ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 19: Parashurama, his annihilation of Kshatriyas and his connection with Kashmira
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
In the context of describing Bhagavan Vishnu’s images in Kashmira, King Gonanda wondered as to why the Vishnu’s Idol installed by Bhrigu Maharshi in his Ashram on the Mountain named Gridhrakuta was transferred nearby his Ashram by Parashurama for veneration. The reason was not far to seek since Parashurama avenged the murder of his father Maharshi Bhrigu by the noted King Kartaveeryarjuna of Haihaya Clan of Kshatriyas in particular as also of Kshatriyas in general for their oppression of their Subjects and more specifilally of Brahmanas in specific; Bhargava Rama attacked Kshtriyas in as many as twenty battles with their Kings and kinsmen and destroyed them on mass-scale to ensure that there were hardly any traces of the then much hated Kshatriyas left in Bharata Varsha. A few remnants of Kshatriyas fled away to the safe haven of Kashmira on the banks of Rivers Madhumati and Rajanirmala and even from those Places, Parashurama hunted and eradicated them like Rudra Deva himself with his own hands full of their blood. It was in that frame of ferocious and vengeful mind, that he transferred the Idol of Keshava from the hermitage of his father Bhrigu to his own ‘Ashram’. Then he undertook a trip to Kurukshetra to convey his revenge against the acts of cruelty that Kshatriyas perpetrated to his father and forefathers. But he had a vision that his forefathers were so merciful that they desired him to desist from further acts of violence and atone his actions of vindictiveness and take up a Tirtha Yatra (pilgrimage) to Holy Kshetras:
Tena paapena tey Putra shareeram kalmasham yadaa,
Tasmaad vrajaswa Tirthaani Paananaartha mihaat –manah/
Bhavishyaasi yathaavan twam Shuddha dehascha putrakah,
Naapaishyati hi tey taavat karebhyoh rudhiram drudham/
Yadaa karau virudharau Putra tawa Bhavishyatah,
Tadaa twam nirmaleebhutah tapah kuru yathaa sukham/
(Since your physique has absorbed several sins in the killings, you need to undertake Tirtha Yatraas as your hands are still sullied with blood; there after, you should perform penance with clean heart and soul). Rama then left for several Sacred Places, reached Gridhrakuta in Kashmira, bathed at the confluence of Rivers Saraswai and Sudha, did ‘Tapasya’ at Partheswara, moved on to the River Punyoda originating from Brahmasara which was renamed as Ramahrada after him, proceeded further to the Residence of Ananta Deva a Chief of Nagas, installed an Idol of Saranga and rested there at the ‘Ashramaswami’after a hectic activity of pilgrimages. He then had a luminous vision of Madhusudana which was as follows:
Tushaarachaya sankaasam Swetaambhara vibhushitam,
Mukutenaarka varneyna kundalaschaiva viraajitam/
Chaturbhujam Chaturbaahum Chaturvedaashrayaanvitam,
Shariradhaaribhih Shaastreyrudeerita jayaviswanam/
Tam drushtwaa pranato Raajasamtushtaava Madhusudanam/
( The vision of Madhusudana resembled a mass of frost, robed in white, embellished with a Sun-coloured ‘kireeta’ (coronet), ear rings of rare brightness, four faced, four armed and as an embodiment of four Vedas carrying powerful weapons smeared with the blood of enemies along with joyful shouts of victory).On viewing the Unique Revelation, Parashurama extolled Madhusudana as follows:
Namastey Deva Devesha pranataarti vinaashana,
Chaturmurti Mahamurti Chaturveda Mahaabhuja/
Govinda Pundarikaaksha Varaahaadya Namostutey,
Damshtrogrodbhuta Bhubhaaga Samchurnita shilocchaya/
Twam Sadaiva Varaahosi yenedam dhyaaryatey Jagat,
Karajaagravinirbhinna Hiranyakash purasey/
Namastubhyam Nrisimhaaya Jwaalaa maalaa kulatmaney,
Trivikramaaya Devaaya Namastey Vijigeeshavey/
Somabhushita vaktraaya Namoswashirasey Prabho,
Twam Deva Sarva Devaanaam paraagatih/
Twam Deva Sarvadevaanaam Duhkhitaanaam paraa gatih, Indriaayaaneendrayarthaascha Maha bhutaani yaanicha/
Mano Budhistathaivaatmaa Avyaktam Purushodbhavam,
Satvam Rajastamaschaiva Brahma Vishnu Maheswarah/
Twayaa Sarvamidam Vyaaptam Trailokyam sacaraacharam,
Twayaa vinaa na Pashyaami kinchideva Jagattraey/
Twattesjasaa Maya Deva nihataah Kshatriyaah Bhuvih,
Koti samkhyascha nihataah Saimhikhya Mahabalaah/
Sookshmaatisukshmascha Devesha Mahadbhdyopi mahattarah,
Ksheerodakanyaadayita Kamarupa Namostutey/
Kaamakaamada Kaamaaripujitaagha vinaashana,
Chaturbhih satatam vaktrey Padmajanmaabhi samstuta/
Kaamoham tey karishyaami Jagatkaarana kaarana,
Stuta Trailokya naathesha Sarvathaiva Namostutey/
Namah Paarsveshu tey Deva Namastey Sarvatah Prabho,
Parvateshu Samudreshu Lokeshu Gaganey tathaa/
Namastestu Namastestu Sarvatraiva Namostutey,
Yevam Stutastu Ramena Ramamaah Janardanah/
Rama Rama Mahabaaho Varam Varaya Suvrata,
Veeryena tapasaa Deva Stotrenaanena Suvrata/
Paritushtosmi tey Vatsa yathaa naanyasya kasyachit/
(Namaste Deva Deva! You are the demolisher of the miseries of those who seek your protection; you are the Four Faced, the Unique Faced, the Embodiment of Four Vedas and the Mighty Armed; you are Govinda, Pundarikaaksha, and Varaha Deva who lifted the entire Bhumi by the sheer grit of your jaws; you are the most fierce Nrisimha Deva who assumed a matchless Man-Lion Form and tore off with your iron nails the most muscular chest of the Hiranyakashipu Daitya who tormented the Three Lokas as the repulsive symbol of cruelty and violence; you are the Vamana Deva who as a Brahmana boy sought an ‘insignificant’ charity of mere three feet from the famed King Bali and expanded your Physique to occupy the whole Universe comprising the Upper Lokas, Earth and the Underworlds; the Hagreeva Deva with Soma adorned in his mouth who killed Madhu Kaitabha Demons and restored Vedas stolen by them from Brahma; you constitute the corporeal limbs and their end-uses; the Exterior senses; Inner faculties and the heart and soul of the all the Beings in Creation; the Pancha Bhutas of Earth, Water, Radiance, Wind and the Sky; the Satwa-Raja and Tamas Gunas or the basic features of the Beings; the all-pervading, the all knowing, and the all-mighty; and the minuscule-yet the massive; and indeed the most Incomprehensible and the Form less couched in Maya or the huge Illusion. Deva Deva! Your are the Lakshmi Swarupa, Kama Swarupa; the Root, ramification and the exterminator of Kama / Desire; the Basis of the Bases; the Mountains, Oceans, Lokas, and the Sky and the Vara /boon and the Varaya the Boon Provider). It was on these lines that Parasurama extolled and as Janardana was pleased with the gallantry, atonement and the commendation of his Admirer, the latter’s request to shift Vishnu’s Idol installed by his father Sage Bhrigu at Parasurama’s own ‘Ashram’ from the top of Gridhrakuta Mountain.
Tena paapena tey Putra shareeram kalmasham yadaa,
Tasmaad vrajaswa Tirthaani Paananaartha mihaat –manah/
Bhavishyaasi yathaavan twam Shuddha dehascha putrakah,
Naapaishyati hi tey taavat karebhyoh rudhiram drudham/
Yadaa karau virudharau Putra tawa Bhavishyatah,
Tadaa twam nirmaleebhutah tapah kuru yathaa sukham/
(Since your physique has absorbed several sins in the killings, you need to undertake Tirtha Yatraas as your hands are still sullied with blood; there after, you should perform penance with clean heart and soul). Rama then left for several Sacred Places, reached Gridhrakuta in Kashmira, bathed at the confluence of Rivers Saraswai and Sudha, did ‘Tapasya’ at Partheswara, moved on to the River Punyoda originating from Brahmasara which was renamed as Ramahrada after him, proceeded further to the Residence of Ananta Deva a Chief of Nagas, installed an Idol of Saranga and rested there at the ‘Ashramaswami’after a hectic activity of pilgrimages. He then had a luminous vision of Madhusudana which was as follows:
Tushaarachaya sankaasam Swetaambhara vibhushitam,
Mukutenaarka varneyna kundalaschaiva viraajitam/
Chaturbhujam Chaturbaahum Chaturvedaashrayaanvitam,
Shariradhaaribhih Shaastreyrudeerita jayaviswanam/
Tam drushtwaa pranato Raajasamtushtaava Madhusudanam/
( The vision of Madhusudana resembled a mass of frost, robed in white, embellished with a Sun-coloured ‘kireeta’ (coronet), ear rings of rare brightness, four faced, four armed and as an embodiment of four Vedas carrying powerful weapons smeared with the blood of enemies along with joyful shouts of victory).On viewing the Unique Revelation, Parashurama extolled Madhusudana as follows:
Namastey Deva Devesha pranataarti vinaashana,
Chaturmurti Mahamurti Chaturveda Mahaabhuja/
Govinda Pundarikaaksha Varaahaadya Namostutey,
Damshtrogrodbhuta Bhubhaaga Samchurnita shilocchaya/
Twam Sadaiva Varaahosi yenedam dhyaaryatey Jagat,
Karajaagravinirbhinna Hiranyakash purasey/
Namastubhyam Nrisimhaaya Jwaalaa maalaa kulatmaney,
Trivikramaaya Devaaya Namastey Vijigeeshavey/
Somabhushita vaktraaya Namoswashirasey Prabho,
Twam Deva Sarva Devaanaam paraagatih/
Twam Deva Sarvadevaanaam Duhkhitaanaam paraa gatih, Indriaayaaneendrayarthaascha Maha bhutaani yaanicha/
Mano Budhistathaivaatmaa Avyaktam Purushodbhavam,
Satvam Rajastamaschaiva Brahma Vishnu Maheswarah/
Twayaa Sarvamidam Vyaaptam Trailokyam sacaraacharam,
Twayaa vinaa na Pashyaami kinchideva Jagattraey/
Twattesjasaa Maya Deva nihataah Kshatriyaah Bhuvih,
Koti samkhyascha nihataah Saimhikhya Mahabalaah/
Sookshmaatisukshmascha Devesha Mahadbhdyopi mahattarah,
Ksheerodakanyaadayita Kamarupa Namostutey/
Kaamakaamada Kaamaaripujitaagha vinaashana,
Chaturbhih satatam vaktrey Padmajanmaabhi samstuta/
Kaamoham tey karishyaami Jagatkaarana kaarana,
Stuta Trailokya naathesha Sarvathaiva Namostutey/
Namah Paarsveshu tey Deva Namastey Sarvatah Prabho,
Parvateshu Samudreshu Lokeshu Gaganey tathaa/
Namastestu Namastestu Sarvatraiva Namostutey,
Yevam Stutastu Ramena Ramamaah Janardanah/
Rama Rama Mahabaaho Varam Varaya Suvrata,
Veeryena tapasaa Deva Stotrenaanena Suvrata/
Paritushtosmi tey Vatsa yathaa naanyasya kasyachit/
(Namaste Deva Deva! You are the demolisher of the miseries of those who seek your protection; you are the Four Faced, the Unique Faced, the Embodiment of Four Vedas and the Mighty Armed; you are Govinda, Pundarikaaksha, and Varaha Deva who lifted the entire Bhumi by the sheer grit of your jaws; you are the most fierce Nrisimha Deva who assumed a matchless Man-Lion Form and tore off with your iron nails the most muscular chest of the Hiranyakashipu Daitya who tormented the Three Lokas as the repulsive symbol of cruelty and violence; you are the Vamana Deva who as a Brahmana boy sought an ‘insignificant’ charity of mere three feet from the famed King Bali and expanded your Physique to occupy the whole Universe comprising the Upper Lokas, Earth and the Underworlds; the Hagreeva Deva with Soma adorned in his mouth who killed Madhu Kaitabha Demons and restored Vedas stolen by them from Brahma; you constitute the corporeal limbs and their end-uses; the Exterior senses; Inner faculties and the heart and soul of the all the Beings in Creation; the Pancha Bhutas of Earth, Water, Radiance, Wind and the Sky; the Satwa-Raja and Tamas Gunas or the basic features of the Beings; the all-pervading, the all knowing, and the all-mighty; and the minuscule-yet the massive; and indeed the most Incomprehensible and the Form less couched in Maya or the huge Illusion. Deva Deva! Your are the Lakshmi Swarupa, Kama Swarupa; the Root, ramification and the exterminator of Kama / Desire; the Basis of the Bases; the Mountains, Oceans, Lokas, and the Sky and the Vara /boon and the Varaya the Boon Provider). It was on these lines that Parasurama extolled and as Janardana was pleased with the gallantry, atonement and the commendation of his Admirer, the latter’s request to shift Vishnu’s Idol installed by his father Sage Bhrigu at Parasurama’s own ‘Ashram’ from the top of Gridhrakuta Mountain.