On May 10, 2024, India will celebrate Parashurama Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, a revered figure known as the sixth avatar of Vishnu and also considered an embodiment of Shiva. Parashurama, born to sage Jamadagni and Renuka Devi, is famous for his act of obedience, where he beheaded his mother following his father's orders. This act is often discussed for its extreme example of dharma and obedience.
According to the Brahmanda Purana, the demand to kill his mother came after Renuka Devi, momentarily lost in a momentary lapse, admired a Gandharva king named Chitraratha, which Jamadagni noticed through his spiritual powers. Angered by her infidelity in thought, Jamadagni commanded his sons to execute their mother. While his brothers refused, Parashurama, loyal to his father's command, beheaded her with his axe.
This tale, though violent, highlights themes of loyalty, righteousness, and the power of penance. Parashurama's act was rewarded by his father, who granted him boons including reviving his mother and brothers, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and redemption in Hindu mythology.
