Lord Parshuram

PARSHURAM JAYANTI: THE BIRTH OF PARASHURAMA

Parashurama Jayanti falls on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 (Akshaya Tritiya Day) and is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Vishnu's sixth incarnation.It occurs during the Vaishakha month's Shukla Paksha Tritiya. As it is believed that Parashurama was born during Pradosh Kala, the day on which Tritiya predominates during Pradosh Kala is observed as Parashurama Jayanti. The purpose of the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is to alleviate the burden of the Earth by eliminating the sinful, destructive, and irreligious monarchs who plundered its resources and neglected their responsibilities as rulers.

Akshaya Tritiya marks the birth of Lord Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. ‘Parashurama’ means ‘Rama with an Axe’. According to legend, Lord Parshuram received his parshu (axe) from Lord Shiva, whose devotee he was. It is also believed that Lord Parshuram formed the western portion of the Indian coastline, encompassing the modern-day states of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra.

The Hari Vansh Purana describes a king by the name of Kartaveerya Arjun who ruled Mahishmati Nagri in Central India. Along with other Kshatriyas, he engaged in disruptive behavior that made life difficult for the commoners. Therefore, the Goddess of the Earth begged Lord Vishnu to preserve living creatures from the Kshatriyas' cruelty. Lord Vishnu reincarnated as the son of Renuka and Jamdagani, a Brahamana family, in order to aid the goddess. When His family was tormented by the ruling class, He picked His axe to fight against it. However, when His father who resisted the confiscation of the family cow was killed, Parashurama picked His axe again and killed all such demonic kings twenty one times. Parshuram avatar, a warrior, fought the monarch and the Kshatriyas to liberate the world from their wickedness. As a result, tranquility was restored, and Parshuram story is remembered as a peace-restoring event in history.

Unlike all other avatars such as Rama and Krishna, Hindu belief holds that Parashurama avatar still resides on Earth. Therefore, Lord Parashurama is not worshipped but appealed and praised. In South India, at the holy site Pajaka near Udupi, there is a significant temple dedicated to Parashurama. Numerous temples on India's western coastline are dedicated to Lord Parashurama.

Lord Parashurama is characterized by aggression, warfare and valor and also by serenity, prudence and patience. He uses all the former traits to relieve the earth of those kings restoring her to its natural state and uses the latter traits to treat Brahmins, children, women, old men and other weaker sections of the society.

The Kalki Purana states that Parashurama will be Shri Kalki, the tenth and final Avatar of Lord Vishnumartial's instructor. It is not the first time that Lord Vishnu's sixth Avatar will encounter another Avatar. According to the Ramayana, Parashurama attended the wedding of Sita and Lord Rama, where he met the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

PARASHURAMA JAYANTI TIMINGS

Sunrise- April 22, 2023 6:04 AM
Sunset- April 22, 2023 6:46 PM
Akshaya Tritiya Tithi Begins- April 22, 2023 7:49 AM
Akshaya Tritiya Tithi Ends- April 23, 2023 7:47 AM

This day is also known as Akshaya Tritiya, and it is considered an auspicious time to begin or complete any endeavor. It is believed that any puja performed on this day yields one hundred times more results than on other days, and that this belief applies to any type of donation.

PARASHURAMA JAYANTI PUJA

• Get up and take bath early in the morning and wear clean clothes for the puja ceremony.
• Puja involves the worship of Lord Vishnu's image or idol with sweets, flowers, kumkum, and chandan. The offering of sacred tulsi leaves is also considered fortunate.
• Fast on this day is said to grant a son and be reborn as great human being in next life. Only fruits and milk products should be eaten during fast. Cereals or pulses should be avoided.

PARSHURAM JAYANTI GAYATRI MANTRA

ॐ ब्रह्मक्षत्राय विद्महे क्षत्रियान्ताय धीमहि तन्नो परशुराम: प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Brahmashtraya Vidmahe
Khatriantaya Deemahi
Tanno Prashuram Prachodayat ||

Chant the mantra 108 times facing east or north east.

WHAT TO DO ON PARSHURAM JAYANTI?

• Prayers: Devotees offer prayers and perform puja of Lord Vishnu
• Fasting: Many Devotees observe fast to get blessings of courage, valor and strength from Lord Parshuram, some even fast for the entire month of Vaisakha
• Recite Parshuram Mantra: Om Brahmashtraya Vidmahe Khatriantaya Deemahi Tanno Prashuram Prachodayat or 'Om Namo Bhagavate Parashuramaya Namah' throughout the day to invoke the blessings of Lord Parashuram.
• Donation & Charity: Many Devotees donate to poor and needy Brahmins as Parshuram protected other communities especially Brahmins from tyrannical Kshatriyas
• Cultural Programs: In many parts of India dance & dramas are enacted depicting the life of Parshuram to celebrate the festival

HISTORY OF PARSHURAM/ LORD PARSHURAM STORY

It is believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Parshurama in human form to destroy the evil on this planet. He was born to sage Jamadagni and his wife Renuka after performing the Putreshti Yajna. He had the qualities of a Kshatriya even after being a Brahmin. This was because of his father(Jamadagni) who possessed the qualities of a Kshatriya since Jamadagni’s mother Satyavati had committed a mistake before his birth which resulted in Jamadagni being born with the ability of a Kshatriya. Lord Parshuram is said to carry various traits including courage, aggression, and warfare along with patience and prudence. There have been mentions of Parshurama in various Hindu texts as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava, and Veera Drama.

He appeared on the Earth when the evil was dominant and the Kshatriya class had begun to intimidate others. Parshurama is one of the seven Chiranjeevi’s (immortal beings) that are Lord Hanuman, Kripacharya, Mahabali, Ashwathama, Lord Parshurama, Vibhishana, Vyas. Thus, it is believed that Lord Parshurama is also existing to date to help the 10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu i.e. Kalki as stated in Kalki Purana.

There is not just one story of Parshuram but many varying from region to region across India. While some say that He was born in Indore, others say that His existence had been tracked in Maharashtra as well.

PARSHURAM IN RAMAYANA

Parshuram had given the bow of Shiva to King Janaka, father of princess Sita and it was used to test the worthiness of the suitors during Sita’s betrothal ceremony (Swayamvar). The suitors were supposed to lift and string the bow to get married to Sita and out of all of them, Rama was able to lift the bow. When He did so, the bow broke which produced a tremendously loud noise that reached Parshurama. As soon as he heard this sound, he came to the on-going ceremony in Janakpuri and that is when Parshurama met Lord Rama.

PARSHURAM IN MAHABHARAT

Mahabharata is one of the famous Sanskrit epics of India and Parshuram has had an important role in it. He was the Guru of Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Karna as he had commendable warfare skills. He also taught weapon arts and helped key warriors on both sides of the war. Although he trained Karna with the best of skills, he cursed that Karna would forget whatever he learned when he will need those skills the most. This was because Parshuram realized that Karna was a Kshatriya.

PARSHURAM AND GANESHA

As Parshuram was a devotee of Lord Shiva, he once went to Mount Kailash to meet Shiva. He was stopped by Ganesha at the entrance as Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati had instructed to not allow anyone inside during the narration of Rama-Katha. Ganesha put the trident in the way & cautioned him for war and Parshuram accepted the challenge. During this conflict, Parshurama severed the left tusk of Ganesha which gave Him the name “Ekadanta”.

WHY DID PARSHURAM KILL HIS MOTHER?

Renuka Devi, wife of sage Jamadagni and Parshurama’s mother was a woman who devoted her life to her husband. Her devotion was so strong that she was able to bring water in an unbaked pot and once while she was at the river, she saw a Gandharva and was filled with unchaste desire. Sage Jamadagni was angry as he came to know about this with his yogic power and ordered his sons to kill their mother. As his sons refused to kill Renuka Devi, they turned into stone but Parshuram, being obedient, followed the order and beheaded her. As a reward, he was granted two boons and he asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life.

BHAGWAN PARSHURAM JAYANTI

Lord Parshurama Jayanti is observed on the third day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month which is also “Akshaya Tritiya” according to the Hindu calendar. This occasion is highly revered by Hindus and celebrated with immense dedication.

ABOUT PARSHURAM JAYANTI

It is one of the important festivals in Hinduism as it is the birth anniversary of the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Parshuram Jayanti is celebrated when Tritiya prevails during Pradosh Kaal since it is said that Lord Parshurama was born during that period. This avatar came into existence to terminate the destructive and sinful monarchs that burdened the Earth. Hence, worshipping God on this auspicious day will prove to be beneficial. A lot of devotees take bath in the holy Ganga river on Parshuram Jayanti as it is considered to be a sacred ritual to be performed on such religious festivals.

IMPORTANCE

Parshurama which literally means Rama with an axe holds great importance in Hinduism. It is believed that this avatar of Lord Vishnu balances the cosmic equilibrium by destroying evil. Parshuram Jayanti is one of the significant days in the Hindu religion, it becomes an auspicious day to start something new in your life and donate food to the Brahmins. It is considered that the one who does good deeds like donating and worshipping God on Parshuram Jayanti is bestowed with blessings that last forever.

TEMPLES OF PARSHURAM

There are quite a few temples of Lord Parshurama in the western part of India and one of them is located in Chiplun, Maharashtra while the other one is located in Shankarpura, Karnataka. There is a kund (pool) dedicated to Parshurama in Arunachal Pradesh and people visit there to take a holy bath every year on Makar Sankranti. The Konkan region is also known as Parshuram Kshetra as there are references of Parshurama being present there in ancient texts.

BHAGWAN PARSHURAM JAYANTI 2023

Parshuram Jayanti falls on the Sat, Apr 22, 2023 and devotees can visit their nearest temples of Lord Vishnu to worship Him and seek blessings. A large number of people take bath in the Ganga river on this day but during this pandemic, it is suggested to mix the Gangajal with your regular water and take a bath at home.

Lord Parshuram Jayanti is celebrated with complete devotion by many devotees across the nation.

POPULAR AND EFFECTIVE LORD PARSHURAM PRODUCTS

Lord Parshuram Shaligram Murti

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A beautiful carving of Lord Parshuram on Shaligram stone to place in your puja altar. With an axe in the right hand and a bow in the left, this idol looks absolutely divine in standing posture. The intricately carved lotus at the bottom adds to the elegance, and this Shaligram is effective in removing financial misery and bestowing the worshipper with knowledge. Lord Parshurama has combined traits of Kshatratej (courage and aggression) and Brahmatej (serenity and foresight) and blessed the devotees with divine grace.

Virat Vishnu

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Made in brass, this Virat Vishnu idol with beautiful shine is a unique piece. This idol of Vishnu carries a conch in one hand and a gada in the other hand. With a snake standing over Vishnu’s head, it symbolizes freedom from fear, and this posture is known as “Viraat roop” and is from Mahabharta when Vishnu stood as a combined form of all Gods. It can be placed in your puja altar or you can even gift it to your dear ones on special occasions.

Shree Vishnu Yantra locket - silver

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Shree Vishnu Yantra locket is made in pure silver and appropriate for wearing every day. It features Lord Vishnu’s image on one side and the Sri Vishnu Yantra on the other side. This locket imparts the blessings of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Universe. The Yantra embossed on it is helpful in improving health, and achieving success and wealth. It is available in small and big sizes so you can choose the one that suits you the best. The Mantra to be recited is provided along with the locket.

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Siddh Meru Vishnu Yantra is a powerful Yantra that brings fame and bliss. The Yantra is neatly carved in pure copper and has an antique finish. It happens to be effective as it is designed as per ancient texts and geometry after deep research. The focal point of this Yantra is where the soul and creative energy of Lord Vishnu converge together further generating a positive aura in your home. It can also be placed in your office or on your study desk.