Renuka

Renuka (Sanskrit रेणुका Renuka f ) in Hinduism is the wife of the sage Jamadagni and mother of Parasurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Myth

As Renuka was sent by her husband Jamadagni to the river to fetch water for the fire victims, they beheld the king of the Gandharvas Chitraratha. Impressed by its supernatural appearance, she came back a few seconds later. Jamadagni, angered by his wife's infidelity, ordered his sons to cut off the head of her mother. Rumanvat, Sushena and Vasu refused to carry out the cruel command and were therefore cursed by Jamadagni. Parasurama, the youngest son, accomplished the penalty after he was given permission to bring his mother back to life immediately. In addition, Parashurama also wished that the curse spoken over his brethren, am taken.

In the Tamil tradition of myth was transferred to the smallpox goddess Mariamma. As Parasurama ansetzte for beheading his mother, a pariah woman hugged them to protect them. Thus, the head was chopped off at the same time with the bat two women. In the rush to revive the mother, Parasurama mistook the heads and put his mother's head the pariah woman. Since then, Renuka is worshiped with the pariah head as Yelamma, the pariah woman with the head of Renuka but as Mariamma.