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PARASHURAMA - THE GREAT AGELESS HERO

Indra pondered over how to realize this objective. Karna had completed his training from Parashurama success fully; who can match him now? Indra had to think of some incident wherein the Guru's wrath would descend upon his disciple. One day, Parashurama, resting his head on the lap of Karna, was sleeping. He assumed the form of a diamond-sharp insect and began bite into the flesh of Karna's lap. But Karna was worried that even the slightest dislodging of his lap would disturb the Guru' sleep. He suffered all the severe pain of the insect's biting with tenacity His lap began to bleed, and as the floor got wet with blood, Parashurama suddenly woke up. He saw his disciple is sitting quiet, while his lap was bleeding. He was suffering such great pain silently. A doubt confronted Parashurama; this boy is certainly not a Brahmin, for only a Kshatriya could suffer this pain in silence. The boy must be a Kshatriya; he had deceived him and learnt archery.

Parashurama was red with anger. He cursed: "Let the training you have had from me be of no avail to you at the time of your difficulties." Later, during the great Mahabharata war, a fierce battle ensued between Karna and Arjuna. The 'Sarpaastra' (the serpent-arrow) let off by Karna failed to kill Arjuna and Karna also could not remember another great 'astra' taught by Parashurama. He succumbed to Arjuna's arrows.

Just before the Mahabharata war, Lord Krishna visited Duryodhana and advised him to hand one half of the kingdom in a just manner. Parashurama at that time was sitting a Duryodhana's court along with other dignitaries, and he too counseled Duryodhana: "Pandava's have kept the word. You should now act justly. Give them their share of the kingdom Otherwise, that injustice may destroy you." But Duryodhana was adamant. He waged war in which thousands of people died. His own brothers, near and dear relatives, friends - all perished, he had his leg betoken, and breathed his last.

Parashurama was not only a great hero; he was also rich in wisdom. Parashurama embodied several noble qualities. His utter devotion to his father whose words he readily fulfilled, his great respect for his mother and regard for his brothers for whose resurrection he ardently prayed, the determination with which he set about to destroy the kingly clan which had brought about the death of his father, the generosity with which he donated the lands he had conquered, his asking the sea-king for land up to the point where the axe hit sea waters, his mastery in archery, and above all his magnificent sense of 'Dharma' (virtuousness) - all these features shine in his life like pure diamonds.

Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripa and Parashurama - these are the seven eternal, ageless, immortal souls according to our traditional belief. In particular, it is believed Parashurama is sitting even today in penance at Mahendra Mountain in great penance. Not for himself, but for the peace and happiness of the whole world.