Essay name: Purana Bulletin
Author:
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Faculty of Oriental Studies
The "Purana Bulletin" is an academic journal published in India. The journal focuses on the study of Puranas, which are a genre of ancient Indian literature encompassing mythological stories, traditions, and philosophical teachings. They represent Hindu scriptures in Sanskrit and cover a wide range of subjects.
Purana, Volume 8, Part 1 (1966)
82 (of 340)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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74
啶啶班ぞ啶｀ぎ啷� - [pur膩峁嘺m - ] 笔鲍搁膧狈础
as one of His own glorious manifestations.
[Vol. VIII., No. 1
Para艣ur膩ma complete-
ly roots out all Ksatriyas and at the same time is a king-maker.
He is honoured not only in the Brahmanical society but also in
the lower strata. He is himself a Brahmin with the qualities of
a Ksatriya, but is never in charge of any kingdom. His figure
is that of a gigantic hero of martial splendour on one occasion and
at another a peaceloving social reformer. Supposed to be an
incarnation of Vi峁ａ箛u, he is as ardent disciple of Siva. The para-
doxical figure of Parasurama is as appalling as it is appealing. It
is no wonder, therefore, that there have been varied conceptions or
interpretations of Parasurama among modern scholars. According
to some, the story of the quarrel between the Bhrgus of Broach
and the Haihayas recount the exploits of Para艣ur膩ma supported
by nagas.55 According to others, he is the leader of the Aryan
civilisation. Yet others regard him a leader of the tribe called
Para艣ui膩ma and that there were many Parasur膩mas in that
family.5 The possession of the crude axe by Parasurama is
regarded by some as determining the age in which he lived as one
less civilised.68 Parasurama's encounter with K膩rtav墨rya is said
to denote a time when the sacerdotal and royal class did not
strictly adhere to their respective prerogatives.59 The indissoluble
association of Para艣ur膩ma with the reclamation of the West Coast
has been regarded by some as a myth that seeks to explain certain
geographical and social phenomenon.60
57 55. The connection of Parasurama with the N膩gas is popular in legends.
The Nagahvaya story in two chapters appended to the Sahyadri-
khanda (Bombay ed. pp. 505-512) relates how Parasurama averted the
fear of the Nagas from Vainateya.
The temple of snakes at Mannar艣ala in Haripad in Central Tra-
vancore, with Vasuki and Sarpayak峁 as the main deities, is believed
to have been established by Parasurama (Hindu dated 3rd May 1964).
A large number of people, even in the present day, make offerings
here on the day of Ayilyam star in the month of Tulam. There are
several traditions regarding the sanctity of the place (T. K. Velu
Pillai, Travancore State Manual. Vol. IV, p. 700).
56. Kerala Studies, p. 22, 24.
57. Kerala Studies, p. 11. P. 38, Poona Orientalist, Vol. XI (1946), R. D.
Karmarkar.
58 M. S. Parikh, op. cit., p. 10.
59. J. Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, Vol. I, 442ff.
60. Journal of Bombay University, Vol. I, p. 116; Journal of Rama Varma
Bulletin, Vol. XII (1945). p. 7.
