Parashu ( sa, Paraśu, script=Latn) is the
Sanskrit word for a
battle-axe, which can be wielded with one or both hands.
Construction
The parashu could be double-edge bladed or single-edge bladed with a spike on the non cutting edge. It usually measures between 3 – 5 feet though some are as long as 7 feet. The parashu is usually made of iron or
wootz steel. The cutting edge is broader than the edge which is attached to the haft. The haft is often tied with a leather sheet to provide a good grip.
Hinduism
The parashu named Vidyudabhi is the weapon of the god
Shiva who gave it to
Parashurama, the sixth
avatar of
Vishnu, whose name means "Rama with the axe" and also taught him its mastery. Parashurama was the guru of
Dronacharya
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaura ...
, the guru who instructed the
Pandavas in the epic
Mahabharata.
Bhishma
Bhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्म, , ), also known as Pitamaha, Gangaputra, and Devavrata, played an integral role in Mahabharata. He was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War mentioned in the Hindu epic M ...
and
Karna, half brother of Pandava also took instruction in weaponry from Parashurama. Parashurama was known to have terrible temper, having lost his father to the wicked Kshatriya
Kartavirya Arjuna (not to be confused with Arjuna of Mahabharata). Parashurama's weapon had supernatural powers. It had four cutting edges, one on each end of the blade head and one on each end of the shaft.
The parashu was known as the most lethal close combat weapon of the epics. It is one of the weapons of
Shiva,
Parashurama, and
Durga and is still depicted on their idols throughout India. It is also one of the weapons of
Ganesha, and the main weapon of
Sahadeva and
Shakuni
Shakuni ( sa, शकुनि, , ) plays a key role in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is one of the main antagonists of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He was the prince of the kingdom of Gandhara when introduced, later becoming its king a ...
.
Legend
The regional Hindu creation myth of
Kerala is often attributed to the parashu of Parashurama. According to tradition, Parashurama was offered boons by both
Varuna and
Bhudevi, the deities who personify the ocean and the earth, respectively. He is stated to have travelled to
Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland, and thrown his axe northward, recovering a swathe of land from the ocean, which would become Kerala.
References
{{reflist
Weapons in Hindu mythology
Axes
Ancient weapons
Indian melee weapons
Weapons of India