Bhagwan Parshuram - The Sixth Vishnu Avataar

Bagwan Parshuram, the Eternal Avatar, appears again and again when the planet is in great danger. Parashurama Bhargava or Parasurama (Axe-wielding Rama), according to Hindu mythology is the Sixth avatara of Vishnu, belongs to the Treta yuga, and is the son of Jamadagni. Parashu means axe, hence his name literally means Rama-with-the-axe.

The purpose of the sixth incarnation or Sixth Avatara 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.

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 aggressing ocean to recede thus saving land of Konkan and Malabar Bhagwan Parashuram is also known as Lord of Yajnya, Lord who grants prosperity, and Lord of knowledge. According to ancient Himalayan tradition of knowledge, Parshuram was the first to introduce inter- planetary weapons on this planet in ancient days, when the planet needed protection from catastrophes caused by the greed and pride of the ruling powers.

Parashurama has been mentioned in several scriptures - Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and Bhagavata and Kalki Puranas. He is famous for killing the Haihaya-Kshatriyas on the earth 21 times for their Ahankara (pride/arrogance). He wanted to spread & preserve the Vedic culture on Earth. He was born a Brahmin but is Kshatriya by Karma, or deeds. He is also known as Bhargava.

Parashurama is famous for killing the Haihaya-Kshatriyas on the earth 21 times for their Ahankara (pride/arrogance). He wanted to spread & preserve the Vedic culture on Earth.

Guru Parshuram

Parshurama's well known students were : 1. Bhishma - The son of Goddess Ganga. 2 Drona, the teacher of the Pandus and Kurus. and (3.) Karna. the great warrior of Mahabharat 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.

Birth of Lord Parshurama

Parashurama was the Great Grandson of Bhrugu Rishi, after whom the "Bhruguvansh" has been named. Bhrugu's Son, Rucheek, married King Gadhi's daughter, Satyavati. The son of Satyavati Jamadagni and Grandson was Parashurama. Jamadagni married Renuka, daughter of King Prasenjit. They had five sons, Parashurama was the youngest.

Legends
Once King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) 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 and Jamadagni refused because he needed the cow for his religious ceremonies. King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) sent his soldiers to take the cow and Parashurama killed the entire army and the king with his axe. In return, the princes beheaded Jamadagni the father of Parshuram.

When Parashurama returned home he found his mother crying hysterically. He asked why she was crying, she beat her chest 21 times. In a rage, Parashurama vowed to exterminate the world's Kshatriyas 21 times. He killed the entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna (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 Ashwamedha sacrifice, done only by sovereign kings, and gave the entire land he owned to the priests who performed at the yagya.

Parashurama in the Ramayana

Lord Rama in the Swaibar of the princess Sita daughter of King Janaka broke the bow of Shiva given to the King Janaka by Parashurama.. By breaking the bow it produced a tremendous noise that reached the ears of Parashurama. Parashurama arrived after hearing the sound of the bow of Shiva breaking. But Sita approached the sage. and able to secure the blessing "Saubhagyawati bhavah" .from Parashurama.

Parashurama in the Mahabharata

It is mentioned in the Mahabharata that Parashurama was the teacher of the warrior Karna. When Karna came to Parashurama after being rejected from the school of Parashurama agreed to teach Karna, believing him to not be of Kshatriya birth and gave him the knowledge of the extremely powerful Brahmastra weapon.
Parashurama decided to slay Bhishma and fought with him for twenty three days, when Bhishma refused to marry Amba At the end when Bhishma was about to use the most deadly weapon namely "Pashwapastra". against Parashurama, all Gods rushed to Bhishma and requested him not to use this weapon against Parshurama Bhishma refrained it from using it. In the end, all Gods and Parshuram himself showered praise on Bhishma and acknowledged that Bhishma is truly invincible.

Jain Version on Parshurama

According to Jain version of Parashurama, he was killed by Chakravati Subhoum. Subhoum was the son of Sahasrarjun and 8th Chakravarti of the total 12 Chakravartis. The Jain version is available in Trishasti Shalaka Purush, the famous Jain book on 63 great people of ancient times.

Kalki Purana on Parshurama

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.

Later life of Parshuram

Parashurama became an ascetic and practiced penances, mainly on the Mahendra Mountains. in his later life and gave up violence. The territories he received from the Kshatriyas were distributed among the Brahmrishi Brahmins. They ruled these lands for many centuries. Parashurama also retrieved from the sea a virgin-land which was a stretch of coastal-area to the west of Western Ghats of India a part of the land of Kerala from the sea.