Meeting Parasurama

The meeting with Parasurama and return to Ayodhya



Dasaratha started to return to Ayodhya with is sons and their brides when he saw bad omens and became perturbed, Vasishta assured him that though there were bad omens denoting evil there were good omens also which show that the end result will be good. At that time there was a storm and the earth shook, a great screen of dust covering everywhere, and a darkness enveloped the earth.



Before they realised what was the cause, Parasurama appeared before them challenging Rama to string the bow of Vishnu whcih was given to him. Dasaratha pleaded with him saying that the revenge he took for the killing of his father Jamadagni by Karthavirya, a kshathriya, by indulging in the destruction of kshathriyas has ended by his promising Indra not to take up arms again.Rama was young and newly married and Parasurama should not harm him.

But Parasurama treated Dasaratha and others as though they were non-existent and told Rama that Visvakarma made two identical bows and gave them to Siva and Vishnu and Rama has broken the former. Parasurama said if Rama could string the bow of Vishnu then only he will accept the greatness of Rama.Rama took it up and strung it and placed an arrow asking Parasurama whether his power of locomotion or the fruit of his penance should become the target of his arrow . He said that since Parasurama is the grandson of the sister of Visvamithra he did not want to harm him.



Parasurama felt that he has lost all his prowess and realised the real identity of Rama . The power of Vishnu which was present in him till then has gone back to Rama who is the incarnation of Vishnu. Losing his luster Parasurama told Rama to take away the fruit of his penenca as he needed the power of locomotion as he had promised Kasyapa, to whom he gave the earth conquered by killing the kshatriyas, that he would not remain on his land of after sunset. Rama destroyed the fruit of his penance and he went back to Mahendraparvata.



Here a question may arise that since Parasurama is considered as one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu how can he meet Rama and challenge him. Parasurama was a partial avathaara as the divinity manifested only at the time of his destruction of kshatiryas . Parasurama signifies the yogi who has rooted out the inner enemies like kaama and krodha which are portrayed by the kshatriyas. When sattwa rises to the surface there is peace, denoted by the gift of the earth to Kasyapa. The axe of Parasurama is viveka and vairagya, discrimination and detachment, armed with which one can conquer the inner foes. The incarnation comes to an end on the occasion of the meeting between Parasurama and Rama when the Lord assumes back His powers.

After returning to Ayodhya Rama and Sita lived happily for twelve years.Seetha was like Lakshmi and Rama shone like Vishnu with her, says Valmiki.' atheeva rAmah SuSubhE athikamayA;vibhuh SriyA vishnurivAmareSvara h.' Even though they were really Narayana and Lakshmi, the sage uses the word 'like' because of their assuming human body.


Smt. Saroja Ramanujam