Monday 4 July 2011

Bhagwan Parshuram

Akshay Tritiya (Parshuram Jayanti) Akshay Tritiya or Parshuram Jayanti  is observed traditionally as the birth anniversary of Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This year Lord Parshuram Jayanti is being observed on  Sunday, May 16, 2010.

Bhagwan Parshuram
  Bhagwan Parshuram (परशुराम) , 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.

Parashurama Bhargava or Parasurama (परशुराम) (Axe- wielding Rama), according to Hindu mythology is the Sixth avatara of Vishnu.

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.

  There are several legends regarding Baghwan Parshuram with Lord Shiva and Lord Rama.

Pashuram Temple

 There are several Parashurama temples throughout the western coast of India as well as North India. There are famous temples of Parashurama at  Agni Mandir in Shivpuri - Akkalkot, Khopoli in Maharashtra and Fort Songadh in Gujarat. A temple of Parashurama is also situated at Akhnoor, 18 km away from Jammu city,    Parsuram temple in Himachal Pradesh:  The Parsuram temple is situated near the confluence of the Giri and Jalal rivers, at a distance of 40 km from Nahan, the district headquarters of Sirmour, Renuka is a rare beauteous spot of Himachal Pradesh. The main attractions there are the sacred Renuka Lake, Parsuram Tal and the temples dedicated to Lord Parsuram and his mother Goddess Renuka. A big fair is held here every year on Kartik Ekadashi.

  Parsuram temple in Rajasthan:  Jodhpur Pali district, Rajasthan, people are converging in large numbers on the Bhagwan Parshuram Mahadev mela. The mela is organised every year at the suburb of Pali district. It is said that Bhagwan Parshuram used to worship at this place located in the serene surroundings in the foothills of a local mountain range, at a height of 4000 feet above sea-level. According to Hindu mythology, this is the only place in the country where Lord Parshuram offered his prayers. During August-September, around five lakh devotees throng the mela. People continue to visit the area round the year. According to an estimate, around eight-nine lakh people visit the holy place every year.

The Parsuram temple is situated near the confluence of the Giri and Jalal rivers, at a distance of 40 km from Nahan, the district headquarters of Sirmour.

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

2 comments:

  1. Honorable Madhuriji,
    I liked your article and following Line

    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.

    I hope you have taken holy Darshan of 10th Kalki Avatar Paramsadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj shivpuri ,Akkalkot. I also belive you know about the important message of Agnihotra.
    http://www.vishwafoundation.com/

    ReplyDelete