Rama With an Axe : Myth and Cult of Parasurama Avatara

Contents: Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction. 2. Evolution of the nucleus. 3. Expansion of the edifice. 4. Survival in the divine kingdom. 5. Creation of the sacred space. 6. Dimensions of the cult. 7. Transmission of traditions. 8. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.

"Parasurama is a multi-faceted mythical figure in the Hindu mythology, who is portrayed as a warrior sage, a matricide, a slayer of Kshatriyas and an avatara in his own right. This book studies not only varied dimensions of his myths and cult, but also explores the complex processes of the evolution and propagation there of. The work addresses various questions related to the authorship, patronage, usage and multiple agendas of the epic and Puranic myths. It highlights the role of patrons and clientele in the composition of texts and underlines the circuitous route treaded by the numerous cults in South Asia. It invokes combined method in Indology--a combination of archaeological, historical and anthropological texts to understand the social history of myths." (jacket)