Parashurama, Parasurama, Parashuram

Parashurama [also known as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama] is the sixth avatar of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism, destroyer of evil, advised by Shiva to liberate Mother Earth from felons and demons, one of the Chiranjivis (Immortals) who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga to be the guru of Vishnu's last incarnation, Kalki.

A Brahmin and hermit married to Dharani, an incarnation of Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, he is known for destroying the members of the Kshatryia caste who were abusing their power, armed with the Parshu [Parashu], an axe.

In the Ramayana, he challenges Rama to combat after the latter's wedding with Sita at Mithila, later deducing that Rama is himself an incarnation of Vishnu. Several temples in South India are dedicated to Parashurama, in particular in Kerala and Karnataka.