Parashurama Bhargava or Parasurama (Axe-wielding Rama),
the sixth avatar of Vishnu, belongs to the Treta yuga, and is the son of Jamadagni and Renuka.
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 advancing ocean back thus saving the lands of Konkan and Malabar (Maharashtra - Karnataka - Kerala coastline).
The coastal area of Kerala state along with the Konkan region, i.e., coastal Maharashtra and Karnataka, is known as Parashurama Kshetra (Parashurama's area).
Some say it extends all the way to Mumbai in Maharashtra. Parashurama is said to be a "Brahma-Kshatriya" (of the duty between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya), the first warrior saint and a descendant of the Brahmarshi Vishvamitra.
Birth
Parashurama was the Great Grandson of Bhrugu Rishi, after whom the "Bhruguvansh" has been named. Bhrugu's Son, Richeek, 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 eldest, the others being Rukmvan, Sushen, Vasu and Vishvasu. 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 Surabhi. 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.
Haihaya-Kshatriya Background
It appears that the Haihayas may have been enemies and at war with several groups, including other Kshtriyas themselves. For example the Haihayas sacked Kashi during the reigns of King Haryaswa and King Sudeva (whom they killed), King Divodas and his son Pratarddana (who finally expelled them outside of the Vatsa Kingdom). All these kings were born in the Kingdom of the Ikshvaku, a solar clan and the Haihayas were a lunar clan.
The hostile Haihaya King Arjuna Kartavirya also defeated the Naga Kshatiryas, defeated Karkotaka Naga and made Mahishmati (present day Maheshwar) the capital of his own kingdom.
All the five Haihaya clans called themselves together as Talajangha (Vishnu Purana IV.11).
According to numerous Puranas, the military corporations of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Pahlavas and Paradas, known as five hordes (panca-ganah), had militarily supported the Haihaya and Talajunga Kshatriyas in depriving Ikshvaku King Bahu (the 7th king in descent from Harishchandra) of his Ayodhyakingdom.
A generation later, Bahu's son, Sagara recaptured Ayodhya after totally destroying the Haihaya and Talajangha Kshatriyas in the battle. King Sagara had punished these foreign hordes by changing their hair-styles and turning them into degraded Kshatriyas.
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 Srimaa Bhagavatam SB 9.8.5-6, the Haihaya are mentioned as "the uncivilized".
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.
Parashurama had a very famous incident with Lord Rama's father during one of those raids on the Haihaya-kshatriya clans. When Parashurama had visited Ayodhya to annihilate Dasharatha, then the latter had actually prepared for a certain death, knowing that Parashurama 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 go to the battlefield and disguised him as a woman. Irritated after a long wait, Parashurama searched everywhere in the king's palace, then entered the queen's quarters (antahpuram). There he found the king in women's garments. Parashurama discarded Dasharatha 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.
Legends
It is said that when Parashurama created Kerala 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.
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 thred 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 house 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 "be thou blessed with good luck". 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.
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 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.
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 Parshurama temples throughout the western coast of India as well as North India, but especially more in the costal areas from Bharuch 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.Parashurama trained Ayyappa 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.
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.
There are "Seven Mukti Stalas" of Karnataka, which were created by Parashurama and some of the above such as Kollur belong to them.
Parshurama Ksethras
Seven ksethras are popularly known as Parashurama ksethras and a.k.a. 'Parashurama Srishti'. They are:
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Udupi
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Subramanya
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Kollur
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Shankaranarayana
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Koteswara
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Kumbhasi (Annegadda)
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Gokarna
Further Kshetra Legend
There is a legend that in one of the kshetras a King Ramabhoja, who 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 was intending on performing 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.
Formation of Konkan (coastal Maharashtra) & Kerala
Lord Parshuram with Saraswat brahmin settlers commanding Lord Varuna to make the seas recede to make the Konkan.
According to legend no Konkan & Kerala existed before Parashurama threw his axe into the sea. The god of the sea Varuna respected him and retreated to a position beyond where the axe had fallen. Thus Konkan & Kerala were formed.
There is also the Panhala Fort founded by Raja Bhoja in the late 12th century 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.
Other Names
PARSHURAM'S WRATH
On hearing this, the son of the king came back and killed Jamdagni. This sparked a flaming rage in fiery Parshuram who went on a rampage to avenge the death of his father. Wielding his invincible axe, he went on a killing spree.
Kshatriyas were not only weak against Parshuram's most powerful weapon; they were also duty bound. They didn't want to commit the inexcusable crime of killing a Brahmin sage (The pap of Brahm-hatya). He almost killed all the Kshatriyas in the 21 battles.
Some sane Brahmin Rishis of that time realised that Parshuram's temper was mercurial and he would ultimately calm down. They sheltered some Kshatriya children in their homes as their own children to protect them from this enraged sage. These Brahmin families treated their houseguests just like their own children so that no one could notice the difference. Parshuram was not easily fooled; he went to these Brahmin houses hunting for the hiding Kshatriyas. He new that Brahmins may do everything to protect them, except break their caste code by sharing the same plate (patra) for their meals. Therefore, at the mealtime Parshuram forced them to use a common patra. If they were all Brahmins children as they claimed, then they would not hesitate. If they were not, then they would be breaking the caste code and be excommunicated from their supreme caste.
These shelter-giving Brahmins had to obey their sage. What they cleverly did was to use plantain leaves (kele ke patte) as the Patras for their meals. The main central stem in the leaves served as the dividing line between the two castes. The Brahmins and the Kshatriyas sat opposite to each other using their own segment only. The enraged sage was fooled and Kshatriyas were saved from extinction.
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MORE INTEGRATION BETWEEN FUNCTIONS OF BRAHMINS AND KSHATRIYAS
After these events, the distinct demarcation between Brahmin's function and Kshatriya's function in the society fuzzed to some extent.
Due to tremendous shortage of Kshatriyas in the society, the Brahmins had to increasingly play more of Kshatriya's roles. They had to take up arms, join the armed forces, the police force, and general administration. These Brahmins were called Raj Rishis. Most of them were those families that sheltered the Kshatriyas. They had natural affinity towards their Kshatriya brothers as they grew-up together. On the other hand, those Kshatriyas who grew up with Brahmins families developed more Rishi like traits. They formed a separate sub-caste of Brahm-Kshatriyas.
Brahmin caste
Kshatriya caste
Brahmin functions-
priesthood, worship, teach, preach, heal
Brahm-Rishis
Brahm-Kshatriyas
Kshatriya functions-
rule & govern,
warriors,
protect the community,
Law and order, policing.
Raj-Rishis
Raj-Kshatriyas
These two hybrid communities were largely responsible in bringing the two major communities together.LORD RAM'S YUG
Lord Vishnu's next avatar was Lord Ram. This time, as we all know, he was born in a Kshatriya family of King Dashrath of Ayodhya. During Lord Ram's period, the relations between the two castes had improved significantly. Brahmin Rishis like Vishvamitra and Vashist were all getting involved with many administrative matters relating to good governance by the Kshatriya kings. They had tremendous influence on the rulers and this period called Ram Rajya became synonymous with good governance.
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It is significant to note that this avatar came to destroy an arrogant and powerful Brahmin ruler called Ravan. Lord Ram had to do a special penance at Rameshwaram (Lord Shiva's Temple) because in destroying Ravan, he had committed Brahm-hatya.
LORD KRISHNA AND MAHABHARAT YUG
Lord Krishna was the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. In this yug of Mahabharat, we have many warrior-Brahmins like Dronacharya, Kirpacharya, and Ashwasthama. In this yug, the two major castes are present on both sides of the warring clans.MOHYALS, THE RAJ-RISHIS
Mohyal Brahmins draw their heritage from the mythology of Parshuram. Till this day many of them have remained true to their traditions. They have proudly served many rulers, not all of them were Kshatriyas, as commanders, warriors, and administrators, and protectors of lives and properties of people in their community.
There is a place called Renuka, near Nahan in Himachal Pradesh, where there is a temple of Lord Parshuram, his mother Renuka and father Jamdagni. Many Mohyal make a pilgrimage to this idyllic place. Some Mohyal families, who came to India after the partition have settled near this place (Kala Amb) and have invested in farming estates.
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