Under the ‘Swarna Karkala Swachha Karkala’ initiative, a theme park inspired by Lord Parashuram’s story was inaugurated on 27th January 2023 atop the 450ft-Umikal hill at Bailur in Karnataka’s Udupi district by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The theme park in “Parashuram Kshetra” boasts of an expanse of 35 acres of land that has been enrobed with
- A 33-ft bronze statue of Shri Parshuram,
- A state-of-the-art open-air audio-visual-medium-amphitheater with 500 seats that has ancillary features,
- A bhajan mandir,
- A museum and
- A restaurant.
Strategically located by the side of the National Highway between Udupi and Karkala, the park was set up by the Nirmiti Kendra in the Udupi district. It is another gift bestowed to the region after the 57-ft monolith Gomateshwara statue, Koti-Chennaya Theme Park, St Lawrence Basilica, and Jain basadis.
Check out the park’s view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF7gGMhaENo
Depictions of the Chiranjeevi (immortal) avatar of Lord Vishnu are embossed through murals in the theme park. A classic recollection of cultural heritage and a representation of India’s rich cultural drape, the theme park is designed to flame the pride of the citizens of Kerala and Indian Nationals in the brave and strong creator of TuluNadu, the sage-warrior Parshuram.
An artistic marvel, the theme park’s culturally aware engineer and architect A.R. Sampreeth Rao from Studio Neralu designed it to invoke the pride of the people in their roots. The concept of the blueprint was conceived from the historical context, the vernacular architectural style of the region, the site’s proximity to Chaturmukha Basadi, the symbolisms, and emblems of Tulu Nadu, the Geographic features (like vegetation, topographic contours and approach road). The site is planned to fundamentally symbolize the sun and the moon representing Tulu Nadu. Appreciating the Principal Architect- https://twitter.com/RaoSampreeth/status/1623174633729183744?cxt=HHwWgMDSvdeu1oYtAAAA
The planned layout of the park
V Sunil Kumar(Kannada and cultural minister), S Angara(Udupi in-charge minister), Shobha Karandlaje (Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP), S Angara(Fisheries Minister), MLAs Lalji Mendon and Raghupati Bhat and noted actor Rishabh Shetty were in presence during the auspicious occasion of the inauguration.
The Chief Minister followed the event by stating that a master plan will be chalked out to promote culture in coastal Karnataka that has immense potential for attracting tourists. Despite the cultural consciousness, the Kerala Government has not forgotten or forsaken the true development that the citizens fear. They plan to instill holistic development through the development of ports, logistic parks, and roads for improvement in the lifestyle of the hardworking people. They aim to bring meaningful changes through infrastructure, industries, and tourism. This plan is being brought into action immediately with investors already coming forth to invest in the manufacture of fuel, hydrogen, and ammonia. The objective is not to give packages but rather to increase their strength and economy, said Mr. Bommai.
Inauguration of the Theme Park by Mr. Bommai
The 6th reincarnation of the preserver Lord Vishnu among his Dashavatar, Parashuram(Rama with parshu/axe) descended on Earth in the Treta Yug with complete knowledge and prowess over ‘Shastra’ & ‘Shaastra’ to save people from the sinful, ignorant and tyrannous Kshatriyas who had begun to take unfair advantage of their powers and act superior to all four varnas in their standing. He moved at the speed of thought.
Born to the Goddess Yellamma, Parashuram attained traits of warfare from his father, one of the hailed Saptarishis Jamadagni. He was a pious devotee of his father and Shivji. When his mother who had the power to carry water in raw clay pots was distracted by impure thoughts on the riverbanks while seeing the Gandharvas and got late in returning, his father, with his divine powers saw what had occurred and was infuriated, commanded his sons to kill their mother. While the other four children refused to do so out of attachment to their mother, he completed the task. Pleased by his filial nature, when his father granted him a wish-he asked for his mother to be resuscitated.
The Kshatriya+Brahmin was known for his wrath which is mentioned in many legends. He obtained it from his experiences in life. Once, King Kartavirya Sahasrarjuna and his army visited their cottage and were satiated by the unending food. On inquiry, they found out about the existence of the magical cow Kamdhenu in their household and decided to forcibly take it away. Amid the struggle to save the cow, Sage Jamadagni was killed which angered Lord Parshuram and he went on to finish the lineage of Kshatriyas. 
As a devotee to Shivji, he broke one of Lord Ganesh’s teeth when he was denied entry to Lord Shiv’s chambers.
Tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata feature his presence in excerpts where Shivji’s Pinak Dhanush is broken by Lord Ram during Sita Svayamvar and where he grants knowledge to Dronacharya, Bhishmpitama, Karn, and other dignitaries who are engraved in Indian epics as legends. Aware of the future ‘Kurukshetra Yuddh’, he was careful in imparting education to Karn, who lied about his origin and was thus cursed by guru Parshuram that he shall forget all his knowledge when he needs it most. He is also attributed as the person who gave Shree Krishna the Sudarshan Chakra. His stories bask in the glory of success in destroying evil by adjusting the cosmic equilibrium through the destruction of 21 generations of Kshatriyas.
(Image from https://blog.thevedicvision.com/)
The west coast and the Southern states call their region the “Parshurama Kshetram” since he is considered to be the creator of Tulu Nadu. The legend dictates that the warrior-sage threw his battle axe into the sea and the land of the western coast arose while the water receded from as far as the weapon covered. The salty land unfit for habitation was spat on by Snake King Vasuki, invoked by Parshuram whose holy poison converted it into a lush, fertile land. It is the proclamation of retrieval or reclamation of the western land, the evidence of which is still found in the form of humongous footprints near Salher Fort’s summit temple.
His legends speak of violence, the cycles of retaliations, the impulse and inappropriateness of krodha (anger), and repentance. The proof of his immortality lies in the pages of the Mahabharata and Ramayana written centuries apart but holding mentions of his presence. He stands to be the only immortal avatar of Vishnu and the only reincarnation that co-existed in the time frames of other avatars. The one who brought equilibrium shall be the one who mentors the peace-harbinger of Kaliyuga. Thus, it is stated in legends that the Kalki Roop of Shri Vishnu destined to bring an end to Kalyug would be the disciple of Parshuram who shall confer wisdom to Kalki.
