Parashurama Jayanti 2026

Parashurama Jayanti: The Avatar Who Took Up the Axe for Dharma

Parashurama Jayanti falls on Vaishakha Shukla Tadiya, the same day as Akshaya Tritiya. It celebrates the birth of Parashurama, the sixth of Lord Vishnu's ten avatars, born to sage Jamadagni and Renuka Devi. Some panchangams mark the Jayanti on the previous evening, depending on when the Tadiya tithi begins.

The Story of Parashurama

Born in the Bhrigu lineage, he was originally named Rama. He pleased Lord Shiva with tapas and received the parashu (axe) as his weapon, becoming Parashurama. The thousand-armed Haihaya king Kartavirya Arjuna visited Jamadagni's ashram and forcibly carried away the divine cow Kamadhenu. Parashurama killed the king and brought the cow back. When the king's sons killed Jamadagni in revenge, the Puranas say Parashurama defeated the unrighteous kings twenty-one times. He later gifted all the land he had won to sage Kashyapa and retired to tapas on Mahendragiri. He is counted among the Chiranjeevis, and the Mahabharata says Bhishma, Drona and Karna learned warfare from him.

Puja Vidhanam

• Bathe early and place a picture of Lord Vishnu or Parashurama in the puja room.
• Worship with sandal paste, tulasi leaves and yellow flowers, and light the lamp.
• Recite Vishnu Sahasranamam or a Dashavatara stotram and read Parashurama's story.
• Offer panakam, vadapappu, payasam and fruits as naivedyam and perform harathi.
• As it is also Akshaya Tritiya, donate water pots, umbrellas, footwear or food.

Fasting and Observance

Some devotees fast and eat a sattvic meal after the evening puja. In the Telugu states the day is better known as Akshaya Tritiya, but remembering Parashurama with Vishnu puja is customary, and some communities hold processions and gatherings.

Significance

Parashurama stands for devotion to parents and guru and the courage to stand against injustice. His life teaches that power should be used only to protect dharma, and that one must finally turn to tapas and giving.

May Bhargava Rama bless everyone with courage and a righteous mind.