Parushuramudu Gurinchi Meeku Telusa !!!

Before the birth of their fifth son, Jamadagni was said to have meditated with his wife for divine providence. Thus was born their fifth and youngest son, whom they named Rambhadra, or Ram. He was born at a time when there were several rival Kshatriya clans and kingdoms who were fighting against each other. His older brothers were Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, and Brutwakanwa.

Parasu means Axe which was his favorite weapon that he got as a gift from Lord Siva. Hence, he was called Parasurama. He was also called as the Indignant Rama, because of his anger.

PARASURAMA MEETS RAMA

Parasurama gives Shivas bow to King Janaka for Sita’s Swayamvara, so that only the worthy can lift and string the bow. Rama not only strings the bow he snaps it with a noise so loud that it was heard by Parasurama atop the Mahendra Mountain where he was meditating.

According to Valmiki Ramayana, Rama the next avatara had already been born. Returning from Mithila after the wedding of Rama and Sita, travelling alongside with Dasaratha and Sage Vasishtha, Parasurama encounters Lord Rama. There was sudden disturbance in nature. Trees were uprooted and uncanny incidents were happening and the reason was soon understood as there before them stood Lord Parasurama “with a bow on one shoulder and a battle-axe on the other, and with an arrow shining like lightning in his hand” “with his matted locks gathered overhead, he looked like Rudra.”

All were terrified for they knew of his revenge against Kshatriyas. Brahmanas who were with Dasaratha served him well and after accepting the offerings, he addresses Rama and challenges him to string the bow of Vishnu, just as he strung the bow of Shiva to win Sita’s hand in marriage. Parasurama told Rama that if he was able to string the bow, it would qualify him to have an encounter with him. Dasaratha was upset and worried at the turn of events and begged Lord Parasuma to spare Rama. But Parasurama turned deaf ear to all the pleadings and continued the conversation as though no one else existed.

Parasurama talked in a conceited and arrogant manner, whereas Rama was very calm and spoke to Parasurama saying that he understood the pain that Parasurama had endured and accepted to string the bow. He told him that an arrow placed on the string cannot be put back idly, so he would either have to destroy the sage’s powers of locomotion and consume the fruits of his meditation. As soon Rama strung the bow the luster on the face of Parasurama diminished drastically.

In another version of the story, Sage Vasistha had warned everyone not to approach and confront the angry sage. But Sita goes to him and he blesses hr. When he turns to confront Rama he couldn’t lift his axe. Taken aback at the episode he realized that he was looking at his own subsequent reincarnation, so along with his bow the innate essence of Lord Vishnu went to Rama and thus the avataara was fully realized.

CONFLICT WITH BHEESHMA

Bheeshma was a disciple of Parasurama he instructed him in the martial arts as a boy. The conflict started when Amba along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika were abducted by Bheeshma. With her honor tainted, she was destitute. Amba demands Bheeshma to marry her, but Bheeshama because of his vow of celibacy and allegiance to the kingdom refuses. Amma furious at the turn of events approaches Parasurama and persuades him to fight with Bheeshma. In the fierce duel that followed both parties were equally valiant. When Bheeshma was about to use thePashupatastra and other celestial weapons against Parasurama, the gods stopped him from using it against his own Guru. And Bheeshma complied.

KARNA BECOMES PARASURAMA’S DISCIPLE

After being rejected by Drona, Karna approaches Parasurama to be his Guru. When asked why Drona rejected him, Karna told him that he was rejected as he was not a Kshatriya but son of a charioteer. Parasurama accepts him and trains to be as good as him and also imparting the knowledge of Brahmastra to add a feather to his cap. He valor was unmistakingly as good as his Guru.

It so happened that one day, Parasurama fell asleep with his head rested on the lap of Karna. At that time a scorpion bit Karna on his thigh. Though he flinched in pain he remained still so that his Guru could rest. The warm blood that oozed out woke Parasurama up and he was furious. He knew that only a Kshatriya could endure the pain of this intensity and cursed him that the knowledge will fail when he will need it the most. But Karna unawre pleaded for mercy and acknowledging that he was definitely a worthy student, blesses him with the weapon called Bhargavastra along with his very own personal bow called Vijaya.

Year after this episode, during the Kurukshetra war, he envisioned his guru and asked him to take back the curse. Parasurama, then explained to him that he knew who Karna was, but trained him anyway because he felt he was a worthy student. He explained that he had be sure that Karna failed in killing Arjuna because world couldn’t accept Kauravas in power, which would only create chaos and unrest in the kingdom. Parasurama asked Karna to accept the destiny and die in the hands of the Pandavas, so that peace would be upon the kingdom. Karna accepted his fate as per his guru Parasurama’s instruction like any worthy disciple, and in turn, Parasurama blessed him with eternal glory and fame.

PARASURAMA SEVERS GANESHA’S TUSK

According to Padma Purana, Parasurama goes to visit Shiva at Kailasha, but he is stopped midway by Ganesha because the Lord was sleeping. Infuriated at the action Parasurama throws his axe at Ganesha severing off the left tusk. Parvati infuriated by this action, takeson her “ugra” roopam of Durga to avenge this injustice. Lord Shiva calms her down and she is pacified after Ganesha himself asks her to forgive Parasurama, who henceforward also came to be known as Eka Dantha. Parasurama blesses Ganesha and gives him the divine axe.

PARASURAMA AND SURYADEVA

Parasurama was said to have been overly furious at Surya deva for bringing in on a lot of heat to the world. In his temper he shot many arrows at Surya who was terrified and when the arrows were running out he sent his wife Dharini to get more. To stop her from getting it, Surya shone intense heat upon her that she collapsed. Before Parasurama could lose his temper again Suryadeva came to Parasurama and handed over two gifts to him as a protection against the rays: sandals and an umbrella, which is now identified with the avataara.

KHANDA-PARSHU

To test his skills as a warrior, Lord Shiva challenged Parasurama to a duel. What followed was an intense battle between them that continued for 21 days. To avoid being hit by Shiva’s trishul he attacked Lord Shiva with his axe causing a wound on Shiva’s head. Immensely pleased with the skills of his disciple Lord Shiva embraced Parasurama who stood regretting the wound he caused on the Lord. Lord Shiva accepted this wound as a gift and thus got a name Khanda-parshu (wounded by Parashu)Before the birth of their fifth son, Jamadagni was said to have meditated with his wife for divine providence. Thus was born their fifth and youngest son, whom they named Rambhadra, or Ram. He was born at a time when there were several rival Kshatriya clans and kingdoms who were fighting against each other. His older brothers were Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, and Brutwakanwa.

Parasu means Axe which was his favorite weapon that he got as a gift from Lord Siva. Hence, he was called Parasurama. He was also called as the Indignant Rama, because of his anger.