Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, The Parashu (Axe).

Parashurama or Bhargava Rama - Part VII, The Parashu (Axe).

Did you know that Parashu, named Vidyudabhi, is a weapon of the epic times which was created by Lord Shiva as his weapon which he eventually gifted to Lord Parashurama, his devoted disciple for ten years, and taught him its use?

Parashu Rama , Rama with Parashu, the battle axe - the divine weapon - got Parashu as a gift from its orignal creatoive owner Lord Shiva. Parashurama was a devoted disciple of Shiva for ten years, and as reward for his deep penance and devotion, Shiva gifted him the Parashu and also taught him its use. Parashu was thus the divine battle-axe or weapon of Parashurama. Parashurama after ecieving the parashu is reported to have said:"This divine axe that possesses the power to cut through any asurik maya have found me for a purpose."

Parashu, in Hindu mythology, an astra, is a supernatural weapon created or gifted by the gods to someone who then presides over the weapon. The wielder of an astra is known as an astradhari. This weapon is also named Vidyudabhi. 

Parashu is the Sanskrit word for a battle-axe, which can be wielded with one or both hands. In the epic period, it was the most lethal close combat weapon. 

Parashu has evolved over aeons of use as a weapon, by Gods, Shiva, Parashurama, goddess Durga, and Ganesha. It is still depicted on their carved or pianted idols worshiped throughout India. During the Mahabharata period, it was the main weapon of Sahadeva and Shakuni. 

Parashurama, who mastered use of Parashu, went on a marauding campaign of 21 raids eliminating Kshatriyas of the land as revenge for one of their ilk, a king and his sons killing sage Jamadagni, his father; the Kashtriya king slayed was Sahasra Arjuna or Kartvirarjuna; Parashurama cut off the head of Sahasra Arjuna yielding his Parashu. 

The legendary Parashu of the epic period, which Parashurama carried as his trademark weapon, is described as having four cutting edges; there was a blade on each end of the axe head and one on each end of the shaft. In later stages of his life, battle fatigued, Parashurama. inclined towards spirituality settled down on the west coast of India after reclaiming the land from the Arabian sea with blessings of God Varuna and Bhudevi, by throwing his Parashu towards the sea to decide the limits of land reclamation; this recovered or reclaimed swathe of land from the ocean is called 'Parashurama Kshetra', which includes present day Kerala, Konkanasthan, and Goa.  

The battle axe of ancient India, known as a parashu (or farasa in some dialects), specifically designed for combat, was made from iron, bamboo, wood, or wootz steel. It usually measures 90–150 cm (3.0–4.9 ft) though some are as long as 210 cm (7 ft). A typical parashu could have a single edge or double edge, with a hole for fixing a shaft. The haft is often tied with a leather sheet to provide a good grip. The cutting edge is invariably broad and the length of the haft could be about three to four feet.

Parashus are still used as domestic tools in Indian households, particularly in the villages, as well as being carried by certain sects of eremitic sadhu.

Narasipur Char