Parashurama

Parashurama is a figure in Hindu tradition who is often described as a sage-warrior and, in many lists, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. His name means “Rama with the axe,” referring to the weapon he carries and to his distinctive role in myth.

According to legends, Parashurama is the son of the sage Jamadagni and his wife Renuka. He is said to have trained in the Vedas and in martial arts, receiving the celestial axe from Lord Shiva after intense penance. He is revered in some traditions as a Brahmin-hero who used his power to protect the righteous and to uphold dharma, sometimes pushing back against abuses by rulers.

A central set of myths concerns his conflict with Kshatriya kings. In one well-known tale, the king Kartavirya Arjuna steals the divine cow Kamadhenu from Jamadagni’s hermitage; Parashurama defeats him, but his father is later killed by Arjuna’s sons. Enraged, Parashurama vows vengeance and, in various tellings, slays numerous Kshatriya rulers—commonly described as 21 times on earth. He is often portrayed as eventually retreating from warfare and wandering the Indian subcontinent, where he is said to have taught martial arts and spiritual disciplines.

In popular myth, Parashurama is also linked to the origin of the land of Kerala, where he is said to have thrown his axe across the sea, causing land to emerge along the western coast. He is sometimes described as an immortal being (chiranjivi) in certain traditions. Parashurama’s legacy appears across Puranic literature, regional legends, and temple traditions, where he is honored as a founder of certain sanctuaries and as a teacher of dharma and warfare.