Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas
Author:
Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.
Chapter 5 - Iconography of Vaishnava Avataras
34 (of 51)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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A late mediaeval image of four-handed Parasurama is found
from Chamba. He holds the mace and the conch in the lower hands
and the upper ones hold the battle-axe and the bow.
There is a very peculiar representation of Parasurama at
Basohli, on the opposite wall of the Basoli of Dhan, three miles.
away from Thara-Kaswal on the way to Kuhn. The second panel
on the wall beginning from the upper end depicts a fight between
two persons, one of whom is multi-armed and the other carries a
battle-axe his right hand. With the left hand he has caught the
hair of his opponent. Only five of the multiple hands of the other
figure are visible carrying the mace, the sword, the kukri, the
dagger, etc. This obviously depicts the fight between Parasurama
and Kartivirya Arjuna. The image belongs to the late mediaeval
period.
The images of Parasurama are very few in number. All those
taht have come to light are also datable to the mediaeval period.
The utter absence of Parasurama images, excepting these stray
ones, makes it obvious that this Avatara, exerted only a limited
influence on the Vaisnava devotees. This being a minor avatara,
temples were not usually dedicated to him. There are a couple of
temples of Parasurama in Gujarat probably owing to his traditional
association with the river Narmada where Jamadagni's hermitage
was supposed to have been situated.
