to invoke a weapon.
Shri
Parashurama had been blessed by the teachings of Gurus & Gurumata like
Maharshi Jamdagni (his father, fondly called as "Da") Jagatmata Renuka devi (his
mother, fondly called as "Ma") Maharshi Kashyapa Gurumata Aditi Brahmasrhi
Vishwamitra Maharshi Rutvij Maharshi atri Gurumata Ansuya Maharshi
Vasishtha
Birth
Parashurama
was the Great Grandson of Bhrugu Rishi, after whom the "Bhruguvansh" has been
named. Bhrugu's Son, Rucheek, married King Gadhi's daughter, Satyavati. One day,
Satyavati requested Bhrugu for a Son for herself and her mother. Bhrugu
prescribed separate regimens for the two ladies in terms of worshipping a
particular kind of tree, keeping in mind that Satyavati was married to a Brahmin
and Her mother to a kshatriya. However, the two ladies got confused - Satyavati
followed the regimen of her mother and Vice Versa. Consequently, Bhrugu foretold
that Satyavati's son will display Kshatriya traits and her mother's son will
display Brahmin Traits. After some pleading, Satyavati convinced Bhrugu to have
this effect, not on her son (Jamadagni) but her Grandson
(Parashurama)
Jamadagni
married Renuka, daughter of King Prasenjit. They had five Sons, Parashurama
being the youngest, the others being eldest of all Som,then Krutvu,Turvasu and
Megh. As Bhrugu had foretold, Parashurama, despite of being born in a Brahmin
family, had Kshatriya traits in terms of aggression, warfare and valour, as was
displayed after Haihaya King Sahasrarjuna killed his father
Jamadagni.
The
Killing of Jamadagni and Parashurama's revenge
A
haihay King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna - purported to possess a thousand
arms) and his army visited Jamadagni, a Brahmin sage, who fed his guest and the
whole army with his divine cow Kamadhenu. The king demanded the magical cow.
Jamadagni refused because he needed the cow for his religious ceremonies. King
Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) took the cow forcibly and devastated the
ashram. Angered at this, Parashurama killed the king's entire army and, after
cutting each one of his thousand arms, the king himself with his axe. As a
revenge, the King's sons killed Jamadagni in Parashurama's absence.
Furious
at his father's murder, Parashurama killed all sons of Sahasrajuna and their
aides. His thirst for revenge unquenched, he went on killing every adult
Kshatriya on earth, not once but 21 times, filling five ponds with blood. These
are the actions which highlight his warrior characteristics. Ultimately, his
grandfather, Richeek Rishi appeared and stopped him. Subsequently, he donated
the whole of the earth won from the Kshatriyas to Brahmins. Drona reaped the
benefit of this donation by Parashurama; he went to Parashurama and requested
for Parashurama's warfare skills. Parashurama agreed.
Extermination
of the Haihaya-kshatriya caste
Parashurama
is said to have cut off 1,000 of King Kartavirya Arjuna's arms
The
enmity between the Haihaya and the Bhargavas are mentioned in the Mahabharata
Hindu text numerous times. In the Srimad Bhagavatam SB 9.8.5-6, the Haihaya are
mentioned as "the uncivilized"[2].
Once,
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 Haihaya-Kshatriyas 21 times. He killed the
entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna (or 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 Ashvamedha 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 corrupted Haihaya 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
Ashvamedha 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 Haihaya-Kshatriyas 21
times, thus fulfilling his vow.
Legends
It
is said that when Parashurama saved and reclaimed Kerala, he settled Kerala from
the retreat of the sea, that was the beginning of the Kollam Era (AD 825)
(possibly named after the city Kollam) for the Malayalam Calendar.[3]
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 to cut off one of his tusks.
There
is an interesting side to Parashurama's conquest of Kshatriyas. After one his
conquests, he returns to Aihole (Badami Taluka, Bagalkot district in Karntaka)
which, some say was where he lived. Those who know Aihole would know that the
river Malaprabha does a near 180 degree turn there. While Parashurama washed his
blood soaked axe upriver, beyond the bend, there were village belles washing
clothes downriver. The axe was so bloody that it turned the entire river red.
This, the women washing clothes saw and exclaimed "Ai hole!" (oh, what a
river!). The name stuck and the village is now known as Aihole. There is an
another legend that Nairs (Nagas)of Kerala removed their sacred thread and hide
in forest to avoid Parasuramas revenge against Kshatriyas. Parasuram donated the
land to Nambuthiri Brahimns and Nambuthiris denied the Nairs Kshatriya status
(though they did Kshatriya duties and almost all the royal houses in Kerala come
from them)
Shiva'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 Shiva, 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.
In
one such version, played in ramlilas across India, Parshurama arrived after
hearing the sound of the bow of Shiva breaking. The kshatriyas were afraid to
confront the sage, but Sita approached the sage. He blessed her, saying
"Saubhagyawati bhavah", literally meaning "you will have your husband alive for
your lifetime, you wont see his death". So when he turned to confront Rama, the
destroyer of Shiva's bow, he could not pick up his axe to do so. This was so
because, as he blessed Sita with good luck, he could not cause any harm to her
husband. At the same time, he recognised Rama for what he truly was, namely, the
avatar of Vishnu as his bow fent flying in the hands of Lord Rama.
The
Mahabharata
When
Amba came to Parasurama for help because Bhishma refused to marry her. He
decided to slay Bhishma. Parasurama hated the Kshatriya race, He fought Bhishma
for twenty three days. It was a long and equal combat between the two greatest
men-at-arms of the age, but in the end Parasurama had to acknowledge defeat
because Bhishma was Immortal. He told Amba: "I have done all that I could and I
have failed. Throw yourself on the mercy of Bhishma. That is the only course
left to you."
Parasurama
was giving away his earning and wealth of a life time to brahmanas, Drona
approached him. Unfortunately by the time Drona arrived, Parasurama had given
away all his belongings to other brahmanas. Taking pity upon the plight of
Drona, Parasurama said you can choose any of my wepons, which one would you like
to have? The clever Drona said I will like to have your wepons with their
mantars as and when I need them. Parasurama said so be it. In other words Drona
decided to impart his knowledge of combat which made him supreme in science of
arms.
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
Drona, who taught the five Pandava and one hundred Kaurava princes. Parashurama
agreed to teach Karna, believing him to not be of Kshatriya birth, and gave him
the knowledge of the extremely powerful Brahmastra weapon. But an incident would
render the Brahmastra almost useless to Karna.
One
day, Parashurama was sleeping with his head resting on Karna's thigh, when a
beetle crawled up and bit Karna's thigh, boring into it. In spite of the
bleeding and the pain, he neither flinched or uttered a cry so that his teacher
could continue his rest. However, the blood trickled down, reaching Parashurama
and awakening him. 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. Later, during the Kurukshetra war, Karna had a dream at night when he
thought of his guru and asked him to take back the curse he had warranted years
back. Parashurama explained that he knew that the day would come; he knew that
Karna was a Kshatriya, but deemed him to be a worthy student and instructed him
nevertheless. However, the outcome of the war would have left the world in ruins
if Duryodhana were to rule, as opposed to Yudhishthira. For that reason,
Parashurama requested that Karna accept the curse and fall at the hands of
Arjuna, inadvertently saving the world.[citation needed]
Parashurama
was the guru of both Bheeshma (Devavrata) and Dronacharya. Also, the Sudarshan
chakra (or Sudarshan Vidya) is said to be given by Parashurama to
Krishna.
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 Shraman ascetic. 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 as do 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, at
the holy place Pajaka, there exists one major temple commemorating
Parashurama.
Parshurama,
the creator of the Konkan coast, is also worshipped in a temple at Lote
Parshurama in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.The people of the Konkan call
their land 'Parshurama Bhoomi' or the land of Parshurama in accordance with the
legend that the sage reclaimed the land from the sea.
There
are several Parashurama temples throughout the western coast of India as well as
North India, but especially more in the costal areas from Bharuch(ancient name
of Bharuch is Bhrugu Kutchchh) in the west Indian state of Gujarat right up to
Kerala, the southern tip of India. One can see a Parshurama Temple with a Agni
Mandir in Shivpuri, Akkalkot, Khopoli in Maharashtra and Fort Songadh in
Gujarat.
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 to receive celestial weaponry.
Parashurama
and Deities' Temples
In
the Kanyakumari Temple in Kanyakumari town, Parasurama installed the Idol made
of blue stone. Parashurama installed the idol of Dharma Sastha (Ayyappa) on the
peak on the Sabarimala Hill in the forest.[1] Parashurama trained Ayyappa[2]
just as Parashurama had trained Karna in the Mahabharata and is believed will
train the future Kalki.
He
created a temple of worship right after he resurfaced Kerala from the sea. He
placed statues of various deities in 108 different places and introduced martial
arts ("Kalari Payattu") to protect the temple from the evils.[3]
Also,
while the other pilgrimages created by Parashurama are devoted to Lord Shiva,
Lord Subramanya and Lord Ganesha, Kollur is the only one devoted to goddess
Parvati.[4]
There
are "Seven Mukti Stalas" of Karnataka, which were created by Parashurama and
some of the above such as Kollur belong to them.
Parashurama
Kshetras
Eight
kshetras are popularly known as Parashurama kshetras and a.k.a. 'Parashurama
Srishti'. They are:
1.
Chiplun
2.
Udupi
3.
Subramanya
4.
Kollur
5.
Shankaranarayana
6.
Koteshwara
7.
Kumbasi (Annegudde)
8.
Gokarna
Further
Kshetra Legend
There
is a legend that in one of the kshetras a King called Ramabhoja worshipped Lord
Parashurama. He was the ruler of the lands between Gokarna and Cape Comorin and
was proclaimed king of the entire Parasurama Kshetra. Once he decided to perform
the aswamedha yajna and plowed the land but mistakenly killed a serpent. However
the serpent was a demon. To repent this sin, King Rambhoja was directed by Lord
Parasurama to build a big silver pedestal with the image of a serpent at each of
its four corners and to worship Him who would be seated in spirit on the
pedestal and also to distribute gold equal to his own weight (Tulabhara) to
deserving persons. Rambhoja did likewise and performed the ashwamedha yajna
successfully. At its conclusion, Lord Parasurama appeared and declared that he
was pleased with the Yajna and that henceforth the sacrificial land 'Roopya
Peetha' (silver pedestal) would become a famous centre of pilgrimage. This land
is also known as 'Thoulava' land and because Rambhoja performed 'Tulabhara'.
This is in brief is the legend of the land.
Reclamation
of Konkan (coastal Maharashtra) & Kerala
Lord
Parshuram with Saraswat brahmin settlers commanding Lord Varuna to make the seas
recede to make the Konkan.
There
is also the Panhala Fort founded by Raja Bhoja in the late 12th century[4] which
Chhatrapati Shivaji had used and is said to be the only fort in which he stayed
for 500 days! This fort is said to have a connection with Parashurama. Konkan is
the karmabhumi of Parashurama (the land founded by him), but very few people
know about his janmabhumi (birthplace). His birthplace was in Mahur, which is at
the border of Marathwada and Vidharbha of Maharastra. At the left side of Renuka
Mata temple there is a temple which is believed to be Parashurama's birthplace.
It was very beautiful at the time of construction, but is now in very bad
condition.
Parashurama's
status today
A
temple of Parshuram is also situated at Akhnoor, 18 km away from Jammu city,
J&K.
Every
year, in the month of May, a brobdingnagian fete in the form of a parade,
referred as Parshuram Jayanti, with hundreds of tableaux, thronged through the
main city of Jammu. The budget of this celebration is in lakhs and is entirely
arranged by the Brahmin community of Jammu city and the adjoining areas. The
following is a sloka (hymn) in praise of Parasurama
Parasurama
Dhyana Sloka
Devam
naumi ramapathim ranapatum baswath kireedanchitham,
Kodandam
sasaram karena dadhtatham vamena chanyena cha,
Aartha
thrana patum kutaramasatham kandacchidam bhasuram,
Smasru
prasphurithananam surathanum ramam sada saswatham.
we
salute that immortal Parasurama, who is worshiped by the Devas,
Who
is the consort of Lakshmi, who is an expert in war, who has a shining
crown,
Who
holds a bow in his right hand and a white axe in his left
Which
protects the oppressed and destroys the bad,
Who
has a great shine on his face and is praised by the Devas. parshurama was a
bhramin and a avtar lord vishnu.
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