Who is Parashurama (Chiranjivi)
Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, is a warrior sage who appears in the Treta Yuga to restore cosmic order. According to the Mahabharata (Vana Parva) and the Bhagavata Purana (Canto 9), he was born to the Brahmin sage Jamadagni and his wife Renuka. His name derives from the axe (parashu) given to him by Shiva after severe penance, as narrated in the Shiva Purana. Parashurama's primary myth involves his vow to rid the world of corrupt Kshatriyas twenty-one times, a story detailed in the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva).
This act symbolizes divine wrath against arrogance and the misuse of power. After completing his mission, he is said to have retired to the Mahendra Mountains, where he continues to perform penance as one of the seven Chiranjivis (immortals). The Skanda Purana mentions his role in creating the coastal region of Kerala by throwing his axe into the sea. Iconographically, Parashurama is depicted as a fierce Brahmin with matted hair, a sacred thread, and rudraksha beads, wielding his axe and a bow.
He represents the synthesis of Brahminical wisdom and Kshatriya valor. Regional worship is prominent in coastal Karnataka and Kerala, where he is revered as a cultural hero. His festivals include Parashurama Jayanti and Akshaya Tritiya, the latter associated with his birth. In Hindu cosmology, Parashurama serves as a reminder of the power of penance and the necessity of divine intervention when dharma declines.
Roots of the name
The name Parashurama (Sanskrit: परशुराम) is a compound of paraśu ('axe') and Rāma ('pleasing' or 'dark one'), meaning 'Rama with an axe'. The axe was bestowed by Shiva after severe penance, as narrated in the Shiva Purana.
Alternate names include Rāma Jāmadagnya (son of Jamadagni), Bhārgava Rāma (descendant of Bhrigu), and Virarāma. Regional variants include Parasurama in South Indian traditions.
The name underscores his dual identity as a Brahmin sage and a warrior, wielding the axe as a symbol of divine wrath.
Names by which the divine is addressed
What they hold
Form, mudras, weapons & vahana
Fierce Brahmin with axe (parashu). Wears rudraksha and sacred thread. Often depicted with matted hair.
Sacred utterances
A favourite verse
Vedic remediation guidance
- Manglik dosha
- Anger / aggression
- Blood issues
- Sibling disputes
- Property quarrels
Worship of Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu and a Chiranjivi, is prescribed in Vedic remediation when Mars (Mangala) is afflicted, as his iconography—bearing the parashu (axe) given by Shiva and a bow—directly mirrors the fiery, martial energy of Mars, per the Skanda Purana. This deity’s worship is most recommended when Mars occupies a dusthana (6th, 8th, or 12th house) or is combust, causing Manglik dosha, or when a weak, afflicted Mercury in the 8th house triggers sibling disputes and property quarrels, as Parashurama’s myth of purging corrupt Kshatriyas addresses such conflicts. The remedial pattern involves reciting the Parashurama Sahasranama 108 times on a Tuesday, ideally in Mrigashira, Chitra, or Dhanishta nakshatra, wearing crimson garments, with a japa count of 11,000 repetitions of the mantra “Om Parashuramaya Namah” over 40 days, complemented by fasting until noon and donating red lentils or copper to Brahmins.
The year of Parashurama (Chiranjivi)
Tīrthas & major shrines
Where to read further
Dance, music, art & literature
Parashurama appears in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali performances depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Carnatic music includes kritis on Parashurama by composers like Muthuswami Dikshitar.
In painting, he is featured in Tanjore and Pahari miniatures, often in scenes of battle. Regional folk forms in Kerala, such as Theyyam, include Parashurama as a cultural hero.
He is revered in coastal Karnataka and Kerala, where temples like Parashurama Temple in Thiruvallam exist. His legend influenced the creation myth of Kerala, and he is worshipped as a Chiranjivi.
In Southeast Asia, he appears in Javanese wayang and Balinese traditions, though less prominently than Rama or Krishna.