Shrii Parashuraama is one amongst the eight ‘Chiranjiivins’ immortals) whom we discussed in our previous write up. His birth anniversary is celebrated on the 3rd day of the bright half of the Waishaakha month, also known as Akshayya Tritiiyaa literally meaning the non-elapsing third day.

This year it falls on 6th May 2011.

 

In the traditional Hindu Luni-Solar calendar, the ‘tithi’ date) is based on the movement of the moon at sunrise. Sometimes, due to faster movement, two dates occur in a midnight and as such one of the dates (i.e. the previous one) is lost, or it elapses and is not counted. Such a date is termed as kshaya-tithi ( a lost date). The 3rd day of the bright half of the Waishaakh month, however, never undergoes a lapse, hence, termed as ‘akshayya tritiiyaa’.

It is believed that the Tretaa Yuga began on this day, River Gangaa descended from the heaven to the earth on this day itself and that Sage Vyasa started dictating Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha on Akshayya Titiiyaa.

It is also believed that this day brings luck to human beings and new ventures undertaken on this day grow and become prosperous.

Charity done on Akshayya Tritiiyaa brings multi-fold blessings. People perform Kubera-Lakshmii puujaa on this day and some businessmen start new audit books after performing Ganesha and Lakshmi puujaa.

Purchasing Gold is a significant activity done on this day.

Shrii Parashuraama is considered to be the sixth incarnation of Lord Wishnu and is the son of Shrii Renukaa a kshatriya (warrior) lady and Sage Jamadagni a brahmin (scholarly) sage. It is generally believed that physical might and mental scholarship do not dwell together, so much so that, there was a clear distinction of Braahmana & Kshatriya classes based on these qualities. Shrii Parashuraama, however, possesses the best of both, the warrior & the learned classes and hence, is an exception to the rule.

The word ‘parashu’ literally means an ‘axe’. This child undertook severe penance to please Lord Shiva and received the Axe as a weapon from him and as such received the name ‘Parashuraama’ meaning ‘Raama with an axe’. He is famous for his devotion towards parents. He would perform adventurous acts upon being ordered by his father or mother.

In an unfortunate incident, his father Sage Jamadagni was killed by a Kshatriya King Kartaviiryaarjuna who wanted to take away the Sage’s possessions and destroy his hermitage. When Parashuraama saw his mother lamenting over her husband’s death, he took a promise to cleanse the earth by the blood of the unjust kings who ruled the earth but did not observe truth and righteousness. He travelled around the earth for about 21 times and slayed all such unjust warriors and conquered their land.

Due to this very reason, he took a vow that he would teach weaponry and other sciences to only Brahmins and not to Kshatriyas, consequently passing on much of his knowledge to DroNa the celebrated preceptor of Paandawas and Kaurawas.

However, he made an exeption for Bhiishma who actually emerged invincible in a weapon-fight with Parashuraama and thereby secured Parashuraama’s appreciation and preceptorship.

Even KarNa who knew about Parashuraama’s vow, bluffed about being a Brahmin and learned weaponry from Parashuraama, but later on, his pretence being disclosed, was cursed by Parashuraama.

Parashuraama is believed to have existed in Raamayana, and blessed Siitaa during her wedding with Shrii Raama. His presence in Mahaabhaarata is already known in the form of preceptor of Bhiishma, DroNa and KarNa.

He performed the Ashwamedha sacrifice to celebrate his victory. He donated all the land that he had conquered and all his other possessions to the sacrificial priests. He himself turned into an ascetic and desired to perform deep penance. Left with no land and no possessions, even for performing penance, Parashuraama requested Waruna ( the Lord of ocean) to give him a small strech of Land on the westen coast of India. Waruna asked him to release an arrow from his mythical bow and offered to give him the land, up to wherever his arrow reached. Accordingly, it is believed that Parashuraama released an arrow and the ocean then receded upto the point where the arrow hit the water and this reclaimed land was then taken over by Parashuraama. He named this land as Konkan or Aparaanta West-end) which, in modern days, streches from Mumbai in the north upto Kerala in the South. He then invited brahmins from all over the country to make settlements in this new land. The Maharashtrian Konkanastha Brahmins of moden day consider themselves to be direct descendents of Parashuraama and have him as one of their family dieties.

The Kalki puraaNa states that Parashuraama will be the martial preceptor of Sri Kalki the 10th and final incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is he who would instruct Kalki to perform penance to Shiva for receiving celestial weaponry.

The following verse composed in the AnuShTubh meter describes the confluence of ‘kshaatra’ warrior qualities) and ‘braahma’ scholastic qualities) found in Shrii Parashuraama and appreciates him to be a protector of mankind who uses both these capabilities for overcoming evil.