Father's command or a sacrifice of love? Why did Lord Parashurama behead his own mother?

News Topical, Digital Desk : Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is known for his indomitable courage, sense of justice, and fierce anger. But the most shocking incident in his life was the beheading of his own mother, Renuka. Anyone's heart trembles at the thought of a son beheading his own mother.

But behind this legendary incident was not just anger, but a difficult test of devotion and duty to a father. Let's learn the full truth of this mysterious story.

Maharishi Jamadagni's anger

This story is told in the "Shrishti Khand" of the Padma Purana. It is said that Maharishi Jamadagni, the father of Lord Parashurama (Parshuram Beheads Mother), was a great ascetic, and his mother, Renuka, was a devoted wife. Once, while going to fetch water from a river bank, she saw the Gandharva king Chitraratha enjoying himself with apsaras. Watching them, Renuka became momentarily disturbed and lost in thought.

This delayed her return to the ashram. When she arrived, Maharishi Jamadagni, using his yogic powers, realized that his wife was mentally unstable. His ascetic powers, he considered this a violation of decorum and became extremely angry.

Father's command

Enraged, Maharishi Jamadagni ordered his eldest sons to kill their mother. But the brothers, caught in the dilemma of love and righteousness, flatly refused to lay a hand on their mother. Enraged, the Maharishi cursed them to become as stone.

Finally, he called his youngest son Parashurama and said – "Son! Kill your mother and these brothers."

Parashurama's difficult decision

Parashurama faced the grave sin of matricide on one hand and his father's command on the other. Parashurama was well aware of his father's ascetic powers and his anger. He thought that if he disobeyed, his father would curse him and his mother would perish.

But if he obeyed, his father would be pleased and he would be able to ask him for his mother's return as a boon. With a heavy heart, he beheaded his mother and brothers with his axe.

Then I got this blessing

Maharishi Jamadagni was overjoyed to see his son's unwavering devotion to his father. He said to Parashurama, "Son, I am pleased with you. Ask for any three boons."

Parashurama asked for these boons with great cleverness and devotion.

• Please bring my mother back to life.
• May my brothers regain consciousness.
• They should not remember the incident of their death, so that they can avoid mental pain.

The sage said "So be it," and Mother Renuka and her brother were restored to life. Thus, Parashurama both obeyed his father's command and regained his mother.

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