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Lord Parashurama is regarded as the sixth incarnation among the Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu. Lord Parashurama is also considered the Aveshavatara of Lord Vishnu. Lord Parashurama was born as the son of Sage Jamadagni and Mata Renuka. His mother was Chandravanshi Kshatriya and His father was a Brahmin. Therefore, Lord Parashurama possessed the qualities of both His Kshatriya lineage as well as His Brahmin lineage. He is one of the seven Chiranjivi(s), meaning immortals. Lord Hanumana, Vibhishana, Maharshi Vyasa, Kripacharya, Ashvatthama, Parashurama and King Bali are considered seven immortals in Hindu pantheon.
According to Hindu calendar, Lord Parashurama was born on the Tritiya Tithi of Vaishakha Shukla Paksha. This Tithi is celebrated as Parashurama Jayanti by the followers of Santana Dharma. The account of Lord Parashurama's life is found in various religious texts including Shri Ramacharitmanas, Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharata, Kalki Purana and Srimad Bhagavatam.
In ancient times, King Gaadhi ruled the kingdom of Kannauj. He had a daughter named Satyavati, who was known for her exquisite beauty. In due course, King Gaadhi arranged Satyavati's marriage to Richika, the son of Sage Bhrigu.
After the wedding was solemnised, Sage Bhrigu bestowed his blessings upon his daughter-in-law and asked her what she desires as a boon. Seeing her father-in-law in a good disposition, Satyavati requested Sage Bhrigu to bless her mother with a son. Answering to Satyavati's entreaty, Sage Bhrigu gave her two Charu vessels containing Havishyanna, meaning, the vessels which contained the cooked oblations for Yajna or sacrificial fire, and said - "When you and your mother have bathed after your menstrual cycles, your mother should embrace a Peepal tree with a desire to birth a son and you should embrace a Gular tree with the same desire. Then, eat this Charu separately from your respective vessels without mixing the contents with one another."
When Satyavati's mother learned that Sage Bhrigu had given his daughter-in-law a Charu for conceiving virtuous progeny, she quietly replaced her Charu with that of her daughter's. Thus, without knowing, Satyavati consumed the Charu meant for her mother. However, Sage Bhrigu immediately knew about the incident through his Yogic powers. He appeared in front of his daughter-in-law and said - "My dear daughter! Your mother has deceived you and consumed your portion of Charu. Therefore, your child will possess Kshatriya qualities despite being Brahmin and your mother's child will possess Brahmin qualities despite being Kshatriya."
Upon hearing the words of Sage Bhrigu, Satyavati earnestly requested him, saying that her son should conduct himself in accordance with Brahmin way of life, even if her grandson were to live the life of a Kshatriya. Sage Bhrigu happily accepted the request of Satyavati. In due course, Satyavati gave birth to Sage Jamadagni. Jamadagni was an extremely brilliant child. At the right age, Jamadagni married Renuka, the daughter of Prasenjita. Renuka gave birth to five sons, who became known in the world as Rukmavan, Sukhena, Vasu, Vishwanasa and Parashurama.
In this way, Lord Parashurama was born. According to the descriptions found in Mahabharata and Vishnu Purana, during the Namakarana Samskara, Sage Bhrigu, the grandfather of Parashurama first decided the name Rama for Him. However, after Lord Shiva granted Him the weapon Parashu named Vidyudabhi, He became known in the world as Parashurama. He was also called Jamadagnya after His father Jamadagni. Parashurama completed His early education at the hermitage of Sage Vishwamitra and Sage Richika. Parashurama received a Vaishnava celestial bow named Sharnga from Sage Richika and an immortal Vaishnava Mantra from Sage Kashyapa.
Lord Shiva also bestowed Trailokya Vijaya Kavacha of Lord Krishna, Stavaraja Stotram and Kalpataru Mantra upon Lord Parashurama. Thereafter, Parashurama performed severe penance while residing in Chakratirtha. Pleased with Parashurama's penance, Lord Vishnu granted Him the boon that after His loss of glory in Treta Yuga during the era of Lord Rama, He would perform penance on Earth until the end of Kalpa as a Chiranjivi. Lord Parashurama was accomplished in Shastra Vidya, the art of weaponry. He was also regarded as the supreme teacher of the art of weaponry. He trained many significant figures including Bhishma, Drona and Karna in Shastra Vidya. Karna had acquired Shastra Vidya from Parashurama by lying about his Brahmin ancestry, but when Parashurama learned about the truth, He cursed Karna that when he would need Shastra Vidya the most, it would be obliterated from his memory.
Lord Parashurama composed Shiva Panchachatvarimshanama Stotram in Ekadasha Chhanda. He advocated the principle of monogamy all His life. With the support of Sage Atri's wife Anasuya, Sage Agastya's wife Lopamudra and His beloved disciple Akritvana, Parashurama spearheaded a prominent movement of women empowerment.
According to an account found in Kalki Purana, when Lord Vishnu will incarnate on Earth in His Kalki Avatara, Parashurama will be His Guru and will bestow upon Him the knowledge of Shastra Vidya.
According to an account found in Srimad Bhagavatam, once, Kartavirya Arjuna performed intense penance to propitiate Lord Dattatreya. Pleased with Kartavirya Arjuna's penance, Lord Dattatreya appeared before him and asked what he desired as a boon. Kartavirya Arjuna asked Lord Dattatreya to grant him the boon of one thousand arms and also requested that he should remain victorious in any battle. Lord Dattatreya bestowed him with one thousand arms, thus he became known with the name Sahasrarjuna.
Once, when Sahasrarjuna was hunting in the forest, with some divine intervention, he arrived at the hermitage of Sage Jamadagni. A celestial cow called Kapila Kamadhenu, conferred by Lord Indra, was sitting beside the Sage. Kapila had the divine power to grant desired boon to anyone. Sage Jamadagni, with the assistance of Kapila Kamadhenu, hosted Sahasrarjuna's entire army with unforgettable hospitality. Upon witnessing the miracle of the divine cow, Sahasrarjuna was overcome with greed, and showing total disregard for Sage Jamdagni, forcibly seized Kapila Kamadhenu.
As soon as Lord Parashurama learned about the humiliation of His father, He waged war against Sahasrarjuna to retrieve the Kamadhenu. As the war proceeded, Lord Parashurama severed all arms of Sahasrarjuna and ultimately killed him. After the demise of Sahasrarjuna, his sons vowed to avenge their father's death. So, when Lord Parashurama was away and Sage Jamadagni was immersed deep in meditation, the sons of Sahasrarjuna killed him. When Parashurama's mother Renuka learned about the demise of her husband, she too climbed the funeral pyre of Jamadagni and became Sati.
When Parashurama returned and learned about the fate of His parents, He became exceedingly wrathful and vowed - "I will exterminate all the Kshatriyas from this world." Thereafter, He attacked the city of Mahishmati with all His might and subjugated it, then exterminated all the evil and arrogant Kshatriyas from the world twenty one times. Lord Parashurama filled five ponds of Panchaka Kshetra with the blood of the Kshatriyas of Haihaya lineage and performed the Shraddha of His father with the blood of Sahasrarjuna's sons. Realising that Parashurama's rage is not abating, Sage Richika appeared before Him and stopped His wrathful devastation.
Thereafter, Lord Parashurama performed Ashvamedha Yajna and donated the Earth with its seven continents to Sage Kashyapa. In the end, Lord Parashurama relinquished His arms in front of Indra and made the hermitage at Mahendra Parvata His final abode. According to the religious texts, Lord Parashurama is ageless and immortal and is still immersed in deep meditation on Earth.
An account related to Parashurama's life is also found in the Brahmavaivarta Purana. According to the legend, once, Parashurama appeared at Mount Kailasha to meet with Lord Shiva. However, Lord Ganesha stopped Him before the entrance of the inner parts of Lord Shiva's abode. Lord Parashurama requested many times, but Lord Ganesha ignored His entreaties and refused to let Him enter, as a result, an enraged Lord Parashurama tried to forcefully make His way through the gate. To counter Lord Parashurama's coercion, Lord Ganesha stunned Him. Then Lord Ganesha tied the unconscious Parashurama to His trunk and visited all the Lokas including the Goloka before descending on the Earth. After landing on Earth, Lord Ganesha untied Lord Parashurama and set Him free. When Parashurama regained His consciousness, He became extremely angry and in His rage, He broke one of the tusks of Lord Ganesha with His axe. Thus, Lord Ganesha became known in the three worlds as Ekadanta.
Lord Parashurama's father was Sage Jamadagni and His mother was Renuka. His mother Renuka belonged to a lunar dynasty of Chandravanshi Kshatriya. Sage Richika was his grandfather. Lord Parashurama had four brothers, Rukmavan, Sukhena, Vasu and Vishwanas. Lord Parashurama practised celibacy all His life, thus He didn't marry and had no wife.
Lord Parashurama is generally depicted as an ascetic holding a bow in one hand and a battle-axe in the other. He is also portrayed in His four-arm form. In each of His four arms, He carries a discus, a bow, a battle-axe and a staff. He also carries a quiver of arrows on His back.
General Mantra -
ॐ रां रां ॐ रां रां परशुहस्ताय नमः।
Om Ram Ram Om Ram Ram Parashuhastaya Namah।
Pranama Mantra -
ॐ नमः परशुहस्ताय नमः कोदण्डधारिणे।
नमस्ते रुद्ररूपाय विष्णवे वेदमूर्तये॥
Om Namah Parashuhastaya Namah Kodandadharine।
Namaste Rudrarupaya Vishnave Vedamurtaye॥
Parashurama Gayatri Mantra -
ॐ जामदग्न्याय विद्महे महावीराय धीमहि।
तन्नो परशुराम प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Jamadagnyaya Vidmahe Mahaviraya Dhimahi।
Tanno Parashurama Prachodayat॥
Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, was born on this day. The birth of Lord Parashurama is celebrated as Parashurama Jayanti. It is believed that Lord Parashurama is still doing penance on Mahendra Parvata.
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This 40-verse prayer of Lord Parashurama, known as Shri Parashurama Chalisa, is provided with recitation video and lyrics.
Mantra and Names of Lord Parashurama with meaning and recitation video are given on this page.
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