Parashurama Avatar – Purpose of Vishnu’s incarnation of Parashurama

Parashurama Bhagwan

Sri Parashurama Avatara is the sixth Avatara of Lord Vishnu. The story of Parashurama Avatara is also mentioned in Padma Purana’s Uttara Khanda.

Once, goddess Parvati expressed her desire to know about all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Continuing with the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Lord Mahadeva told Parvati —

Describing Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Parshurama, Lord Mahadeva told Parvati — Sage Jamadagni came from the lineage of Bhrigu. He had pleased Indra by his tremendous penance and received Surabhi cow in return. In course of time he married the daughter of king Renuk whose name was Renuka. A child was born to them, who was named ‘Rama’ by Sage Bhrigu. The child was also known as ‘Jamadganya’ because of Jamdagni.

After growing up, Rama became proficient in all the scriptures. He also mastered various weaponries. One day, the king of Haihaya named Arjuna arrived at the hermitage of Jamadagni.

Sage Jamdagni treated the king with due honor and respect. He presented numerous gifts to the king. Arjuna wanted nothing else but the Surabhi–cow from Sage Jamdagni which he was unwilling to part away with. Ultimately, Arjuna forcibly took away the divine cow. The cow was unwilling to go along with Arjuna and she attacked his army with her sharp horns. As a result, Arjuna’s whole army was liquidated within no time. The revengeful Arjuna killed Jamadagni. At the time of this incident. Rama was not present in the hermitage.

Rama wanted to avenge his father’s death and did a tremendous penance to please Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu became pleased by his devotion and presented many divine weapons to him. The weapons included the famous axe–Parshu and Vaishnav-bow. After acquiring Parshu from Lord Vishnu, Rama became famous as Parshurama. He had vowed to kill all the Kshatriyas, which he did only, the clan of Ikshavaku was spared by him as he had promised his mother that he would not harm Ikshavaku and his clan.

After freeing the earth from the terror of Kshatriyas, Parshurama performed an Ashwamedha Yagya and donated his whole kingdom, to the brahmins. He then went to do penance at the hermitage of Nar-Narayan.