Parshurama(Parashuram) is the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is the son of Renuka and one of the saptarishi Sage Jamadagni. He lived during the last Treta, Dvapara Yuga's and is one of the seven immortals or Chiranjivi of Hinduism. He received an axe after undertaking terrible penance to please Lord Shiva, who in turn taught him the martial arts.
Parashurama is most known for ridding the world of kshatriyas twenty-one times over after the mighty king Kartavirya Arjuna killed his father. He played important roles in the Mahabharata and Ramayana, serving as mentor to Bhishma, Drona and Karna. Lord Parashurama and Ravana's son Indrajit are believed to be the only humans who ever possessed the three ultimate weapons of trinity i.e. Brahmanda astra, Vaishnava astra and Pashupatastra. Parashurama was a disciple of Lord Shiva and learned the scriptures and the arts of warfare from Lord Shiva. He then acquired celestial weapons from Lord Shiva and the other gods on Lord Shiva's instructions. Lord Shiva personally trained Parashurama for decades in the art of warfare. Bhargavastra was his personal celestial weapon and Vijaya was his personal bow which was gifted by Lord Shiva. Parashurama also fought back the advancing seas to save the lands of Konkan and Kerala.
Parashurama is worshipped as mool purush, or founder, of the Niyogi Bhumihar Brahmin, Chitpavan,Devrukhe, Daivadnya, Mohyal, Tyagi, Anavil and Nambudiri Brahmin communities.Along with sage Vyasa ,sage Kripa and Drona's son sage Ashwatthama, Parashurama is considered to be foremost among the rishis in Kaliyuga. Parashurama will also become one of the Saptarishi in the 8th Manvantara along with sage Vyasa, sage Kripa and Drona's son sage Ashwatthama. Parashurama is a mighty Maharathi and he will reappear as the martial instructor of Vishnu's 10th avatar Kalki.