Rishi Jamdagni and Devi Renuka lived in a beautiful Ashram with their 5 sons. Their life was simple and focused on the Lord. Rishi Jamdagni was one of the greatest Rishis of his time with great Yogic powers. One morning, Renuka went to get water from a nearby river as she did every morning. As she bent down to fill her pot, she saw the most beautiful sight. A group of Gandharvas were passing and she could see their reflection in the water. For a few moments she felt attracted to their beauty. She then controlled herself putting their memory out of her mind, filled up her pot and returned home. As she entered the Ashram, Rishi Jamdagni approached her with a smile. But as soon as their eyes met he knew what had happened due to his Yogic powers. The Rishi was furious. Immediately he called his eldest son and ordered him to cut off his mother’s head. The frightened boy refused. Rishi Jamdagni became angrier and turned his son into a stone statue. Like this, he turned 4 of his sons into stone statues because they refused to kill their mother. He then called his youngest son, Rama, and asked him to cut off his Mother’s head. Rama looked at his angry father, crying mother and four stones who were his brothers. He bowed to his father, bowed to his mother and then without any doubt cut her head off with an axe. Rishi Jamdagni finally calmed down. He was happy with his youngest son. He promised Rama 2 boons. Rama did not lose any time. He asked for two things. He said, “Father, I killed mother because of your order. Now please forgive her, lovingly accept her and bring her back to life with your great Yogic powers.”
Rishi Jamdagni smiled and brought her back to life. Rama then asked for his second boon. He said, “Father, my brothers are true Brahmins. They can never hurt anyone. Please forgive them and turn them back into humans.”
Rishi Jamdagni and Devi Renuka were proud of their son. They also saw that Rama was not an ordinary Brahmin and had warrior tendencies. Thus, they asked him to do penance for Lord Shiva and receive his blessings. Rama liked the idea and left for Gandhamadana Mountain to please Lord Shiva. Gandhamadana Mountain is in Orissa.
Rama was very disciplined and focused. He meditated on Lord Shiva for a very long time and one day The Lord came to him. Lord Shiva said “Rama I am happy with you. You have meditated very well. Ask for a boon.” Rama replied “Lord please give me your great weapon Parashu and teach me how to use it.” The Lord taught Rama how to use the Parashu. Finally, when Rama was ready Lord Shiva gave him the Parashu and a new name – Parashurama. Rishi Jamdagni and Devi Renuka were very proud of their son and happy to have him back home. Life was good and followed a routine. Parashurama often went into the forest to meditate. One day Parashurama was away from the Ashram. On the same day, Kartavirya Arjuna was hunting in the forest where Rishi Jamdagni lived. He was an evil and selfish king. He had no respect for anyone and believed in taking whatever he wanted by force. During the hunt he got tired. His minister informed him that Rishi Jamdagni’s ashram was near. Everyone went to the ashram so that the king could drink some water and rest. They were sure that the Rishi would not be able to take care of everyone who was with the King. But when they reached the Ashram, Rishi Jamdagni was able to feed everyone. The king was surprise d and asked the Rishi how he was able to have so much butter, curd and milk. The Rishi showed him their cow Kamadhenu. Kartavirya wanted such a cow in his palace. That evening the King, his minister and soldiers stayed in the Ashram. Next morning when Rishi Jamdagni woke he found that the King had stolen Kamdhenu’s calf (baby cow). Kamdhenu was sad and stopped giving milk. When Parashurama reached home that day his father told him the King had stolen Kamdhenu’s calf. Parashurama was furious. He went to the King’s palace and asked him to return the calf and apologize to Rishi Jamdagni. He said, “Kartavirya, you were a guest in my father’s house. He treated you well and took care of you. As a guest you have committed a sin by stealing from him when you should have thanked him. As a king you should maintain law and order in your kingdom but you have become a criminal. As a King you should protect my father’s property from thieves and not steal it yourself! You have also committed a sin by separating a mother from its baby. Apologize to my father, correct your ways and return the calf to me.” The King laughed at Parashurama and refused. He said “I am a King and everything in the Kingdom belongs to me. You should be happy to be of service to me. Stop complaining weak Brahmin and go back to your ashram.” Parashurama’s eyes became red with anger. He attacked King Kartavirya Arjun and killed him in one blow of his Parashu. He then took the calf and returned home. Kamadhenu and her calf danced around each other happily. Seeing them so happy brought joy to everyone in the Ashram. Rishi Jamdagni praised Parashurama for bringing the calf back to its mother. He also told Parashurama “Son, you are a Brahmin and must not kill. Since you have killed a human please go back to the forest and meditate for Lord’s forgiveness.” Parashurama bowed his head and went away to meditate for a year. While he was gone, The King’s sons returned to the Ashram and killed Rishi Jamdagni for revenge. After one year when Parashurama returned, he found his father murdered. Parashurama was furious and took a vow that he would kill any Kshatriya who tried to become a King. Those were dark times for people. Many kings had become greedy and evil like Kartavirya. As the kings behaved like criminals people in their kingdoms also did not follow Dharma. Thus, Parashurama killed every King alive. Twenty one times he toured Earth and killed Kshatriya kings. In his anger and lack of trust on kings he killed not only bad kings but also good kings. This made his ancestors angry. They came to him in a dream one night and asked him to stop. They explained that he had already killed all bad kings and the people now needed rulers in kingdoms. Parashurama then declared himself the only King and conducted Ashwamedha Yajna. It is a sacrifice and ceremony done only by a King who cannot be challenged. As part of the Yajna he gave away kingdoms to good Brahmins and asked them to follow Dharma as rulers. He also gave away any and all wealth that he had. The news of his yajna travelled far and wide. All Brahmins who were poor came to him in hope of receiving valuables and money. Drona, son of Bharadwaj also came to receive gifts from him. Drona lived very far away and so by the time he reached Parashurama had given away everything he had. He said to Drona, “Dear Brahmin, you have come to me very late. I only have my body and the great weapon Parashu given to me by Lord Shiva. You can take any one of these two.” Drona was sad because his family was too poor to get a proper meal 2 times a day. But he knew that receiving Parashu and its knowledge was once in a life time chance. Parashurama taught him to use the Parashu. When Drona was ready he gave him the Parashu and retired to the Mountains to spend his time meditating.
Parashurama is seen as the sixth Avatar of Lord Vishnu in which once again he saved Dharma on this Earth.