Parashurama - Kartavirya Arjuna and The Haihaya Kingdom

Kartavirya Arjuna and The Haihaya Kingdom

The time of Parashurama was a tumultuous one for the Indian subcontinent, with puranas indicating frequent battles between several rival Kshatriya clans and kingdoms. Parashurama lived within the Haihaya kingdom, located in modern day Maheshwar on the banks of the Narmada River. The Haihaya were a savage people, described in the Srimad Bhagavatam as 'the Uncivilized'. The generations of enmity between the Kshatriya Haihaya and the Brahmin Bhargavas, from whom Parashurama hailed, were mentioned in the Mahabharata numerous times.

The Haihaya were ruled by a powerful and cruel king named Kartavirya Arjuna. He was the incarnation of Sudarshana, a prideful Chakra that had taken birth in human form. In addition, Kartavirya worshipped a divine being known as Dattatreya, embodiment of Trimurti and descendant of the saptarishi Atri. For his obeisance, Aryadatta had granted the king a flying golden chariot that would travel wherever he wished, and one-thousand arms.