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Parashu: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{short description|Sanskrit term for axe}} | ||
{{Infobox weapon | {{Infobox weapon | ||
| name = Parashu | | name = Parashu | ||
| image = Parashurama.jpg | | image = Parashurama.jpg | ||
| image_size = 200 | | image_size = 200 | ||
| caption = [[ | | caption = [[Parashurama]] holding a parashu | ||
| origin = India | | origin = India | ||
| type = Axe | | type = Axe | ||
<!-- Type selection --> | <!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged = | ||
| is_ranged = | |||
| is_bladed = Yes | | is_bladed = Yes | ||
| is_explosive = | | is_explosive = | ||
| is_artillery = | | is_artillery = | ||
| is_vehicle = | | is_vehicle = | ||
| is_missile = | | is_missile = | ||
| is_UK = | | is_UK = <!-- Service history --> | ||
<!-- Service history --> | | service = | ||
| service = | | used_by = | ||
| used_by = | | wars = <!-- Production history --> | ||
| wars = | | designer = | ||
<!-- Production history --> | | design_date = | ||
| designer = | | manufacturer = | ||
| design_date = | | unit_cost = | ||
| manufacturer = | | production_date = | ||
| unit_cost = | | number = | ||
| production_date = | | variants = <!-- General specifications --> | ||
| number = | | spec_label = | ||
| variants = | | weight = | ||
<!-- General specifications --> | | length = | ||
| spec_label = | | part_length = | ||
| weight = | | width = | ||
| length = | | height = | ||
| part_length = | | diameter = | ||
| width = | | crew = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> | ||
| height = | | cartridge = | ||
| diameter = | | cartridge_weight = | ||
| crew = | | caliber = | ||
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> | | barrels = | ||
| cartridge = | | action = | ||
| cartridge_weight = | | rate = | ||
| caliber = | | velocity = | ||
| barrels = | | range = | ||
| action = | | max_range = | ||
| rate = | | feed = | ||
| velocity = | | sights = <!-- Artillery specifications --> | ||
| range = | | breech = | ||
| max_range = | | recoil = | ||
| feed = | | carriage = | ||
| sights = | | elevation = | ||
<!-- Artillery specifications --> | | traverse = <!-- Bladed weapon specifications --> | ||
| breech = | | blade_type = | ||
| recoil = | | hilt_type = | ||
| carriage = | | sheath_type = | ||
| elevation = | | head_type = | ||
| traverse = | | haft_type = <!-- Explosive specifications --> | ||
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications --> | | filling = | ||
| blade_type = | | filling_weight = | ||
| hilt_type = | | detonation = | ||
| sheath_type = | | yield = <!-- Vehicle/missile specifications --> | ||
| head_type = | | armour = | ||
| haft_type = | | primary_armament = | ||
<!-- Explosive specifications --> | | secondary_armament = | ||
| filling = | | engine = | ||
| filling_weight = | | engine_power = | ||
| detonation = | | pw_ratio = | ||
| yield = | | transmission = | ||
<!-- Vehicle/missile specifications --> | | payload_capacity = | ||
| armour = | | suspension = | ||
| primary_armament = | | clearance = | ||
| secondary_armament = | | fuel_capacity = | ||
| engine = | | vehicle_range = | ||
| engine_power = | | speed = | ||
| pw_ratio = | | guidance = | ||
| transmission = | | steering = <!-- Missiles only --> | ||
| payload_capacity = | | wingspan = | ||
| suspension = | | propellant = | ||
| clearance = | | ceiling = | ||
| fuel_capacity = | | altitude = | ||
| vehicle_range = | | depth = | ||
| speed = | | boost = | ||
| guidance = | | accuracy = | ||
| steering = | | launch_platform = | ||
<!-- Missiles only --> | | transport = | ||
| wingspan = | |||
| propellant = | |||
| ceiling = | |||
| altitude = | |||
| depth = | |||
| boost = | |||
| accuracy = | |||
| launch_platform = | |||
| transport = | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Parashu''' ({{lang-sa| | '''Parashu''' ({{lang-sa|Paraśu|script=Latn}}) is the [[Sanskrit]] word for a [[Battle axe|battle-axe]], which can be wielded with one or both hands.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prasoon |first=Prof. Shrikant |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/458319817 |title=Rishis & rishikās |date=2009 |publisher=[[Pustak Mahal]] |isbn=978-81-223-1072-6 |location=New Delhi |oclc=458319817}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajan |first=Rahul |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1039999907 |title=Rudrāvan |date=2016 |isbn=978-93-5201-765-2 |location=Mumbai, India |oclc=1039999907}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Agarwal |first=Himanshu |title=Mahabharata Retold : Part - 1 |publisher=Notion Press |year=2016 |isbn=9789386073877}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bane |first=Theresa |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1156664542 |title=Encyclopedia of mythological objects |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-4766-3920-8 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |pages=120 |oclc=1156664542}}</ref> | ||
==Construction== | ==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. | 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramsey |first=Syed |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/971924562 |title=Tools of War: History of Weapons in Ancient Times |publisher=Vij Books India Private Limited |isbn=93-86019-80-9 |location= |oclc=971924562}}</ref> | ||
== | ==Hinduism== | ||
The parashu named Vidyudabhi is the weapon of the god [[Shiva]] who gave it to [[Parashurama]], sixth [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]], whose name means "Rama with the axe" and also taught him its mastery. | The parashu named Vidyudabhi is the weapon of the god [[Shiva]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=COULTER |first=CHARLES RUSSELL. TURNER, PATRICIA |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/encyclopedia-of-ancient-deities/oclc/1288466239 |title=ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANCIENT DEITIES |date=2020 |publisher=MCFARLAND |isbn=978-0-7864-9179-7 |location=S.l. |language=English |oclc=1288466239}}</ref> who gave it to [[Parashurama]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajendran |first=Abhilash |date=7 May 2016 |title=Parashu Weapon - The Divine Axe Weapon of Parshuram and Shiva |url=https://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/01/parashu-divine-weapon-of-parashuram-and.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaturvedi |first=B.K |url=http://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9789352967636 |title=Brahmavaivarta Purana |date=1900 |publisher=Diamond Books |isbn=978-93-5296-763-6 |language=English |oclc=1203945947}}</ref> the sixth [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rout |first=Professor Sanjay |url=https://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9781716251085 |title=Crystals and Life Transition |date=2021 |publisher=Lulu |isbn=978-1-716-25108-5 |language=English |oclc=1259431189}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Varma |first=Ravi |title=Vishnu's sixth avatar Parashu Rama. Chromolithograph by R. Varma. |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.24898574 |journal=Vishnu's Sixth Avatar Parashu Rama |via=JSTOR}}</ref> whose name means "Rama with the axe" and also taught him its mastery.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Srinivasan |first=A. V |url=http://www.123library.org/book_details/?id=18312 |title=Hinduism for dummies |date=2011 |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |isbn=978-1-118-11076-8 |location=Hoboken, N.J. |language=English |oclc=745970735}}</ref> Parashurama was the guru of [[Dronacharya]], the guru who instructed the [[Pandavas]] in the epic [[Mahabharata]]. [[Bhishma]] 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]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/japan-mini-set-f-philosophy-religion/oclc/1241441493 |title=Japan mini-set. F, F |date=2010 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-136-90356-4 |location=London |pages=472 |language=English |oclc=1241441493}}</ref> (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 | 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]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/733724186 |title=99 Thoughts on Ganesha |date=2011 |publisher=[[Jaico Publishing House]] |isbn=978-81-8495-152-3 |location=Mumbai |pages=45 |oclc=733724186}}</ref> and the main weapon of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Shakuni]]. | ||
==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 [[Bhumi (goddess)|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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhargava |first=S. C. Bhatt, Gopal K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDCKdPpbFPAC&dq=parashurama+kerala+axe&pg=PA18 |title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Kerala |date=2006 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-370-8 |pages=18 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology]] | [[Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Axes]] | ||
[[Category:Ancient weapons]] | [[Category:Ancient weapons]] | ||
[[Category:Indian melee weapons]] | [[Category:Indian melee weapons]] | ||
[[Category:Weapons of India]] | [[Category:Weapons of India]] | ||