PARASHURAM JI JAYANTI
In 2016, Parshuramji Jayanti will be celebrated on 8th May, Sunday on tritiya of Shukla paksha in Vaishakh.
Lord Parshuramji was born on Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya which is why this day is celebrated as Lord Parshuramji Jayanti.
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Bhagwan Parshuramji
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Parshuram is believed to be Lord Vishnu’s sixth incarnation. According to religious texts, he was born on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya, which is also celebrated as the day of his birth. Observing fasts and other religious works have been the trademarks of this day for centuries.
According to beliefs, he defeated Kshatriyas a number of times. He was born to free the world of Kshatriyas’ pride. Parshuram was taught by Dronacharya.
Parshuram was the son of Raja Prasenjit’s daughter Renuka and Bhrigu dynasty’s Jamdagni. Parshuram was devoted to Lord Shiva. He had immense knowledge and was a great warrior. Originally, his name was Ram. But, he came to be known as Parshuram because of the mystical weapon called Parshu which as given to him by Lord Shiva.
from whom He learned the methods of warfare and other skills. Even though He was born as a Brahmin, He had Kshatriya (warrior) traits in terms of aggression, warfare and valour. Hence He is said to be a 'Brahma-Kshatriya' and one who possesses Brahmatej and Kshatratej.
He killed the entire army and King Kartavirya Sahasrarjuna, who took away the magical cow (Kamadhenu) forcibly, that belonged to His father Jamadagni. In revenge the King's sons killed Jamadagni in Parshuram's absence. Furious at their unrighteous act, He killed all sons of the King and also went on killing all corrupt Haihaya Kings and warriors on the earth 21 times.
He then conducted the Ashvamedha sacrifice, done only by sovereign Kings and gave the entire land He owned to priests who performed the sacrifice (Yadnya).
Also, the Sudarshan chakra (or Sudarshan Vidya) is said to be given by Parshuram to Lord Krushna. The purpose of the sixth Incarnation of Vishnu is considered by religious scholars to be to relieve the earth's burden by exterminating the sinful, destructive and irreligious kings that pillaged its resources, and neglected their duties.
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Parashuramji and the Ramayana
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In the Ramayana, Parashurama came to the marriage ceremony of the seventh Avatar, Rama, to the princess Sita. As a test of worthiness the suitors were required to lift and string the bow of Shiva, given to the King Janaka by Parashurama. Rama successfully strung the bow, but in the process it broke in two, producing a tremendous noise that reached the ears of Parashurama.
In one such version, played in ramlilas across India, Parashurama arrived after hearing the sound of the bow of Shiva breaking. The Kshatriyas were advised by Brahmarishi Vasistha not to confront the sage, but Sita approached the sage. He blessed her, saying "Dheergha Sumangali bhavah", literally meaning "you will have your husband alive for your lifetime, you won't see his death". So when he turned to confront Rama, the destroyer of Shiva's bow, he could not pick up his axe to do so as he pacifies by the brilliance of Rama (Vishnu avatara). This was also because, as he blessed Sita with good luck, he could not cause any harm to her husband which was a part of his own (Shri Vishnu). After recognising Rama for what he truly was, namely the avatar of Vishnu, as his bow went flying in the hands of Lord Rama.
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Parashuramji and the Mahabharata
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When Amba came to Parashurama for help because Bhishma refused to marry her he decided to slay Bhishma and fought with him for twenty three days. It was a long and fierce fight between the two greatest warriors of the age. Bhishma had knowledge of the divine deadly weapon: "Parshwapastra". Parashurama had no knowledge of this weapon. When Bhishma was about to use it against Parashurama, all Gods rushed to Bhishma and requested him not to use this weapon against Parshurama as it will humiliate Parshurama. Bhishma refrained from using it. Parashurama's father, Jamadagni and grandfather, Richika, then appeared before Parashurama ordering, "O son, never again engage in battle with Bhishma or any other Kshatriya. Heroism and courage in battle are the qualities of a warrior (Kshatriya), and study of the Vedas and the practice of austerities are the wealth of the brahmanas. Previously you took up weapons to protect the brahmanas, but this is not the case now. Let this battle with Bhishma be your last". The sages once again spoke to Rama, "O son of the Bhrigu race, it is not possible to defeat Bhishma". In the end Pitris appeared on the scene and obstructed the chariot of Rama. They forbade him to fight any longer. In the end, all Gods and Parshuram himself showered praise on Bhishma and acknowledged that Bhishma is truly invincible. Parshurama then told Amba: "I have done all that I could and I have failed. Throw yourself on the mercy of Bhishma. That is the only course left to you."
Parashurama was giving away his earning and wealth of a lifetime to brahmanas, Drona approached him. Unfortunately by the time Drona arrived, Parashurama had given away all his belongings to other brahmanas. Taking pity upon the plight of Drona, Parashurama said "You can choose any of my weapons, which one would you like to have"? The clever Drona said "I will like to have your weapons with their mantras as and when I need them". Parashurama accepted. Drona decided to impart his knowledge of combat which made him supreme in the science of arms.
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Parashuramji and Karna
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In the Mahabharata, Parashurama was the instructor of the warrior Karna, born to a Kshatriya mother but raised as the son of a charioteer, or lower class of Kshatriyas. Karna came to Parashurama after being rejected from the school of Drona, who taught the five Pandava and one hundred Kaurava princes. Parashurama agreed to teach Karna, who said he was a brahmin[citation needed], and gave him the knowledge of the extremely powerful Brahmastra weapon. But an incident would render the Brahmastra almost useless to Karna.
One day, Parashurama was sleeping with his head resting on Karna's thigh, when an insect crawled up and bit Karna's thigh, boring into it. In spite of the bleeding and the pain, he neither flinched or uttered a cry so that his teacher could continue his rest. However, the blood trickled down, reaching Parashurama and awakening him. Convinced that only a Kshatriya could have borne such pain in silence and that Karna had therefore lied in order to receive instruction, he cursed Karna that his knowledge of the Brahmastra would fail him when he needed it most. Later, during the Kurukshetra war, Karna had a dream at night when he thought of his guru and asked him to take back the curse he had warranted years back. Parashurama explained that he knew that the day would come; he knew that Karna was a Kshatriya[citation needed], but deemed him to be a worthy student and instructed him nevertheless. However, the outcome of the war would have left the world in ruins if Duryodhana were to rule, as opposed to Yudhishthira. For that reason, Parashurama requested that Karna accept the curse and fall at the hands of Arjuna, inadvertently saving the world.[citation needed]
Parashurama was the guru of Bhishma (Devavrata), Dronacharya and Karna.
Later life
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In the later life of Parashurama, he gave up violence, became an ascetic and practiced penances, mainly on the Mahendra Mountains. The territories he received from the Kshatriyas he slew, were distributed among a clan of Brahmins called the Bhumihar. They ruled these lands for many centuries. The Kingdoms like the Cheras, Pandyas, Dravida, Mushika, Karnata and Konkana were among them. Parashurama also beat back the advancing sea to retrieve a stretch of coastal-area between the foothills of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, giving rise to the myth of Parashurama, saving a part of the land of Kerala from the sea. This had happened in Surparaka Kingdom (Coastal Area Maharasthra). Also it is said that from here the myth spread to Kerala, by migration. However, Kerala is also said to be given to Brahmin rulers.
Dattatreya initiated Parasurama into Tantric worship and their conversations gave rise to Tripura-rahasya, a treatise on Advaita Vedanta. At last, Parasurama attained the liberation from the cycles of birth and death with the help of Guru Dattatreya.
The Sixth Avatara
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* The purpose of the sixth incarnation of Vishnu is considered by religious scholars to be to relieve the Earth's burden by exterminating the sinful, destructive and irreligious monarchs that pillaged its resources, and neglected their duties as kings.
* Parashurama is of a martial Shraman ascetic. However unlike all other avatars Parashurama still lives on earth, even today according to Hindu belief. Therefore unlike Rama and Krishna Parashurama is not worshipped. But in South India, at the holy place Pajaka near Udupi, there exists one major temple commemorating Parashurama.
* Parshurama, the savior of the Konkan coast, is also worshipped in a temple at Parashurama, Chiplun in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.The people of the Konkan call their land 'Parshurama Bhoomi' or the land of Parashurama in accordance with the legend that the sage reclaimed the land from the sea.
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Kalki Purana
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The Kalki Purana states Parashurama will be the martial guru of Sri Kalki, the 10th and final avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is he who instructs Kalki to perform a long penance to Shiva to receive celestial weaponry.
In the Kanyakumari Temple in Kanyakumari town, Parashurama installed the Idol made of blue stone. Parashurama installed the idol of Dharma Sastha (Ayyappa) on the peak on the Sabarimala Hill in the forest. Parashurama trained Ayyappa just as he had trained Karna in the Mahabharata and is believed will train the future Kalki.
Parshurama Temples
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* There are several Parashurama temples throughout the western coast of India as well as North India, but especially more in the costal areas from Bharuch(ancient name of Bharuch is Bhrugu Kutchchh) in the west Indian state of Gujarat right up to Kerala, the southern tip of India. One can see a Parashurama Temple with an Agni Mandir in Shivpuri - Akkalkot, Khopoli in Maharashtra and Fort Songadh in Gujarat.
* A temple of Parashurama is also situated at Akhnoor, 18 km away from Jammu city, J&K. Every year, in the month of May, an enormous fete in the form of a parade, referred as Parshuram Jayanti, with hundreds of tableaux, thronged through the main city of Jammu. Local community leaders and followers arrange for the celebrations and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
* He created a temple of worship right after he resurfaced parts of Coastal Kerala from the sea. He placed statues of various deities in 108 different places and introduced martial arts ("Kalari Payattu") to protect the temple from the evils.
* Also, while the other pilgrimages created by Parashurama are devoted to Lord Shiva, Lord Subramanya and Lord Ganesha, Kollur is the only one devoted to Goddess Parvati.
* The most famous parasurama temple is in the suburbs of Trivandrum at Thiruvallam where all the trimoorthis are also worshipped. It is believed to be the place where parasurama's axe fell in the Arabian sea to claim Kerala
* There is temple dedicated to Lord Parashurama in Khatti, near Phagwara in Punjab, India.
* According to mythology Parashurama is a Chiranjeevi and still doing penance in Mahendragiri in Eastern Ghats.
* There is a temple of Parashurama in Rajkot (Gujarat), India.
* Sree Parasurama Swamy Temple, Thiruvallam,near Thiruvananthapuram.The temple is situated on the banks of the river Karamana, 6 km south of the city. This 2000 year old temple is the only temple in kerala dedicated to Sri Parasurama, the mythological creator of Kerala. Many pilgrims visit this temple for 'Balitharpanam' (homage to the departed souls), when they make offerings to their ancestors, after taking a dip in the holy river. There is also a belief that the great monk Adi Shakara made the 'Bali' for his mother at this place.
* There is a temple of Parashurama in Harpur, Zamania, Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh)
* There is a temple of Parashurama in the village of Painguinim in Canacona, Goa.
* Recently in 2010 a big statue of Bhagwan Parashurama is developed in Phalodi(Jodhpur-Rajasthan) near Shivsar Talao(POND).
* His janmsthali (birthplace) is in Janapava indore (madhya pradesh)
* There is a Kund in Arunachal Pradesh, Tirap District, where it is believed Prashuram threw his axe after killing his mother by the order of his father.
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Parshurama Kshetras
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Eight Kshetras are popularly known as Parashurama kshetras and a.k.a. 'Parashurama Srishti'.
"Eight Mukti Sthalas"
1. Konkan Maharashtra
2. Mangalore
3. Udupi
4. Subramanya
5. Kollur
6. Shankaranarayana
7. Koteshwara
8. Gokarna
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Reclamation of Konkan and Kerala coasts
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There is also the Panhala Fort founded by Raja Bhoja in the late 12th century which was used by Chhatrapati Shivaji and is said to be the only fort in which he stayed for 500 days. This fort is said to have a connection with Parashurama.
Lord Parashurama with Saraswat brahmin settlers commanding Lord Varuna to make the advancing seas recede to save the lands of Konkan and Kerala.
Konkan is the karmabhumi of Parashurama (the land founded by him) but very few people know about his janmabhumi (birthplace). there is one view that his birthplace was Mahoor gadh, which is at the border of Marathwada and Vidharbha in Maharastra. At Mahur on the left hand side of main Renuka Mata temple there is a temple which is believed to be Parashurama's birthplace. However there is also one belief that the birthplace of Lord Parashurama is Janapao or Jaana pau in present day Madhya Pradesh, a central Indian State. Parashurama had spent most of his childhood time in and around the Mandagni Parvath near Vajreshwari in Maharashtra. You can see a Bala Parashurama temple believed to be built by Bhima on the edge of the Mandagni Parvath.There is also a temple for Renuka devi and Sage Jamadagni.This makes us to believe that the birth place of Lord Parashurama could be around this place.
courtesy: wikipedia
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1. SHRI RAM MANTRA
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RAMAYA RAMBHADRAYA RAMCHANDRAYA VEDASE
RAGHUNATHAYA NATHAY SITAYAH PATAYE NAMAHMany different people address Lord Rama by dfferent names. Sages like Vashishtha as Ram, Dashrath as Rambhadra, Kaushalya as Ramchandra, Maharishis as veda (knower of all), his subjects in Ayodhya as Raghunath, Sita as nath (dear husband) and her palace friends as sita pati.
I bow to that rama.
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GAYATRI MANTRA OF LORD PARASHURAMA
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om jamadagnyaya vidmahe mahaviraya
dhimahi tanno parashuramah prachodayat
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