Parshuram Jayanti 2023: Goddess Renuka Devi, Who Was Mother Of Parshuram

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Renu or Renuka is the wife of Jamadagni and mother of Parashuram and of Ashta Vasus. She is worshipped in some parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and other places. She was born at Mahur in Maharashtra. Her vehicle is lion.

According to the traditional lores, Renuka Devi is considered to be an incarnation of Chinnamastika devi form of Goddess Parvati. Her husband Jamadhagni was none other than Lord Shiva himself.

Parshuram Wields His Axe Over His Mother

Renuka, although she was chastity personified, was distracted by a Gandharva couple once, while doing her duties, and consequently lost her powers. As a result, her husband, Jamadagni Rishi asks his son Parshurama to axe her and kill her. Renuka tried to take shelter in a fisherman's hut. When Parshurama severed the head of his mother and the fisher woman both, they fell dead there. Jamadagni, was pleased with his son's obedience offered him two boons. Parshurama asked for resurrection of both women who lay dead before them.

So Parshuram In a hurry to restore his mother life, accidentally placed the fisher woman's head on his mother's body. Jamadagni accepted this new version of Renuka. The original head of Renuka came to worshipped by the name of Yellamma. The Goddess is thus called Renuka Yellamma.

Secret Of Renuka's Birth

It is really interesting to know about her birth. King prasenjit performed a large scale yaga to ensure peace in his family and his kingdom. As he was performing the yaga, there was a baby girl that emerged from the fire. This girl grew up to be the parents favourite. As per the advice of Sage Agastya, the King married off his daughter Renuka to Rishi Jamadagni when she reached marriageable age..

Renuka As Jamadagni's Wife

Jamadagni and Renuka were a picture-perfect happy couple that lived in the Ramshrung mountains located near the Saundatti in Belgaum. Renuka was a chastity personified and helped Jamadagni in his daily religious activities. She was so adjustable and accommodating that she grew to be the apple of Jamadagnis eye.Renuka was blessed with a daughter who was named as Anjana.

Extremely devoted to her husband, Renuka, used to collect water for her husband religious rituals by getting him water in a pot made of sand by Renuka herself. This was the power of marital commitment. She used to bathe in the river first, focus on her husband, and remembering him, she would make a pot out of the sand and fill water in it. The river was Malaprabha.

The Fateful Day In Renuka's Life

One fatal day, as usual, Renuka reached the river, and was about to take a dip in it. She accidentally saw the reflection of a Gandharva Couple engrossed in love. As she saw some one else with interest, she lost her powers and could not get water for her husbands daily rituals., Her husband had seen it all with his yogic powers and was livid with rage. He did not curse her, but ordered Parashurama to kill Renuka in order to punish her for her indiscretion.

When she came to know about this, she hid in a small hut that belonged to a fisherman and requested this couple to help her. Parshuram killed all of them. When Jamadagni asked Parshurama if he wanted any boon for being obedient, Parshuram asked for the revival of all those who laid their life. Jamadagni restored them back to life and wiped their traumatic memories of violent death,

Renuka is a Goddess who is worshipped all over India and has many miraculous stories surrounding her. People from all over India flock to her temple to submit their prayers which they say have been fulfilled.