Parashurama Jayanti

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Parashurama is the warrior-sage avatar of Vishnu, born to the sage Jamadagni and Renuka, who received his axe (parashu) from Shiva and, in the Puranas, fought the Kshatriya kings who oppressed the earth. He is held to be a chiranjivi, an immortal. Devotees fast, sing bhajans and kirtans, perform havans in his temples and take out processions. He is believed to have been born in the evening (pradosh), so his day can fall a day before Akshaya Tritiya.