Parashurama

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Parashurama fights against Lord Kartavirya Arjuna

Parashurama ( Sanskrit परशुराम Paraśurāma , "Rama with the ax") is a mythological Brahmin in Hinduism , the sixth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu .

In contrast to the other nine avatars, which are considered direct descendants from Vishnu (or Krishnas ), he is an 'Avesha Avatara', an indirect avatar. Vishnu does not appear in it directly, but permeates a person's soul with his form.

mythology

Parashurama, son of Jamadagni and Renuka , was born a Brahmin , but lived as a struggling Kshatriya to re-establish the divine order. According to mythology, after long asceticism and prayer, he received the ax from Shiva , who also taught him how to fight.

Tradition tells how the sixth embodiment of Vishnu came to earth when the kshatriya , warriors, princes and kings became cocky. They proudly wanted to rise to the rulers of the world and prepared to drive away the priests and to overthrow the gods from heaven. Vishnu's intervention was essential for the sake of the divine order. He incarnated as Parashurama and killed the warriors with his ax blows.

His anger was kindled when he learned that Prince Kartavirya Arjuna and his sons had stolen the Surabhi , the cow of abundance . This, a symbol of heaven, gives people the sacred milk of life. The warriors prepared to take control of the life-giving divine forces. Vishnu wanted to break the arrogance and inhuman tyranny of the Kshatriya; he vowed to wipe them all out. Battle after battle was followed by victory after victory. The famous Indian epic Mahabharata tells this story. However, Parashurama did not exterminate the warriors. The knightly attitude embodied by them, which also stands for the protection of the poor and weak, should not disappear. Therefore, he demands that their descendants should renew the caste. According to one version of the myth, Vishnu must destroy the warriors who participated in the conspiracy twenty-one times.

Scroll in various scripts

The life of this avatar overlapped with the life of the next incarnation, Rama ; According to the epic Ramayana, both are said to have met at the court of King Janaka during the courtship for Sita . The bow of Shiva, which was to be lifted for the courtiers, was a gift from him and therefore he hurried over after hearing Rama break it. Parashurama also plays an important role as the teacher of many heroes of the Mahabharata , while the Kalkipurana mentions him as the teacher of the last, yet to come, Kalki incarnation .

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