Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, The Parashu (Axe).

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, The Parashu (Axe).

Did you know that Parashu, named Vidyudabhi, is a weapon of the epic times which was created by Lord Shiva as his weapon which he eventually gifted to Lord Parashurama, his devoted disciple for ten years, and taught him its use?

Parashu Rama , Rama with Parashu, the battle axe - the divine weapon - got Parashu as a gift from its orignal creatoive owner Lord Shiva. Parashurama was a devoted disciple of Shiva for ten years, and as reward for his deep penance and devotion, Shiva gifted him the Parashu and also taught him its use. Parashu was thus the divine battle-axe or weapon of Parashurama. Parashurama after ecieving the parashu is reported to have said:"This divine axe that possesses the power to cut through any asurik maya have found me for a purpose."

Parashu, in Hindu mythology, an astra, is a supernatural weapon created or gifted by the gods to someone who then presides over the weapon. The wielder of an astra is known as an astradhari. This weapon is also named Vidyudabhi. 

Parashu is the Sanskrit word for a battle-axe, which can be wielded with one or both hands. In the epic period, it was the most lethal close combat weapon. 

Parashu has evolved over aeons of use as a weapon, by Gods, Shiva, Parashurama, goddess Durga, and Ganesha. It is still depicted on their carved or pianted idols worshiped throughout India. During the Mahabharata period, it was the main weapon of Sahadeva and Shakuni. 

Parashurama, who mastered use of Parashu, went on a marauding campaign of 21 raids eliminating Kshatriyas of the land as revenge for one of their ilk, a king and his sons killing sage Jamadagni, his father; the Kashtriya king slayed was Sahasra Arjuna or Kartvirarjuna; Parashurama cut off the head of Sahasra Arjuna yielding his Parashu. 

The legendary Parashu of the epic period, which Parashurama carried as his trademark weapon, is described as having four cutting edges; there was a blade on each end of the axe head and one on each end of the shaft. In later stages of his life, battle fatigued, Parashurama. inclined towards spirituality settled down on the west coast of India after reclaiming the land from the Arabian sea with blessings of God Varuna and Bhudevi, by throwing his Parashu towards the sea to decide the limits of land reclamation; this recovered or reclaimed swathe of land from the ocean is called 'Parashurama Kshetra', which includes present day Kerala, Konkanasthan, and Goa.  

The battle axe of ancient India, known as a parashu (or farasa in some dialects), specifically designed for combat, was made from iron, bamboo, wood, or wootz steel. It usually measures 90–150 cm (3.0–4.9 ft) though some are as long as 210 cm (7 ft). A typical parashu could have a single edge or double edge, with a hole for fixing a shaft. The haft is often tied with a leather sheet to provide a good grip. The cutting edge is invariably broad and the length of the haft could be about three to four feet.

Parashus are still used as domestic tools in Indian households, particularly in the villages, as well as being carried by certain sects of eremitic sadhu.

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, History of Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, History of Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins

Did you know that Parashurama or Bhargava Rama is treated as the the founder and creator of the Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins of the region of Parashruma Kshetra in the west coast of India, and they consider themselves as the best and the brightest of the historic brahmin families of Maharashtra?

Parashurama, the axe (Parashu) wielding avatara of Hindu God Lord Vishnu, after exterminating most Kshatriyas of the land came to the west coast of India to settle down, and with blessings of Lord Varuna, god of the Seas, created the Parashurama Kshetra also known as the Konkan region. To expiate his sins, Parashurama reportedly did penance and unable to find Brahmins in the Konkan, created Chitpavan Brahmins by purifying a group of sixty fishermen (14 is also mentioned in some references) of foreign origin who had gathered at a fuenral pyre near the coast. These Brahmins got the name Chita pavanas by the fact that ‘Pavana’ means “pure” and ‘chitta’ meaning “through funeral ashes”. Chiplun village. the place where the fishermen were resuscitated to the position of the mythic brahmins is thus considered the first home of the Chitpavan Brahmans or Konkanastha Brahmins. This place is also known as Lote Parashuram Chiplun. 

Chitapavan also means pure of mind. Ayachak brahmin groups like Chitpavan brahmins, also trace their legendary lineage to Lord Parashurama. The etymology of their name is given in the chapter "citpavanabrhamna.otpattih, i.e " Origin of the Chitpavana Brahmins. The Sanskirt text titled Sahyādrikhaṇḍa which has an exclusive chapeter dealing with the origin of Chitpāvana Brāhmaṇas.

According to folklore, Parashurama after retrieving and claiming Konkan region from the aggressive sea with the help of god Varuna, settled the 14 (40?) fishermen, whom he had restored to life, at Chiplun with sixty ponds (water tanks) and sixty gardens.

Another theory mooted is that when Parashurama almost eliminated the kshatriya race as revenge for killing of his father Jamadagni, some of his followers who fled from the Narmada valley went to the lonely West Coast of India either via Nasik or by sea route via Prabhasa. Then, Parashurama brought woman from the south and northern India and got them married to his followers. It is these political refugees who were the forefathers of the Chitapavans. Thus, in the present day context they are a mixture of northern Indo-Aryans and the southern Dravidians.

Yet, an other argument put forth to the name of Chitpavan is that Sage Bhrigu's descendents who were noted as fire-priests had one way of arranging the sacred fire and were therefore blessed by the Chityagni and hence got the name Chityapavan, later corrupted to Chitpavan. As for the shipwreck and curse in the story, they may signify the infusion of some foreign blood. 

A line of argumentt also says that as Parashurama slaughtered so many warriors that Brahmins had refused to preform rituals on him. In retaliation, Parashurama took the bodies of 14 shipwrecked foreigners (westerners, Europeans or even Jews) he found at Chiplun village on the western coast of India, purified them in a pyre (chita) and restoring their corpses to life. He works this miracle so that he might teach these resuscitated outsiders to preform purification rituals on him. 

It is also said Chitpawans as a community of the Konkan region initially worked as messengers and spies in the late seventeenth century, They came into prominence during the 18th century when the heirs of Peshwa from the Bhat family of Balaji Vishwanath became the de facto rulers of the Maratha empire. Until the 18th century, the Chitpavans were held in low esteem by the Deshastha, the older established Brahmin community of Maharashtra region. 

Eventually, Chitpavans became exemplary purifiers in the sense that they purify god, usurpe the position of the mythic brahmins, and became the best and the brightest of the historic brahmin families. 

Chiplin, on the banks of the Vashisti River, is now large town in Ratnagiri district in the state of Maharashtra with a population of 55,139 (as of 2011 census). Apart fromm its ancient hisrory, Chiplin its histroicity is traced to the Islamic era, Maratha empire and British colonial rule. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Indian nationalist, teacher, and an independence activist, conferred with the title of "Lokmanya", who hailed from the Ratnagiri district, was the most notable Chitpawan Brahmin. In Tilak's memory, Chiplin has the Lokamanya Tilak Smarak Vachan Mandir library and Museum. Chiplin also has one of the few temples that exist dedicated to Lord Parshurama or Bhargavrama. the main temple with syncretic architecture has an idol of Parashuram in middle, God Brahma at right and Lord Shankar (Shiva) on the left. 

 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the founder of the Hindu nationalist political ideology Hindutva, was a Chitpavan Brahmin. Two major politicians in the Gandhian tradition: Gopal Krishna Gokhale, whom Mahatma Gandhi acknowledged as a preceptor, and Vinoba Bhave, one of his outstanding disciples were also Chitpavan Brahmins. 

A little known information is that Chitpavan Brahmins, the class of Brahmins to which Nathuram Godse also belonged were the main targets of groups committing violence in 1948 following the death of Mahatma Gandhi. Chitpavan Patwardhan family ruled princely states such as Sangli, where the Marathas were joined by the Jains and the Lingayats, suffered the most in the attacks against the Brahmins.

Note: To be continued in the last episode titled: "Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, The Parashu (Axe).

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part V (a), In epic Mahabharata

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part V (a), In epic Mahabharata

Did you know that Parashurama a chiranjeevi, who was so far spanned three aeons, had many desxciples during the Dwapara Yuga in the epic Mahabharata times when he trained in warfare his iconic desciples starting with Bhishma, Drona and Karna?  

Parashurama had after his encounter with Rama of Ayodhya, and following his surrender of his divine avatara powers to Rama, following the lifting and stringing and relesing of the arrow of the Vishnu dhanus by Rama, moved to Mahendra mountain for penance. His pitrurdevatas advised him only to do Tapas after a taking a holy dip in the Vadoosara River which restored his lustre; to take a dip at special spot in the river called Deeptoda. He did just that and thus regained his divine body. 

The Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata period of the Dwapara Yuga, contacted Parashurama's desciple Akritavrana, after litening to Parashurama's esxploits learned that they could meet him on the fourteenth and the eighth day of the lunar course. Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, also learnt that they would see Parashurama in the forest dwelling clad in a sable deerskin, and wearing his hair in the form of a matted mass." 

Lord Krishna of the Yadava dynasty, the 8th avatara of Vishnu and who was integral to the story of Mahabharata, had met Parashurama who visited the hermitage of Sage Sandipani; Sandipani was the guru of Krishna and Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna ,also an avatara. Lord Krishna attended and served him. After that Lord Krishna sought his blessings. As Lord Krishna was the Supreme Lord himself, he said that what blessing could he gave to him. Therefore he gave him the Sudarshana Chakra that is the ultimate weapon.

Bhishma, the eldest of the Kuru dynsaty, had been named Devavrata by his mother Ganga, and she had taken him to different loka (realms), where he was brought up and trained by many eminent sages. She had also met Parashurama and requested him to train her son in all aspects of warfare. Then, Parashurama had just made Bhishma a great archer and a warrior who fought in the epic Mahabharata war. Bhishma, however, later gets broiled in a fight with Parashurama. Bhishma was greatly indebted to his Guru. Bhishma had named his guru Parashurama as one of the Saptharishis.  

Amba, the eldest and most beautiful daughter of Kashya, the King of Kashi, and the sister of Ambika and Ambalikaa, who was ditched by Bhishma in the svayamvara at the Kingdom of Kashi, relentlessley pursued Bhishma to marry her after Shelya, the main suitor had refused to marry her, but she had failed in all her attrempts. Then, she met Parashurama thinking as Guru of Bhishma he could persuade him to marry her.

 To help Amba, Parasurama went to Kurukshetra and sent a message to Bhishma to meet him. Bhishma arrived at the place and offered his service to his teacher. Wanting to solve the tricky situation, Parashurama ordered him to marry Amba, telling him that it was his duty. However, Bhishma denied it, reminding him about his vow of celibacy. This enraged Parashurama and he threatened Bhishma with death. Bhishma tried to calm him but it failed. An intense battle began with both protecting their words. They fought for twenty-three days, each using celestial weapons. Bhishma came to the war wearing armour on his mighty car (ratha). He also demanded Parashuram to mount on a car but Parashuram said that Earth is like his car and Vedas are like good horses that carry him. So they both faught on the ground. Ganga tried to stop them but was unsuccessful. On the twenty-fourth day of battle, Bhishma attempted to use the Prashwapatastra against Parashurama, but the divine sage Narada and the gods intervened and showed their concern over the use of powerful weapons which could destroy the world. Parashurama ended the conflict and the battle was declared a stalemate. Parasurma took leave of Amba admitting his inability to help her.

Dronacharya or Drona, who was also studying in his father's ashram in Mahendra mountain. sought the blessings of Parashurama and urged him to take him as his disciple to teach him archery and lots of other things related to warfare, Droṇacharya, the royal preceptor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata, had heard that the invincible Brahmana-warrior Parashurama was retiring to the forest after his encounter with Rama of Ayodhya, and was gifting away all his possessions in charity. However, by the time he was approached by Drona, Parasurama only had his weapons left to give away. He offered to give Droṇa the weapons as well as the knowledge of how to use them. This is how Droṇa obtained the greatest weapons in his possession. Parashurama had imparted knowledge of celestial weapons to Drona along with the mantra of invocation and withdrawal of weapons. He had a huge range of weapons like Brahmastra, Brahmashira, Narayanastra, Rudra, Agneya, Vajra etc. Drona particuarly obtaining from Parashurarama, the most exalted of all weapons called the Brahmastra weapon, became exceedingly glad and acquired a decided superiority over all men. Thus, Drona was also nicknamed Parshuramashishya (परशुरामशिष्य).

To be continued in the next episode titled : "Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part V (b), Training Karna In epic Mahabharata.

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VI, retirement home in Westcoast of India

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VI, retirement home in Westcoast of India

Did you know that Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, who has lived on from Treta Yuga to the present Kaliyuga, has reportedly settled down in many places in South India of which the Parashurama Kshetra in the areas demarcated by the Indian state of Kerala retrived from the Arabian Sea in one.?

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, born in early Treta Yuga to sage Jamadagni and his wife Renuka, as the sixth avatara of Lord Vishnu, is the divine and fiery man carrying his weapon Parashu, the primitive tool of the man in woods. He fullfilled the assigned role of eliminating most of the evil and despotic Kashatriya rulers of the land; He single handedly corrected the cosmic equilibrium by destroying the Kshatriya warriors twenty-one times. There is also a myth of extermination of kashatriyas by Brahamnical class or priestly caste which has been mythcalised to the legendary invasion of India from Egypt, under leadership of Sesostris or Parasurma, the leader with the battle axe.

Much sobered and detached in the later part of the Treta Yuga itself Parashurama encountered his succesor avatara of Rama of Ayodhya and handed over his divine powers to him. He then continued to live on in Dwapara Yuga and tutoring in warfare the heroes such as Bhishma Pitamaha, Dronacharya, Karna and many others related to the epic Mahabharata events. He entered into the Kaliyuga (present aeon) as a Chiranjeevi (immortal) and a sage inclined towards spirituality, He is believed to have created the last episodic event of his life by establishing the Parashurama Ksherta as part of the Mahendra Parvat, also known as coast of Malabar, or Konkan coast, a land retrieved from the Arabian sea, which is part of the present day Kerala coast. This, he did after encountering Varuna, the sea God and commanding Varuna to recede to make land; he demarcated the land to be reclaimed from the sea by releasing his axe (or shot an arrow). This land is thus a gift from the ocean-god Varuna. The place from where he shot his arrow is on Salher fort (the second highest peak and the highest fort in Maharashtra) in the Baglan taluka of Nashik district of Maharashtra. There is a temple on the summit of this fort dedicated to Parashurama and there are footprints in the rock which are 4 times the size of normal humans.

This land reclaimed from the sea extends from Gokarna to Kanyakumari, which was then created exclusivly for the Brahmins.

In another legend, it is said that after Parashurama exterminated Kshatriyas , and at sage Vishwamitra's instructions gifted the entrie territory he had won to sage Kashyapa and other Brahamanas, And thus, having no place to call his own, he performed a rigorous penance as a result of which the god Varuna granted him a boon of reclaimed land from the sea. This place is located at city of Chiploon in Konkan region of Maharashtra. Another place where he washed his battles axe in the Malaprabha river in Karnataka has been mentioned in the earlier episode.

Some of the other places in India which are claimed to be related to Parashurama's life events are: 

a) A place called Panchthirthi near Simla in north India, which is a confluence of five rivers. It is believed that the hermitage of Jamadagni, Parashurma's father, was at this place. It was here, that the legend says, Parashurama was born, and he killed Sahasrarjuna. or King Kartvirarjuna. There is a Shiva temple here named Parashurameshwara . 

b) After donating entire territory won by him, Parashurama went to a place named Shurparaka, It is also identified as a village Sopara near Mumbai, Maharashtra.

c) On the border of Kurukshetra in Haryana, there is a place called Samantapanchak, According to Mahabharata, here, Parashurama created five water bodies, kundas, This place is now called Ramahrida.

d) Parashuram Kund is a famous Nadi (River) Tirtha of the Hindus in the north - eastern region of Arunachal Pradesh of India, It is a very ancient and delightful place, which finds mention in various scriptures including Shrimad Bhagwat Purana. The legend goes that Lord Parashurama, in order to make atonement for his sins, washed his blood stained parashu (axe) in the river at this place. It is now a heritage site of panoramic natural beauty, equipped with forested mountains, valleys and plains. Government of India is establishing here a 51 feet divine and grand idol of lord Parshuram made of panchadhatu.

e) Near Simla in North India, there is a place called Renuka thirtha. The sacred tank here is named Parashutram Tal. The mountain here is known as as Jamadagni Parvat.

f) The place where Parashurama released the arrow to reclaim land from the sea is also calimed to be in the Konkan area, known as Lote Parashurama and now has a temple dedicated to Parashurama.

g) Another interesting but factual event is the creation of the Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins of the Konkan region of Mahasrashtra. It is believed that sage Parashurama did this by purifying a group of sixty fishermen at a fuenral pyre.. They superiroity within caste hierarchy by means of this myth highlighting their very marginality to society. 

h) In the "Sahyadri Khanda" of the Skanda Purana, Parashurama is described as having reclaimed Konkan from the sea and is hence named as Konkana-suta (koṅkaṇāsuta/कोङ्कणासुत), the son of Konkana. His mother Renuka is also known as Konkana, meaning born in Konkana country. 

Note: To be continued as: "Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII History of Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins"

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part V (b), Training Karna In epic Mahabharata

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part V (b), Training Karna In epic Mahabharata

Did you know that Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, the Brahmin priest and warrior did train Karna, as a great archer and warrior but at the end cursed him also to forget the mantras to recall the astras as he lerned that Karna had decived him by saying he was a Brahmin? 

Parashurama's foray in the Dwapara Yuga continues eventhough he had retired into the Mahendra parvat after his savage actions of slaying the Kashatriyas. Karna, the much misunderstood warrior, one of the main protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata and a tragic hero , went out of his way to somehow get trained by Parashurama. Karna had deceptively told Parashurama that he was Brahamana so that he could take him as disciple. Parasurama laid his palm on Karna's striking youth head, blessing him, He said I will teach you everything I know. Thus began the tutelage in Parashuaram's ashrama. Parashurama had found an extraordinary pupil both in respect of knowledge of Vedas and archery. Karna wanted to be fully proficient in the archer's marital knowldege, and Parashurama promiseed him that. He taught him for more than three years and Karna learned about devastras - astras of the Gods of light. He acquired the knowledge of all astras that could be had in this world even Brahmastra and the Bhargavastra. Karana even told his friend and mentor Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince that he was very well versed in archery having learned about al weponry from Parashurama. 

However, Karna's luck ran out. One day Parashurama was sleeping with his head on Karna's thigh. A leech pierced Karna;s thigh from one end to the other but thinking that his teacher's sleep would be disturbed, Karna tolerated the pain in silence. When the blood trcikled to Parasurama's face he woke up and found the room in his ashrama was full of blood stains Then Karna was made to reveal his identity to Parasuram who had guessed that he was a kashatriya and not a brahmin, and told him so, Then in fury for decieving him of his identtty, Karna was cursed by Parashasurama, This curse came into effect on 18th day of the Kurukshetra war when Karna was relentlessly attacked by Arjuna when he could not remember the mantras to be uttered to invite the divaystra. taught to him by Parashurama. Then he rembered the curse of Parasurama who had said :"For decieving your preceptor, you will forget all the divine weapons when necessasry. By that time he had lost the war to Arjuna." 

Legend of Parashurama also described him return to a village, after battles, in what is now Aihole in the Badami Taluka in Bagalkot distrct of Karnataka. While the warriror washed his axe beyond a sharp turn in the river Malaprabha, unknown to him, village women were washing their clothes downstream His mighty axe starined the entrire river red and the women expclaimed "Ai hole" translating to to "Oh! What a river! ". A rock shaped like an axe on the Malaprabha river bank north of the village is associated with this legend. 

Note: To be continued in the next episode - Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VI, retirement home in Westcoast of India

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part IV, Encounter with Lord Rama of Ayodhya of epic Ramayana,

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part IV, Encounter with Lord Rama of Ayodhya of epic Ramayana,

Did you know that Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, during the Treta Yuga after he had earned the moniker as 'Kshatrantaka' following his slaying all Kshatriyas, has an encounter with young Rama, prince of Ayodhya of epic Ramayana in King Janaka's court where the Shiva Dhanus is broken?

Did you know that Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, is present in the Ramayana epic due to the conflict with Rama (the protagonist of the Ramayana) over Shiva's broken bow, also appears later in Mahabharata epic as the guru of Bhisma, Drona, Rukmi, and Kar na?  

Parashurama, the sixth avatara of Vishnu meets with the seventh avatara of Vishnu, in the Treta Yuga itself, at the breaking of his Shiva Dhanus which he had gifted to King Janaka in the epic Ramayana. This furious encounter of Parashurama with young prince Rama of Ayodhya takes place in the Swamyamvara event organised by King Janaka in his court for finding a suitable suitor in marriage for his daughter Sita.. The challenge posed to the royal suitors present was lifting and stringing the huge Shiva dhanus which had been gifted to Janaka by Parashurama himself, on an eralier occassion. 

Only prince Rama could lift this Shiva dhanus and string it but it broke with a thunderous noise which Parashurama heard in his ashrama, and locating the source of the noise in his divine vision became furious and came running to accost the perpetrators of this noise. This incident has been narrated in two different versions.

In the first version, as narrated in the Vishnu Purana, which is now a popular screened TV version, happened in King Janaka's court in Mithila. As Parashurama entered through the main gate of the palace into the royal court, he saw a large gathering of royal dignitaries who had assembled for the Swyamvara of Sita, Parashurama also suddenly saw the broken Shiva dhanus which he had gifted to Janaka and he became furiuos. King Janaka and Vishwamitra immediately bowed to him, and Sunayana, wife of Janaka and her daughter Sita followed. Parashurama blessed Sita to get married to the greatest of men. Prince Rama of Ayodhya and his brother Lakshmana were also introduced to him and thery paid their obesence to Parashurama and he blessed them to live long with unequalled fame, Parashurama then tersely asked Janaka as to who broke the Shiva Dhanus given by him, and even threatend Janaka saying that: "He would destroy the person who broke it". Then, Rama told Parashurama that: "He who broke the bow of Shambu (Shiva) is a slave of yours, and whatever order you give I will follow it. With Parashurama's threat all the suitors, rajas and princes left Janaka''s court in haste. 

But Lakshmana intervened and posed a pertinent question to Parashurama: "Your holiness, We broke many bows in our childhood. You never became mad at us like now., Why are you so attached to this old bow". Parashurama did not like this question from a young man and warned Lakshmana, and calling him an upstart asked him to hold his words or he would face his wrath. Sage Vishwamitra intervened and tried to pacify saying that Lakshmana was just a boy . Then prince Rama intervened saying that he picked up the bow and strung it and it then just fell apart. You can get angry with me and punish me in whatever way you wish. Parashurama was startlled by Rama's reply and told him: "...since you claim that you did it then pick up this bow which I am carrying and string it if you can, and remove my doubt. He also told Rama that this bow had come to him with God' Vishnu's grace, and if you raise the bow and string it, then I will know who is God, the spouse of Lakshmi.

Parashurama then placed the bow , the Vijaya bow of Vishnu crafted by Vishwakarma himslef , granted to him by Lord Indra he was carrying before Rama to lift and string. Prince Rama easily lifted the bow and strung it. Parashurama then realisng that Rama was none other than an avatara of Vishnu, his successor, folded his hands and bowed to Rama and then went around Rama three times in Pradaskhina (cirumambulation). He thus rightully gave back all his powers to Rama saying : "I will leave for my mounatin resort and I will never use weapons again."

Another version of the above event, happened when Lord Rama and his brothers with their brides of Janakas' family were returning in a grand procession as part King’s Dasaratha’s entourage, with pomp and gaiety with beating of drums. As the procession passed through the hermitage of Parashurama at Siddhivana, disturbed by the noise of the drums, Parashurma who was doing penance in the ashram was annoyed came out in anger, and obstructed the path of Dasaratha. Dasaratha was horrified at this turn of events. Parasurama’s unforgiving hatred against all Kshatriyas was something that all of them had heard about and learned to be scared of from the time they were all little children. With great trepiditon, Dasaratha approached the sage with folded hands and entreated him to spare the young prince Rama. Parasurama ignored him and continued to address Rama thus:

"Both the bow broken by you and the one I carry now were crafted by the architect of the gods, Visvakarma. The one you broke earlier belonged to Shiva, but this one belonged to Vishnu and is therefore more powerful. This bow has been passed on by Vishnu to my ancestors and thereafter to me. I now offer it to you, Rama. Considering your sacred duty as a warrior to always accept a challenge, exhibit your strength to me".

"Unperturbed by Parasurama’s anger and demeanor, Rama addressed him thus: " You are a Brahmin sage and are therefore worthy of my worship. However, since you despise the entire Kshatriya class, you despise me and I therefore have no choice but to display my prowess to you"

Rama then easily lifted the bow called Vijaya, and set his arrow and asked the sage: "Where shall I discharge this deadly arrow? As you are my superior and a Brahmin, I cannot aim it at you." Impressed and astonished, Parasurama immediately realized that this was no ordinary Kshatriya standing there in front of him. He told Rama: "You surely must be Lord Vishnu himself" He accepted defeat and told Rama that he was indeed the lord of all the worlds. He also admitted to Rama that he had divested him of all his power and pride. Parashurama bowed down before Rama who released the arrow which hit the sea. The sage also vanished. Varuna, the god of the water then appeared before Rama and gave him the celestial bow to keep, on behalf of all the gods.

It is also said that the Punyaloka which had been earned by Parashurama by tapas was destroyed by Rama. This was accepted by Parasurama who watched the incident dispassionately and wished Rama well as he knew Rama was a matchless divine soul and hence he did not mind losing the Punyaloka to Rama. After losing his power, Parashurama went to Mount Mahendra to do penance. 

Note: To be continued in the next episode titled: "Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part V, in epic Mahabharata

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part IV Encounter with Ganesha

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part IV Encounter with Ganesha

Did you know that the moniker given to god Ganesha as Ekadanti was courtesy Parashurma's parasu (axe)?

Parashurama, known as Kshatrantaka after his marauding revegeful action of slyaing the Kskatriya race, remorseful of his actions, sought as a favourite disciple of his guru Lord Shiva's comforting guidance and blessings. The sage found himself just outside Kailash, abode of Lord Shiva, and was surprised when he found Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvathi wasoutside the door. Ganesha blocked Parashurama from entering the chamber of Shiva as he was sleeping.

Ganesha refused to let Parashurama in to disturb the sleeping Shiva. Parashurama, who had thought that he could meet his favorite guru Shiva anytime anywhere) became furious and tried to force his way in,. But found Ganesha a determined opponent. Ganesha challenged Parashurama and a fight ensued between the two. Ganesha then picked up Parashurama with his long trunk, swung him round and round till he was dizzy. and helpless, and pounded him down to the groud.. When his head cleared, Parashurama got up groggy, and in fury but unaware that Ganesha was the son of his guru Lord Shiva,, flung his axe at the stubborn Ganesha. Now, Ganesha could have avoided the axe easily, but he recognized the weapon as one of his father Shiva's . He could not insult his father by resisting his weapon. So he took the axe humbly upn one of his his tusks, whcih broke, 

Disturbed by the commotion of fighting, Shiva rushed out of his chamber (a cave in Kailasa) followed by Parvati. Parvati, when she saw that her son Ganesha was seriously wounded,, turned into a fiery Durga and raged at the warrior Parashurama who was standing with his axe in his hand. She derided him for his actions as an insult to Shiva, his mentor and she even cursed him saying: " Though you are an avatara of Vishnu no one on earth or heaven will ever worship you"; She was so furious that she was even ready to end his life instantly. Parasurama stood still unarmed with folded hands prayed to Lord Narayana and chanted "Om Namo Bhagavate Narayanaaya" . instantly Narayana (some Puaranas say Lord Krishna which is unlikely as it was still Treta Yuga) appeared before Parasurama and gauging the tense situation appealed to Durga (Parvati) to calm down.

Immediately, Paravti smiled at Narayana, gave up the attack and welcomed the Lord of the Universe along with Shiva. Narayana then advised Parashurarma to apologise to Parvati ( Durga) and also seek the blessings of Ganesha. Parasurama, as advised, prostrated before the gods and surrendered his Parashu (axe) at Ganesha's feet in tribute . Ganesha, as a mark of forgiveness, retruned the axe to Parashurama.,, Parashurama then retreated to a distant mountain to begin his meditation

Even since this encounter with Parashurama, Ganesha has been depicited with only one tusk. In another prosaic version it is said that Ganesha wore down one tusk to a stub by using it to write down the epic verse of the Mahabharata dictated to him by sage Vyasa. 

Note: Next episode shall be: Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part IV Encounter with Lord Rama of Ayodhya in epic Ramayana,

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, - Part III Invincble destroyer of Kshatriya clan

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, - Part III Invincble destroyer of Kshatriya clan 

Did you know that Parashurama, of Brahamanical class or priestly caste, waged war against the Kshatriya rulers twenty one times as he had seen 21 cuts on his father's body who was slain by King Kartvirarjuna;s sons and he had heard ethereally his mother's cry Rama! Rama! Parasurama! 21 times?

Parashurama's life history takes a drastic and violent turn, during the period between Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga. This was when his encounter of the Bhrigu Bhargavas clan against their arch enemies Haihayas headed by Kartavirya Arjuna and his sons to start with and later against all the Kashtriyas of the land, started to unfold. It was also the time of unfolding of his sixth avatara of Vishnu as Rama with the axe ( parasu ) - Parashu Rama - in the Shaktyavesh Avatara to eliminate the Kshatriya dynasties who had excesively become despotic because of the material modes of passion and ignorance, and had turned irreligious and ceased to care for the laws enacted by the Brāhmaṇas; Kshatriyas had become highly tyrannous and were resorting to unrighteous ways. 

Once, Kartavirya Arjuna, of the Haihaya kingdom at Mahishmati paid a royal visit to the hermitage of Jamadagni, with his entourage, and was received by sage Jamadagni's wife Renuka with all respect;. As Renuka had the benefit of possessing the all giving celestial cow called Surabhi or Susheela with her, she could royally feed not only Kartavirya Arjuna but all his retinue of soldiers. When Kartviraarjuna found that the Surabhi , the cow of plenty, was the strength of Jamdagnis in feeding any number of people visiting , he wanted to possess it., He asked Jamadagni to give Surabhi to him, but the sage refused saying that the cow was a gift from Indra and thus can not be given away as a gift again, The king tthen took away the cow by force to his capital city Mahishmathi, much against the humble pleadings of Jamadagni and his wife Renuka; the king even hit Jamadagni with his fist, Thus Arjuna not only requitted the honour shown to him by the Jamadagnis by carrying away by force the calf and the sage's sacrifical cow, and but also uprooted many lofty fruit trees in the hermiatge. When Parasurama came home after his daily physical exercises, he was infuriated to see the action of Kartavirya Arjuna in forcibly taking away the cow Surabhi. Then, armed with his axe and bow, accomanied by his disciple, Parashurama, in fury, went to Mahishmati and accosted Kartavirya Arjuna for his unjust action and requested for the cow's safe return but, Arjuna did not relent and a battle ensued between the two warriors. It is said that Kartaviryarjuna then attacked Parasurama with his spread out thousand arms but also with an akshohiini of his army against Parashurama who stood alone with his formidable Parashu or axe and bow and arrows. Parashurama not only cut off the thousand arms of Arjuna but also slew him. He then took back the divine cow Surbahi and returned to his ashram and reported to his father Jamadagni.

But the situation did not ease, as , in revenge for killing their father, Kartaviryaarjuna's sons invaded Jamadagxni's ashram to inflict maximum punishment on Parashurama and his parents. But Parassurama was away from home so they slew Jamadagbi with 21 cuts on his body. Renuka was just in great anxiety, and just helplessly watched the killing of her husband. She cried in angusih: "Rama! Rama! Parasurama!, who was away from the ashram. Parashurama could ethereally hear the cries of his mother from afar and he rushed home. He counted that his mother had called his name twenty one times. On reaching his ashram he saw his father's head severed from the body. Parashurama and Jamadagni's disciples cremated the rishi, and his wife Renuka performed sati. There and then Parashurama took a vow to eliminate the clan of Kartaviryaarjuna but also the entire race of the Kshatriyas by mounting missions twenty one times; he repeatedly smote most of the noble race of Kshatriyas. But strangely he left out the Suryavanshi and Chandravamshi Kashatriyas - King Dasaratha and King Janaka and even befriended them. He also had interaction with their leaders like Rama in the Treta Yuga and Bhishma, Drona and Karna in Dwapara Yuga. . 

During the above proecess of killing, Parashurama had turned the earth into mass of ensanguined mud. At one place he evern created five lakes of the blood of kashatriyas known as Samanthapanchaka, identified during Mahabhartaa war as Kurukshetrta. At this place he satiated the manes of the Bhrigus and beheld his grand faher Ruchika.

After this dance of death and gore, Parasurama felt that the purpose of his advent had been achieved and he made a gift of all the territoies he had conquered to the sage Kashyapa and other Brahmins who had los their land, in the presence of his grand father Ruchika. He felt that having given away everything, it would not be right for him not to remain on the land he had gained.  

After losing his power and land, Parashurama went to Mount Mahendra to do penance where his pitrurdevatas advised him to only to do Tapas after taking a holy dip in the Vadoosara River to restore his lustre; to take a dip at special spot in the river called Deeptoda. He did just that and thus regained his divine body. 

Parashurama having achieveed his objective of eliminating the evil ones of Kashatriya race, wanted to visit Kailasa, the abode of his Guru and god Lord Shiva to express his gratitude. This is where he encountered Ganesha who humbled him. He later during the Treta Yuga had an ecounter with Lord Rama of Ayodhya and with Bhishma, Amba, Drona and Karna, and even Lord Krishna, during the Dwapara Yuga. 

Note: The next episode will be on "Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, - Part IV Encounter with Ganesha".

Narasipur Char 

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, - Part II (b), Early life events

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, - Part II (b), Early life events

Did you know that Parashurama as a young man had a traumatic experience of committing matricide by beheading his mother Renuka obeying his father Jamadagini's order?

Parashurama,, after getting Shiva's blessings and favours of weapons following his intense mediaition in the Himalayas, returned to his father Jamadagni's ashram at Janapav in Narmada valley to continue his education and serve his parents. He had thus acquired dual characteristics of Brahmin and Kshatriya . It was during this time that calamities struck the family and dramatcially changed the course of Parashurma's life. 

The first traumatic experience Parashurama faced related to his loving mother Renuka. It so happened that on one fateful day when Renuka went to the river, falls into an indulgence of an impure desire while watching a young royal couple romantically frolicking in the river where she had gone to fetch water. It was her daily routine to fetch river water to cook and drink in an unbaked mudpot specially crafted by her every day with her power of chastity and thus it could hold water without breaking. On this fateful day, however, Renuka falls into indulgence of an impure desire while watching a young royal couple romantically froliking in a river. As she was distracted, she lost her power of collecting water in unbaked mud pot,. The mud pot broke and she was distraught as she could not carry water to the ashram. Jamadagni had seen these events through his yogic telepathic power. When she returned to the ashram, she frankly explained the reasons for delay for her return. But Jamadagni was furious and did not accept her reasons and ordered his first four sons who were then present in the hermiatge to kill their mother for the indiscretion she had committed. But they refused to obey their father's order, and as a result were cursed by him to turn into stone. Just then, Parashurama who had gone out on some errand returned home to see the commotion in the ashram. Jamadagni then accosted him and explained the sequence of events that had occured due to his mother's indiscretion and asked Parashurama to behead his mother. Parashurama cleverly obtained his father's promise that he would oblige him with whatever he desired as a boon. 

Parashurama, as the dutiful and intelligent son, obeyed his father but with a heavy heart beheaded his mother Renuka with his axe. Jamadagni pleased with this execution of his wife thanked his son and asked him to state whatever he wished as boon. Instantly, Parashurama wisely asked Jamadagni for restoration of his mother Renuka back to life, and also his brothers who had been turned to stone to be brought back to life. Jamadagni had no other option but to honour the request of Parashuram but also exhonarate Parashurama of matricide. Jamadagni then offered Parashurama a magical pot of water that had to be sprinkled upon the head attached to the body of his mother to restore her to life, For this act of restoriing Renuka to life, Jamadagni blessed Parashurama with gift of invinciblity and long life. Then, Jamadagni for his unjust actions repented and vowed not to get angered ever again and gave up krodha forever.

The next life turning events that occured in the ashram related to the celestial cow called Surabhi or Susheela (the daughter of cow Kamadhenu) in their ashram which the Jamadagnis' family had been gifted by Indra; Surabhi is a miraculous cow of plenty who provides her owner whatever he desires. Jamadagni and his cow's fame had spread far and wide and even attracted the attention of the royal family of King Kartaveeryarjunaa, a king of an ancient Haihayas kingdom with capital at Mahishmati in the Narmada valley, and who had turned despotic.  

Jamadagni had narrated to his sons that their ancestors, the Bhrigu Bhargavas were the gurus of the Haihaya Kashatriyas. They had advised the Haihaya kings in times of need and in return the kings gave them wealth. Once the Haihayas were in financial trouble and so they requested the Bhrigus for help but they refused.. This infuriated the Haihayas and they started ill treating the Bhargavas . The Bhargavas had buried all the wealth they had and fled to the Himalayas. These events happened during sage Chavana's time, Eventually they returned to their home land and settled in the Haihayas kingdom but the enmity continued. When Jamadagni had settled down in the Narmada valley, Kartaveeryarjuna, also spelled Kartavirya Arjuna of Haihaya lineage, was the ruler of the Kingdom; he was the most celebrated Haihaya king with epithet, as Sahasrabahu. He was called a Samrat and Chakravartin. He had obtained invincible powers by doing penance to sage Dattatreya. who had blessed him wih many boons; these blessings included gift of thousand arms to him whenever he needed to fight his adversaries in battle, With the immense powers invested in him, the Haihaya king had invaded many kingdoms, ruled ruthlessley, even committing wanton atrocities on women of the land. He had turned a despotic Ksahtriya and his sons were even more cruel, and had brought disfame to the Kashatrya race, and he had to be tackled. Then Bhudevi and sage Narada had appealed to Lord Vishnu to redeem the situation. Vishnu had promised that he would take His sixth avatara for the purpose in Treta Yuga when he would be born on earth as the fifth son of Brahmin family of Jamadagni and his wife Renukam, as Parashurama. 

Note: To be continued in the next episode titled: Parashurama or Bhargava Rama, - Part III Invincble destroyer of Kshatriya clan including Kartavirya Arjuna and his family

Narasipur Char