Parasurama holding Parasu in his hand.
Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 15,959
Date uploaded in London – 8 July 2026
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“P” words continued………………….
Parasurama or parshura
Parasurama was born as a Brahmana, but he developed all the traits of a Kshatriya. He became a fearless warrior and destroyed 21 Kshatriya kings; at last he was defeated by Rama. He was the youngest of the five sons of Jamadagni and Renuka. He was a very honest and obedient youth. Once Jamadagni noticing that Renuka had entertained impure thoughts in her mind, ordered his sons to kill their mother. The older four boys could not do this and Jamadagni at once ordained that they fall dead. Then came the turn of Parasurama and he obediently beheaded his mother. Being pleased with his son, Jamadagni asked him what boon he wanted. Parasurama urged that his mother and four brothers be revived and that they do not recall anything about this ordeal. This wish was granted.
Once Parasurama came to know that that king Kartavirya had forcibly taken away his father’s cow. In anger he ran after the king and killed him. Later king Kartavirya’s sons killed Jamadagni when he was alone. At once Parasurama went after them and killed all of them along with others who came to help them. His hatred towards Kshatriyas increased and he killed Kshatriyas 21 times. When his rage finally burnt out, he gave away all his possessions and went to the forest.
There must be more than one Parasurama because in two other episodes in Mahabharata he had figured; he fought with Bhisma at the request of princess Amba and they laid down their arms when their fight finished in a draw. In another episode, he caught Karna red-handed when he came to learn the weapons under the guise of a Brahmana
Rama’s meeting with Parasurama is described vividly in Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa. A bit confusing chronology unless we conclude that there were many Parasuramas.
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Pasupati
Pasupatinath Temple, Nepal.
Paśupati (पशुपति) refers to the “Lord of Paśus (animals)” and is used to describe Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.9 (“Śiva’s campaign”).—Accordingly, as Śiva became the lord of the Paśus: “On hearing these words of lord Śiva, the great soul, Viṣhṇu, Brahmā and other gods said.—‘So be it’. Hence all the gods and Asuras became the animals of the lord. Śiva became the lord of animals (paśupati). He is the person who unties the nooses of the animals. Then the name Paśupati, that bestows welfare, spread in all the worlds and became renowned. Then the celestial sages, Indra, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and others rejoiced shouting—‘Victory’.
Lord of Animals seals were discovered in the Middle East and Harappa showing a god or goddess surrounded by animals. Saints like St Fransis of Assisi is also shown this way.
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Peacock
National bird of India. Vahana of Lord Skanda/Kartikeya and Saraswati; exported to Babylonia in ancient times. Peacock figured in Aesop fables which shows that Aesop borrowed those stories from India. The bird was used in flags in Sri Lanka.
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Pearl
Hindus considered sea born creatures pearl/oyster and coral as two of the Nava Ratnas (Nine Gem Stones) used in crowns, necklaces and finger rings. Other cultures don’t have this concept. Pearl is associated with the ancient Pandya country of South Tamil Nadu. Hindus believed that pearls originate not only in oysters but also in elephants, boars, bamboos etc. Hindus believed also that the rain on a Swati Star day enter living oysters and secrete pearls. All the Hindu Goddesses and Gods have pearl ornaments. Pearl may be derived from Paral/ Pravala used in Tamil and Sanskrit.
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Pingala
Over 15 Pingalas are in Hindu scriptures.
Wife of Yadhav Uddhav;
Piṅgalā (पिङ्गला) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8.
1) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A deva who is an attendant of the Sungod. Sūrya (Sun-god) rides in a one-wheeled chariot drawn by seven horses and he bears in his hands two lotuses. On his right side stands the attendant Daṇḍī with an ink-pot and a writing stick and on his left side stands the attendant Piṅgala with a stick. Both these are demi god attendants of Sūrya. (Chapter 51, Agni Purāṇa).
2) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A prominent serpent born to the sage Kaśyapa of his wife Kadrū. (Śloka 9, Chapter 35, Ādi Parva).
3) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A sage. He was a Yajvā (priest) in the Sarpasatra of Janamejaya. (Śloka 6, Chapter 53, Ādi Parva).
4) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A King of the Yaksas. He is a friend of Śiva. He acts as body-guard to Śiva who spends his time in cremation grounds. This Yakṣa gives happiness to all in the world. (Śloka 51, Chapter 23, Vana Parva).
5) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A lion, who is a character in the book Pañcatantra. (See under Pañcatantra).
6) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A brahmin of very bad manners. This brahmin was killed by his own wife who was a prostitute. In their next birth Piṅgala became a vulture and the prostitute, a parrot. Both had memories of their previous birth and the vulture (Piṅgala) with vengeance killed the parrot. After that Piṅgala was eaten one day by a tiger A brahmin residing on the shores of Gaṅgā read to their souls the fifth chapter of Gītā and they got salvation and entered Pitṛloka (world of the Manes). (Chapter 40, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Padma Purāṇa).
7) Piṅgala (पिङ्गल).—A rākṣasa (demon). Once when this demon was going through a forest he met a forester. The latter got afraid and climbed up a Śamī tree. Then a branch broke and it fell on the head of Gaṇeśa sitting beneath that tree. It was an act of worship and because of that both the forester and the demon were elevated. (Gaṇeśa Purāṇa).
8) Piṅgalā (पिङ्गला).—A prostitute. (See under Ṛṣabha II).
9) Piṅgalā (पिङ्गला).—A prostitute of the country of Avantī. Piṅgalā was born as the daughter of King Candrāṅgada in her next birth because of the virtuous act she did in doing service to the sage Ṛṣabha. The King named the girl Kīrtimālinī and Bhadrāyu married her. (See under Bhadrāyu).
10) Piṅgalā (पिङ्गला).—A woman of the city of Ayodhyā. Once this woman approached Śrī Rāma with amorous intentions and Śrī Rāma who was strictly observing a vow of one-wife refused to satisfy her desire and said:—”During the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa you will be born as a servant maid of Kaṃsa and then I will in my form as Kṛṣṇa accept you.” Sītā on hearing this cursed Piṇgalā. She said “Oh beautiful woman who has approached my husband with amorous intentions, you will have three bends in your body when you are born next as the servant maid of Kaṃsa.” Piṅgalā weeping bitterly craved for pardon and then Sītā said that Kṛṣṇa would make her perfect. (Vilāsa Kāṇḍa, Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa).
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Pradyumna-
Pradyumna was the son of Krishna and Rukmini. When he was only ten days old, a demon named Shambara kidnapped him, who had a prophesy that in future he would be killed by Pradyumna. The child was thrown in to the sea where he was swallowed by a fish. And the fish eventually landed in the dinner plate of Shambara. When the fish was cut open youthful Pradyumna emerged and he was saved by Shambara’s wife Mayavati . They had a son named Anirudha who continued Krishna’s lineage. Along with his brother
Samba, he fought valiantly with king Shalwa when he invaded Dwaraka.
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Pragjyotisa- Assam, Arunachal Pradesh; once ruled by Narakasura; Krishna killed him and released the 16,000 women imprisoned by him.
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Prartana -English word Prayer is derived from Sanskrit word Prartana. Praying to God or the Prayer is Prartana.
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Pratardana
Son of king Divodasa and Madhavi, daughter of king Yayati . He was born to take revenge against king Vitahavya who had destroyed Divodasa’s entire family. At the end of his life, he ascended to swarga after giving away all his accumulated merits to his grandfather king Yayati when the latter was expelled from swarga. This Sanskrit name in Turkey (Bogazkoi) Sanskrit inscription dated 1400 BCE.
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Prutha- Another name of Kunti, wife of Pandu ,mother of first three Pandavas.
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Pulastya
One of the spiritual sons of Brahma. Once very pleased with Bhishma, he described to him the virtues of visiting various religious places of pilgrimage. These places were in turn described by Narada to Yudhishthira who later visited them in the company of Lomana rishi.
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Puloma
A danava woman who along with Kalka prayed to Brahma and obtained an indestructible city called Hiranyapura . The city could not be destroyed by devas or danavas or by gandharvas. Indra asked human Arjuna to destroy it.
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Puru
Youngest son of king Yayati and Sharmistha . After all his older brothers had refused to exchange their youth for their father’s pre mature old age caused by Shukracharya’s curse, Puru readily agreed to do so as he considered it to be his filial duty. As a result, Puru remained an old person while his father enjoyed youth. Later Yayati gave back his youth to Puru. Puru became king and his descendents were called Pauravas. He married Kausalya and they had one son named Janamejay._
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Pururava –
An ancestor of the Kuru dynasty; son of Budha and Manu’s daughter Ila. He was a very virtuous and handsome ruler. After hearing from Narada, apsaras Urvashi came to earth with the intention of living with him. He also agreed and Urvasi put two conditions,
1.He should not appear naked;
2. he should take care of her two lambs.
Since Indra missed Urvashi, he stole her two lambs and when Pururuva came naked chasing the thieves; Urvashi saw him naked. Their agreement being thus broken Urvashi went back to swarga loka; Pururuva pined for her and she also came back saying she was pregnant with Ayu. At that time, she gave birth to a set of quintuplets
Dhimana, Amavasu, Dadhsyu, Vanayu, Shatayu
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Pushkar
This city in Rajasthan is famous for its temple of Brahma.
Pushkar Lake: The heart of the town, surrounded by 52 ghats (bathing steps). Watching the evening Aarti at Varah Ghat is a must.
Brahma Temple: One of the very few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in the entire world, making it an ultimate Hindu pilgrimage site.
Savitri Temple & Ropeway: Situated atop Ratnagiri Hill, it offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of the lake and surrounding desert.
Pushkar Camel Fair: Held annually in November, this massive festival draws half a million people for camel trading, folk music, and vibrant cultural displays
To be continued………………………………
Tags- Pushkar, Puru, Pururuva, Parasuram, Pulastya,HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL 78; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி- 78
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