Parashuram Jayanti 2023: Was Mangalore Created By Rishi Parashurama?

Parshuram is known to be the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born into the lineage of Lord Brahma and turned out to be the most capable disciple of Lord Shiva from whom he learnt the art of axe fight. He was the son of a king's daughter and a brahmin man. His parents were Renuka, the daughter of King Prasenjit and Bhrigu rishis successor Jamadagni. Parashuram was an intense devotee of Lord Shiva.

A very powerful combination of valour and knowledge, his birthday is celebrated as Parshuram Jayanti all over India. A Parshuram Shobha Yatra is the chief event that is organized in Mangalore while havans pujas are done as per rules in mangalore temples. He was originally called Rama but due to his long time association with Parashu (which means Axe in Sanskrit) he came to be known as Parshuram. He still lives on earth as he is an immortal and hence he is not worshipped.

He was born on a very significant day, that of Akshaya triteeya. Fasting and worship is observed in his honour on this day. Parashurama is worshipped as mool purush of Brahmin communities such as the Bhumihar Brahmin, Chitpavan, Niyogi, Daivadnya, Mohyal, Shukla, Awasthi, Tyagi, Anavil, and Nambudiri.

Wondering how Mangalore is connected to Parashurama? Well, he created Mangalore city scores of years ago. Mangalore, otherwise known as a creation of Parashurama, has a rich historical background. The stretch of land that is bounded by Arabian sea and the Western Ghats is the area that was created by Parashuram and it was named after the gramdevata of Mangalore, Goddess Mangaladevi.

Parashurama was a great sage who lived in the times of yore and is also known to be an immortal. He was the sixth avatar of Vishnu who toured the world 21 times with a goal to annihilate all the Kshatriyas on earth till they became extinct. When his mission was completed, he donated the entire earth to Kashyapa Rishi. Parashurama believed that he could no longer occupy this land, as he had already donated it and it was no more his.

He contemplated on his past acts, considered them as sinful and in repentence, meditated on Lord Shiva to get him a new stretch of land to reside in. The all merciful Lord Shiva, was so touched by his prayers, that he appeared before him and assured him that he will be born as Lord Manjunatha for the wellbeing of human beings and asked him to meditate up on his form at Kadalivana which is the present Kadri in Mangalore.

Parashurama, glanced at the Kadalivana from where he was, from the tip of the Sahyadri mountains, and realized that he could not claim a space there as Kadalivana was occupied by the ocean. So he travelled up to Kadalivana and requested the Lord of the ocean to allow him some space so that he can continue to penance there for the rest of his life.

His request was denied outright by the Lord of the ocean, and now, as a response, parashuramas now unleashed his fury on him. .Parashurama raised his axe and threatened the Ocean lord till it gave way, and the Ocean lord allowed him the space for which Parashurama had requested. Although this stretch of land is still now referred to as Parashurama Srishti, it is officially called Mangalore because this is where Goddess Mangala devi resides.

Mangalore is called by several names. Tulu people call it Kudla or Tulunadu. The Konkans call it Kodial, Muslims call it Maikala, and Kannadigas call it Mangaluru. and the famous Arab traveler Ibn Batuta referred to Mangalore as Manjarur. Previously, Pandyan kings called this Mangalapuram.

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