Lord Parashurama
3 Parashurama temples:
- Janapav Kuti, birthplace of Parashuram, 48km from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. ( https://www.astrojyoti.com/parashuram-temple-janapav-kuti.htm )
- Mahurgad, Maharastra where he studied under Dattatreya. ( https://www.astrojyoti.com/mahurgad-the-gurukul-of-parashurama.htm )
- Chiplun, the permanent residence of Parashuram. https://www.astrojyoti.com/chiplun-the-permanent-residence-of-parashurama.htm
According to the Hindu Vedic cast system, the task of wielding weapons and protecting the kingdom and its people was entrusted to the Kshitriya cast – the kings and the warrior cast. Over a period of time wealth and power corrupted them and they started oppressing and tormenting the other casts, including killing the Brahmins – the highly respected priestly cast who were there to guide them and to protect the religious aspects of the society. Hence Lord Vishnu took birth as HIS 6th incarnation Parashuram Avatara.
Parashurama was the Great Grandson of Bhrugu Rishi and the the son of the Rishi Jamadagni, who belonged to the Bhargava Gotra, and his Soorya Vamsi Kshitriya wife Renuka . HIS incarnation was to protect the Dharma and reinstate the Vedic culture.
Not many know that Parshuram was a great devotee of Devi and learned the great Sri Vidya Tantra, also known as Sri Chakra Nava Avarana Pooja, from Lord Dattatreya, who is considered as the foremost Avatara and was the combined Avatara of Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva. It is Parashurama who first gave the Srividya to the world in his treatise known as the Parashurama Kalpa Sooktam. He also received an axe from Lord Shiva after undertaking a great penance to please HIM, and learned from Shiva the methods of warfare and other skills.
His father was killed by the Kshitriyas when Parashuram was away and in rage He attacked 21 times and killed the various Kshitriya clans who were tormenting the people. He became such a terror for the Kshitriyas that when HE went to Ayodhya, the great king Dasaratha hid under his wife’s bed! Parashurama spared Dasaratha – no doubt the Vishnu Avatara knew that in HIS next Avatara Dasaratha will be HIS father.
Once the cleansing war was over, HE donated all the land and wealth to the Kashyapa clan of Brahmins and also to the Namboodri Brahmins of Kerala. He went about creating several great temples and regions. In the Kanyakumari Temple HE installed the Idol made of blue stone and installed the idol of Ayyappa on the peak on the Sabarimala Hill in the forest.
HE fought the advancing ocean and saved the lands of Konkan and Malabar – the Maharashtra – Karnataka – Kerala west coastline. He created a temple of worship right after he saved Kerala from the sea. He placed statues of various deities in 108 different places and taught the famous martial arts “Kalari Payattu” to protect the temple from the evils. With HIS divine powers He also created the Goa-Konkan land by shooting an arrow.
Parashurama though born in Treta yuga, is said to be an eternal Avatara still living. Much later, during the Ramayana period, when Lord Rama broke the bow of Lord Shiva during the Seeta Swayamvara, Parashuram got angry and encounters Lord Rama but recognised Rama as the next Avatara and gave blessings. Even during the end of Tretayuga and start of Kaliyuga, during the Mahabharata period, HE was the guru of Bheeshma, Drona & Karna. The Kalki Purana states Parashurama will be the martial guru of Sri Kalki, the 10th and final avatar of Lord Vishnu which is about to come. It is he who will instruct Kalki to perform a long penance to Shiva to receive celestial weapons.
