Parashurama

Parashurama, also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. Hindu tradition holds him to be the destroyer of evil on Earth. He liberates the Mother Earth from felons, ill-behaved men, extremists, demons and those blind with pride. He is described as one of the Chiranjivi, who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga to be the guru of Vishnu's tenth and last incarnation, Kalki.
= Parasurama: The Immortal Warrior-Sage =

Birth and Lineage

Kusha and His Lineage
Kusha, the son of Lord Brahma, had numerous children, including Kushanabha. Kushanabha had 100 daughters, all of whom were married to Brahmadatta. Despite this, he lamented the absence of a son. To address this, he performed the Putra Kameshti Yaga, a Vedic ritual seeking a male heir. In response, his father, King Kusha, granted him a boon, assuring him that he would have a son who would bring honor to the lineage. This son was Gadhi, who later became the father of Sage Vishwamitra.
Since Vishwamitra belonged to the bloodline of Kusha, he was also known as Kaushika. By birth, he was a Su-Kshatriya, signifying a noble lineage of emperors.
The Birth of Satyavathi and Her Marriage
Gadhi had only one daughter, Satyavathi, renowned for her exceptional virtues and known as Sugunala Rasi, meaning a woman of the highest qualities. Many kings sought her hand in marriage due to her reputation. Among them was Richikudu or Richika or Ruchika, the son of Sage Bhrigu, belonging to the Brahmin caste. However, as Gadhi was a Kshatriya, he adhered to the Vedic tradition, which allowed Brahmins to marry Kshatriya women but required a ritual gift, known as Kanyasulkam, for the bride's family.
Gadhi stipulated that the suitor must present 1,000 white horses, each glowing like moonlight, with a distinctive single black ear resembling a black lotus. Ruchika, relying on his ascetic power, approached Varuna, the deity of water, in Varuna Loka, a celestial realm described in the Mahabharata. Varuna, though not the regional ruler, possessed the ability to grant lineage and posterity. He agreed to assist Ruchika and instructed him to perform a ritual on the banks of the Ganges River in Kanya Kujya, where the horses would emerge from the waters. The location, known as Ashwa Theertham, serves as a testament to this event. Ruchika fulfilled Gadhi’s demand and married Satyavathi.
The Divine Bows and Ruchika's Legacy
During this period, two legendary bows were created—one was granted to Lord Shiva, later given to King Janaka, while the other was bestowed upon Ruchika by Lord Vishnu. The Vishnu bow, was unbendable by anyone, known as Nyasam.
Following his marriage, Ruchika entered the Grihastha Ashrama. Sage Bhrigu later visited his son’s household, where Satyavathi received him with utmost reverence, adhering to the Vedic tradition of treating her father-in-law with the same respect as her father. Impressed, Sage Bhrigu offered her a boon. She requested a son for herself and one for her father, Gadhi, ensuring the continuation of both family lineages.
The Birth of Vishwamitra and the Role of Sage Bhrigu
Sage Bhrigu prepared two sacred pots of rice infused with Vedic mantras. One was designated for Satyavathi and the other for her mother. The intention was that Satyavathi’s son would be a Brahmin, devoted to penance and spiritual pursuits, while Gadhi’s son would be a Kshatriya ruler. However, due to an inadvertent switch of the pots, the destinies of the unborn children were altered. Consequently, Vishwamitra was born to Gadhi’s wife, rather than to Satyavathi.
Realizing the error, Satyavathi sought to rectify it. Sage Bhrigu granted her a boon ensuring that her son would be born as a grandson instead. As a result, Sage Jamadagni was born as Satyavathi’s son. In turn, Jamadagni’s son was Lord Parashurama, an incarnation of Vishnu.
References
The events described originate from texts such as the Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, and Brahmanda Purana.

The Divine Axe: A Gift from Lord Shiva

Bhargava Rama undertook severe penance to please Lord Parameshwara, who holds an axe in one hand and a damaru in the other. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva blessed him with the divine axe and proclaimed that henceforth he would be known as Parasurama. The Lord instructed him to use this celestial weapon to protect those in danger. From that day forward, Parasurama carried the axe on his shoulder, and as long as he possessed this divine weapon, he remained invincible.

The Battle Between Gods and Demons

Lord Parameshwara once summoned Parasurama to assist the gods in their cosmic battle against the demons. When Parasurama expressed concern about his lack of knowledge in Dhanurveda, Lord Shiva gave him a divine promise: during battle, the Lord himself would possess Parasurama, granting him complete mastery of Dhanurveda and all martial skills.
The gods emerged victorious, but Parasurama's body bore numerous battle wounds. When he returned to Lord Parameshwara and reported his accomplishment, the Lord touched his body and transformed it into Vajra Kaya—a body as indestructible as diamond. This transformation bestowed upon him an effulgence equal to a thousand suns, so brilliant that enemies and demons could not even look upon him without fainting.

The Quest for Lord Krishna's Darshan

After years of continued penance, a deep desire arose in Parasurama's heart—he wished to behold Lord Shiva in the form of Lord Krishna. However, Krishna had not yet been born in the earthly realm, though he existed as the presiding deity of Goloka, the celestial dimension where Radha resides.

The Speaking Deer

During his pilgrimage through various sacred sites, Parasurama encountered two deer in a forest. Fearing they were being hunted, he approached them, only to discover they could speak. One deer questioned the other whether the axe-wielding warrior would harm them, but the other reassured his companion, explaining Parasurama's noble nature. The deer then revealed that despite his spiritual power, Parasurama could not obtain Krishna's darshan through penance alone. To fulfill his wish, he must visit Sage Agastya's ashram and receive the divine knowledge of Lord Krishna's stotra from the sages residing there.
Astonished, Parasurama asked the deer how they knew his innermost desire. The deer explained his previous birth as Susharma, a Vedic scholar and celibate Brahmin who lacked courage. One evening, while collecting dharba grass near the river, Susharma was hurrying home when he witnessed a tiger carrying a hunted deer. Terrified, he fell upon a rock and suffered a fatal head injury. Dying as a virgin Brahmin who had maintained celibacy, holding dharba grass in his hand, and with his last thoughts focused on the deer, he was reborn as a deer. This granted him the ability to perceive others' thoughts and desires.

The Divine Encounter

All three proceeded to Agastya's ashram, where Parasurama received the sacred mantra. After performing penance with this divine knowledge, Lord Krishna appeared before him and asked what boon he desired. Parasurama humbly replied that he sought no boons—merely seeing the Lord was sufficient fulfillment. However, as is the nature of divine beings, Lord Krishna insisted on granting a blessing. He proclaimed that from that day forth, he would also possess Parasurama.
Krishna then prophesied: "During the time of Ramayana, you will question Rama. When Rama takes up the Vishnu Chapam, I will withdraw from you. From that moment onwards, you will remain in a state of stability."

The Tragic Tale of Renuka Devi

Blessed by both Lord Parameshwara and Lord Krishna, Parasurama returned home. Time passed peacefully until one fateful day when Jamadagni asked his wife Renuka Devi to fetch water from the pond for his penance ritual.
At the pond, a Gandharva was bathing with other Gandharva women, adorned with beautiful flower garlands. Renuka Devi, captivated by the Gandharva's beauty, became lost in thought for a few moments and was delayed in returning with the water. Through his yogic vision, Jamadagni immediately discerned what had transpired. He declared that her momentary lapse—though only in mind and not in deed—was equivalent to adultery of the heart, rendering her unworthy of her position as his wife.

The Test of Obedience

Jamadagni summoned all five sons and commanded them to behead their mother. Each of the first four sons refused:

The first son said his mother had given him birth and was like a divine mother to him—he could not comply.
The second, third, and fourth sons similarly declared they could not fulfill their father's command.

Enraged by their disobedience, Jamadagni cursed all four sons to become animals and trees within the forest.
When Bhargava Rama was called, he took up his sword without hesitation and beheaded Renuka Devi. Immensely pleased by this absolute obedience, Sage Jamadagni offered to grant any boons Parasurama desired. The young warrior made three wishes: that his mother be restored to life, that all his brothers regain their human forms, and that he himself become eternal. All three boons were granted, making Parasurama one of the seven immortals.
Note on Context: Parasurama beheaded his mother knowing his father's spiritual power. If Renuka Devi had continued living with that sin, she could not have fulfilled her role as a wife. Through death and rebirth, she would be freed from that karmic burden. However, this narrative reflects the dharma and spiritual powers of that ancient age. In modern society, even with complete faith in one's father, no son should commit such an act—the dharma and spiritual capabilities of the present age are fundamentally different.