Parashurama

Parashurama (Sanskrit परशुराम Parasurama, ' Rama with the ax ' ) is a mythological Brahman in Hinduism, the sixth avatar ( incarnation ) of Vishnu.

Unlike the other nine avatars, which are considered as direct descensions of Vishnu (or Krishna ), he is a ' Avesha Avatar ', an indirect avatar. This Vishnu not appear directly, but penetrates the soul of a man with his form.

Mythology

Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni and Renuka, was born as a Brahmin, but he lived as a struggling Kshatriya to install the divine order again. According to mythology, he was given the ax after a long asceticism and prayer of Shiva, who instructed him in the fight.

According to historical sources, such as the sixth incarnation of Vishnu came to earth as the Kshatriya, warriors, princes and kings had become proud. Pride they wanted to mount it to the masters of the world and sent itself to drive out the priests and overthrow the gods of the sky. To the divine order of Vishnu 's sake intervention was essential. He incarnated as Parasurama and killed the warrior with his slashing blows.

His anger was kindled when he learned that the prince Kartavirya Arjuna and his sons, the cow of plenty ( Surabhi ) that fulfills all wishes, had been stolen. This, a symbol of heaven, the people donating the sacred milk of life. The warriors prepared themselves to bring the life-giving divine powers in their violence. Vishnu wanted to break the arrogance and the inhuman tyranny of the Kshatriya; he vowed to wipe out all. Battle battle followed victory after victory. The famous Indian epic Mahabharata tells this story. However, Parashurama exterminated the warriors not. The embodied by her chivalrous spirit which is also for the protection of the poor and the weak, should not disappear. Therefore he demanded that their descendants should renew the caste. The warriors who had participated in the conspiracy, Vishnu must destroy twenty times according to one version of the myth.

Role in various fonts

The life of this avatar overlapped with the life of the next incarnation of Rama; both are to be encountered in the courtship to Sita in the king Janaka court, according to the epic Ramayana. The bow of Shiva, the aim was to raise for the suitor, was a gift from him and therefore he hurried after he had heard Rama broke it. Next plays Parashurama as a teacher of many heroes of the Mahabharata an important role during the Kalkipurana mentioned him as a teacher of the last, still coming incarnation Kalki.