Parashurama is one of the 10 avatars (incarnations) of the Hindu god Vishnu. A warrior sage, He is the traditional founder of Malabar, now known as the Indian state of Kerala. Lord Vishnu incarnates himself in this world to avenge arrogant Kshatriyas (warrior class) who were suppressing the Brahmans in the world. The word Parashurama is derived from two words Parashu meaning 'axe' and Lord Rama. He learnt martial arts from Shiva. He acquired the Bhargavastra, an axe and Vijaya as his personal bow from Shiva as a gift. The Hindu literature on iconography such as the Vishnudharmottara Purana and Rupamandana describes him as a man with matted locks, with two hands, one carrying an axe. However, the Agni Purana portrays his iconography with four hands, carrying his axe, bow, arrow and sword.
