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Parshuram Temple

Lord Parshurama

 

Parshurama is a Chiranjivi (immortal) avatar. After he rid the earth of all the Kshatriyas twenty-one times, Parshurama donated the entire earth to Maharshi Kashyap, thus he could not reside on that land. Parashuram had twenty-one battles to rid of those Kshatriyas Kings who had become brutal dictators and had given up principles of dharma. The Last Ruler to be killed was Kartavirya Arjuna. Rulers like Janak or Ikshwaku who ruled by principles were not harmed. Parshurama shot an arrow in the Arabian sea, pushed the sea back and reclaimed the land of Konkan, today’s 720 km coastline of India stretching from Mumbai to Kerala. Parshurama chose the Mahendragiri peak (in the village also named Parshuram) from this land for his permanent residence. This is the place where the temple is located. It is believed that Lord Parshurama leaves for the Himalayas at sunrise, does tapa in the Himalayas and returns to the temple at sunset.

Temple History 

The temple was built by initiative from Swami Paramhans Brahmendra. He was the Guru of Siddi Yakutkhan of JanjiraKanhoji Angre of KolabaPeshwa of PuneChatrapati Sahu MaharajTararani of Kolhapur. He was also admired by the Portuguese and English for his presence in Peshwa and Angre's courts. Siddi Rasul Yakut Khan gave financial help to build Parshuram Temple in 1700. He gave Pedhe and Ambdas villages as Inam (prize) to Swamiji to incur daily expenses of the temple. Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj gave 5 nearby villages as Inam (prize). He built three temples, a Deepmahal (a tall stone structure used to light oil lamps as an offering to God) and a lodge for the pilgrims at Parshuram. Kanhoji Angre gave Mahalunge, Dorle, Kalambuse, Nayari, Virmade, Anewadi and Dhawdashi Inam (prize).

In 1726 Siddhi demolished the temples by blaming Swamiji for giving away their elephant to Kanoji Angre, which was not true. The elephant, on its way from Savanur to Gowalkot was taken away by Angre's men to Jaigad. The Swami became angry and returned the elephant to Siddhi Saat. He later realized his mistake and rebuilt the demolished temples.

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