Parshuram Jayanti
Sixth Avatar of Vishnu
The birthday of Parshuram, or Parshuram Jayanti, is cel-ebrated on the 3rd
day of the bright half
of Vaishakh month, also known as “Akshayy Trutiya” (eternal third), because of
the belief that the merit obtained by good acts on this day is permanent. Of the
three and a half “muhurtas” of the year, this day is half a “muhurt’ (a time of
good omen).
Parshuram is the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He is considered to be the
personification of valour and of devotion to father and mother. His father’s
name was Jamadagni, and his mother’s Renuka. Jamadagni was very irascible, and
Parshuram inherited this quality from him. One day Jamadagni got angry with his
wife Renuka and commanded Parshuram to kill her. Parshuram in obedience to his
father’s command killed his mother. Jamadagni was satisfied and told his son to
ask whatever he wanted. Parshuram asked that this mother be brought back to
life. Thus Renuka became alive again. In this way Parshuram proved his devotion
to his father and mother.
Kartavirya Sahashrarjun was a kshatrya (warrior) king who killed Jamadagni.
Because of this Parshuram vowed to extermi-nate all the kshatriyas from this
earth, so he saved the earth from the tyranny of the kshatriyas. But Parshuram
became proud of his power. Terrorised by him, all the kshatriyas fled, and no
one remained to protect this earth. So Kashyap muni called them back and ordered
Parshuram to leave this world. Since then Parshuram lived on the mountain
Mahendra. Because he made wrong use of his power with his “parshu” (axe) in his
hand he caused this bitter fate to befall him.