The wicked-minded Kārtavīryārjuna, driven by greed, killed the sage Jamadagni for the sake of the wish-granting cow. Witnessing this injustice, Jamadagni’s son, the mighty Paraśurāma, declared before the three worlds, “Let all behold my eternal valor.” He remembered how his father, ever devoted to righteousness, had been slain by this king. With eyes reddened in anger, Paraśurāma rose up and struck down Kārtavīryārjuna upon the earth. The descendant of Bhṛgu, with unparalleled might, cut off all the king’s thousand arms, cast him down from his chariot, and slew him then and there. But Paraśurāma’s wrath did not end with this act. He swept across the earth, making it devoid of Kṣatriyas, the warrior class, purging the land of those he deemed unrighteous. Later, at a great sacrifice renowned for its generosity, the illustrious Bhārgava received from Varuṇa pure horses and a splendid chariot, the best among charioteers. At that grand horse-sacrifice, the Aśvamedha, Paraśurāma’s fame grew even greater. It is said in the Purāṇas and all authoritative scriptures that the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is destroyed by the Aśvamedha sacrifice. Yet Paraśurāma, reflecting on his actions, was tormented. “By my own hands, in cruelty, I have slain many living beings—even women, the elderly, children, and, tragically, my own mother.” Overcome with sorrow, he pondered for a moment and then journeyed to Mount Raivataka, seeking solace and purification. He wandered to the Sahya mountains, the beautiful Himalayas, and the sacred hermitage at Badarikāśrama. He bathed in the holy rivers: the Yamunā, the Candrabhāgā, and the Gaṅgā, the river of three paths. He visited the Viśālā, the Kapilā, the Durgā, and the deep, auspicious Gomatī. He performed pilgrimages to Gayā, Kurukṣetra, Naimiṣa, and Puṣkara, seeking to rid himself of sin. Yet, even after all these sacred journeys, Bhārgava was still tormented by sorrow, reflecting, “The sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa has not left me; my righteous acts are fruitless. If this is so, what is the cause of my destruction?” At that very moment, the sage Nārada, foremost among sages, appeared. He saw Paraśurāma, his face cast down, dejected and lost in anxious thought. Paraśurāma spoke to Nārada, “O divine sage, hear my supreme words. Because of my father’s defeat, I have slain the rulers of the earth. Unceasingly, I have destroyed the worlds, being merciless and without sorrow. Sacrifices have been performed, the Aśvamedha completed, many gifts given, austerities performed on mountains, offerings made, and recitations done without interruption—yet none of these lead to the highest state if killing has occurred; therefore, all such acts are rendered fruitless.” Hearing these words, the venerable Nārada said, “O Rāma, why do you not now remember Hari, your true self? You yourself have spoken before of the destruction of brahmahatyā—of that sacred place where the great liṅga destroys the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. There abides Jaṭeśvara, the greatly fortunate one, bestower of all accomplishments.” Recalling Nārada’s words and that supreme field, Paraśurāma swiftly went to the great Kālavaṇa. There, from the midst of the liṅga, the divine Lord graciously emerged and spoke to Jāmadagnya, “I grant you your desired boon.” Paraśurāma, humbled, prayed, “May my devotion to your lotus feet, O goddess, ever be abundant.” Thus was Paraśurāma addressed by the Lord, pleased with his devotion, “From this day forth, the god here will be renowned by your name. Those who worship with devotion the supreme god Rāmeśvara will have all sins from birth destroyed that very instant. He alone is virtuous and worthy of worship, both in this world and the next.