Story of Lord Parshurama

He was happy to award the “Vijaya” Bow to his student and he knows that he is worthy to achieve this powerful bow which was once awarded to Him by Lord Indra.

After years of training in Archery and other warfare, He now considers Karna as equivalent to him in fighting skills.

but he was also aware of the fact that even this mighty bow will not be able to save the life of his student, since the destiny has something else for him in store.

The wind was blowing furiously in the wild forest of Mount Mahendragiri, where He had established His hermitage, although the nature had changed a lot since his birth in the Second Yug “The Treta Yug”, a few lacs years ago.

Few Hundred years are left now, before Lord Brahma will mark the end of the Third Yug “ The Dwapar Yug” in His calendar.

His long white beard and hairs were flowing in the heavy wind like molten silver flows from furnace. His eyes were very passionate, intense and had a deep, piercing gaze. A well built body and more than 20 feet height in today’s terms. His mere presence with the trademark anger in his eyes was sufficient to scare a hell out of a week hearted normal person.

His body adorned with so many scars which represents the fierceness of the battles he fought in his life, since it is not an easy task to make earth deprive of the Kshatriyas not once, twice but twenty one times.

He is waiting for the next and the Last Yug “ The Kali Yug” to perform the duties assigned to Him by Lord Brahma and be one of the Saptarishis (Seven Sages), He is one of the Chiranjivi (The Immortals) and is free from the effects of ageing and death.

He had seen by now two Yugs and is destined to see the last Yug also, the virtues are getting diminished day by day.

In Treta Yug human beings were having three quarter of virtues and one quarter sins, Dwapar Yug is having two quarter Virtues and two quarter sins, whereas the worst is yet to come where there will be one quarter virtue and three quarter sins, however He has to bear all of this.

It was the sins of the Kshatriyas that provoked Him to make the Mother Earth bereft of Kshatriyas Twenty one times, however this was just the beginning of the diminishing virtues of Human being.

He closed His eyes for a moment and all the events appeared in front of him in a flash and it felt as if it has happened just yesterday.

Lord Parshurama

He was born near the River Narmada in Mahishmati (now known as Maheshwar area in Central India) in the hermitage of His father — Rishi Jamdagni and mother — Renuka. They named Him as “Rambhadra”

Being the son of a Brahmin Father and a Kshatriya mother he had inclination towards the Vedas and the art of Warfare as well.

He was not a normal child but a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu Himself.

His mother Goddess Renuka was known for her chastity and devotion to her husband. Such was her faith, that she was able to fetch water from the river in a pot of unbaked clay, with the pot held together only by the strength of her devotion.

One day while at the river, a group of Gandharvas in a chariot passed by in the sky above. Filled with desire for only a moment, the unbaked pot she held dissolved in the river. Afraid to return to her husband, she waited at the river bank, uncertain of what to do next. Meanwhile, Jamadagni noticed his wife had not returned. Through his yogic powers, he divined all that had taken place and was enraged. The rishi called his eldest son, handed him an axe and asked the boy to kill his mother. Horrified, the boy refused and so Jamadagni turned him to stone. He then asked each of his sons and as they refused, one by one, he turned them to stone. Finally only his youngest son, Rambhadra was left. Ever obedient, the boy beheaded his mother.

Pleased Jamadagni then offered two boons to Rambhadra. The boy asked that his mother be brought back to life and his brothers to be returned from stone to flesh and they should not remember anything about the incident happened. Impressed by the affection and devotion of his son, Jamadagni granted his request.

He was destined to achieve greatness in life and when he was still a teenager he visited his Great-Great Grandfather -Sage Bhrigu in his hermitage and he advised Him to do a severe penance at Mount Himavat and Gandhamadana to acquire Celestial Weapons.

After years of Penance, Lord Shiva was pleased with this, and appeared before him and asked him for a boon. He expressed his desire to obtain celestial weapons and skills in warfare from the God. Shiva told him that he would grant the boon only when He proved himself to be a worthy soul. Shiva told he to undertake a Tirtha Yatra or holy pilgrimage. After years of penances, Shiva was pleased with He devotion and summoned him. Shiva ordered He to slay the Daityas and Danavas who were the enemies of the Devas, to which the latter agreed.

After vanquishing the Daityas and Danavas in battle, He proved himself worthy. He acquired many boons from Lord Shiva. His first boon was that he should surpass everyone in divine weapons, in the skill of wielding weapons and in mastery of sacred scriptures. His second boon was to be unvanquishable and invincible in battle. His third boon was to be free of sins and diseases and remain in his prime and health forever. His fourth boon was to be renowned in the world. His fifth boon was to be capable of performing arduous tasks and penances and to remain devoted to Shiva forever. Shiva granted all these boons to him. Shiva gave him mastery over many celestial weapons as well as a chariot and horses which could go anywhere at will, a celestial armour, divine bows, a conch shell and two inexhaustible quivers of arrows.

Once, Lord Shiva challenged Him to a battle to test his skills in warfare. The spiritual master Lord Shiva and the disciple Shri He became locked in fierce battle, a dreadful duel that lasted for twenty one days and while evading a blow by the Trident (Trishul) of Lord Shiva, He countered and vigorously attacked him with his Parashu. It struck Lord Shiva on the forehead creating a wound. Lord Shiva was very pleased to see the amazing warfare skills of his disciple and passionately embraced Him. Lord Shiva preserved this wound as an ornament so that the reputation of his disciple remained imperishable and insurmountable. ‘Khanda-parshu’ (wounded by Parashu) is one of the thousand names of Lord Shiva.

Having been trained in warfare by Lord Shiva himself, Rambhadra became the foremost of all wielders of weapons.

As he was also awarded by Shiva with an Axe (Parshu), He became famous with the name of “Parshurama”

Mahishmati was Capital of Haihaya Kingdom ruled by a mighty King Kartavirya Arjun.

He was the incarnation of Sudarshana, Lord Vishnu’s Celestial weapon, Chakra that had taken birth in human form.

He was a gigantic figure with 1000 human arms endued with tremendous strength and dexterity. He had acquired them as well as many Yogic powers as boons after pleasing the Sage Dattatreya with his penances. This made him one of the most powerful warriors of all time.

He became so powerful and invincible that he was even able to defeat and imprison the demon King Ravana at the Godavari River.

Despite being a wise and righteous king, Kartavirya became arrogant as he never lost or failed in anything. He harassed his own subjects and the very gods were afraid of him. One day, Kartavirya audaciously asked the god Varuna if there was anyone equal to him in combat. Varuna replied that Parashurama was equal to Kartavirya. The answer enraged Kartavirya as he didn’t believe anyone would exist as his equal.

The time of Parashurama was a tumultuous one for the Indian subcontinent, there was a constant growing animosity between several clans of Kshatriyas and Brahmins sects. Nobody was aware of the incoming storm that was destined to change the entire history of the Bharat (India) and specially the Kshatriya Clan.

Once King Kartavirya came upon the hermitage of Jamadagni The visit happened at a time Parusharama was away in the fores, and although the King had a massive entourage, the saptarishi was able to serve the King a grand feast. When Kartavirya asked how he was able to do so, Jamadagni showed him a blessed Kamadhenu cow, given to Jamadagni by Indra, which was able to grant wishes. Kartavirya’s ministers urged the king to steal the cow. Kartavirya’s preceptor, Sage Garga admonished the king not to follow the evil counsel, but Kartavirya gave the orders to procure the cow. Jamadagni refused to part with the cow despite being offered tremendous wealth. The evil Haihayas forcibly beat up the sage to unconsciousness, uprooted the trees around the hermitage and forcibly stole the cow.

Kartavirya regretted the incident but he decided not to return the cow after what happened, fearing the wrath of the sage.

Although Parshurama was far from hermitage, in the forest, but deep inside he felt something is wrong, it was raining hard that day. With a Suspicious mind He returned to the hermit and to his wildest surprise everything was devastated there.

His world was completely shattered, His father was lying unconscious and mother was crying inconsolably. The little beautiful world which they created has turned into ruins now, his heart was crying from inside but he has not allowed a single tear to come out from his eyes, in the great moment of despair he swore to completely exterminate the Kshatriya Clan.

He weighed out his options, but the chances of his wining against the cruel and mighty king were very bleak, he decided to pray to Lord Brahma for help.

Brahma warned Parashurama that slaying Kartavirya was an extremely daunting task since he had thousands of powerful allies. Brahma told him to procure the Trailokya Kavacha (armour) from Lord Shiva. Parashurama went to Shiva and told him of his task. Shiva warned Parashurama that Kartavirya also acquired the Kavacha from Dattatreya. The God then gave the armour as well as many divine weapons to Parashurama. However, Parashurama was unable to use the Kavacha despite knowing the incantations to use it. So he went to Agastya who imparted to him a Vishnu Stotra or hymn which he heard from Sheshanaga and asked him to go to the Gangotri and practice the hymn for one month.

Parashurama did as he was told and beheld Lord Vishnu himself. Vishnu blessed Parashurama for victory and told him what the future held. After completing his quest and attaining mastery of the Kavacha, Parashurama headed towards Mahishmati to slay Kartavirya.

Parashurama reached the outskirts of Mahishmati and sent a message to Kartavirya, either return Kamadhenu and surrender to the Bhargavas or death on the battlefield.

Outraged, Kartavirya summoned billions of kings who were his vassals and allies and a thousand mighty akshauhinis (each akshauhini consists of 21870 war elephants each carrying seven soldiers, 21870 battle chariots each carrying four men, 65610 cavalry and 109350 footsoldiers).

The battle was very unfair, It was Lord Parshurama against almost rest of the world. But he was in no mood to forgive Kartavirya of his wrong deed, in-spite of the huge army on his side.

Parshurama ascended on a single chariot and without any ally, marched against the formidable Haihayas. War broke out and Parashurama began to wreak havoc among the Haihayas. He first slew Mangala, the King of Matsya and slew his soldiers with the Narayanastra. Fighting continuously for three days, Parashurama slew 12 entire akshauhinis.

Then the Ikshvaku King Suchandra advanced against Parashurama with a 100,000 princes and seven akshauhinis. Parashurama slaughtered the seven akshauhinis and all the 100,000 warriors. Suchandra and Parashurama fought one another.

Suchandra was able to counter all of Parashurama’s attacks. Enraged, Parashurama once more invoked the Narayanastra, but Suchandra bowed in front of it and the Narayanastra was rendered useless. Bewildered, Parashurama hurled many weapons at the king, but the latter easily caught them. Parashurama hurled the trident of Shiva (Shivashula), but upon striking the chest of the king, it turned into a garland of flowers. Using his inner vision, Parashurama realized that Suchandra was invincible due to the presence of the terrible goddess Bhadrakali.

Parashurama prayed to the goddess and prompted her to appear before him. Bhadrakali offered to grant him a boon. Parashurama asked her for the means to slay Suchandra. Bhadrakali told him to use the Agneyastra and slay him. Parashurama did so and incinerated Suchandra on the battlefield. Suchandra’s son, Pushkaraksha rushed against Parashurama, but the latter cleaved him into halves with his axe and slaughtered nine akshauhinis.

Then Kartavirya himself, with a thousand hands and five hundred bows, mounted on a colossal golden chariot drawn by a hundred horses proceeded against Parashurama and both fought one another. The two rivals hurled Brahmastras at each other. Worried that this would destroy the world, Parashurama mentally recalled both the Brahmastras. Parashurama then shot arrows, cutting off Kartavirya’s ears and smashing his crown. Kartavirya, blinded in pain, shot many divine weapons at Parashurama and the latter easily countered Kartavirya’s attacks. Kartavirya hurled a trident he acquired from Dattatreya at Parashurama and knocked him unconscious. Parashurama recovered and hacked of Kartavirya’s thousand arms. He invoked the Pashupatastra and decapitated the king, incinerating him to ashes. Thus Parashurama slew Kartavirya Arjuna.

Parashurama then turned towards the 11,000 sons of Kartavirya. In 48 minutes, he slaughtered a hundred akshauhinis and killed many of Kartavirya’s sons, while the surviving sons fled from the battlefield in fear. Parashurama slaughtered the remaining kings and allies of Kartavirya and routed the Haihayas, emerging victorious and returned with the Kamadhenu cow.