Author : Ravindra Arya | May 1, 2025
A factual rebuttal of Congress leader Rekha Jain’s statement maligning the image of Lord Parashuram.
On March 17, 2025, Sunday, Rekha Vinod Jain, General Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress, shared a controversial post on her social media account regarding Lord Parashuram. In her post, she described Lord Parashuram as more cruel than Aurangzeb and labelled Hindutva as a ‘dangerous’ ideology. Following the public revelation of this post, even several Congress leaders sharply criticised her, terming it an insult to Indian culture and symbols of faith. The statement triggered widespread discontent in political and social circles, especially among those who revere Lord Parashuram as a symbol of justice, protector of dharma, and a representation of Indian culture.
A Factual Rebuttal of Rekha Jain’s Statement on Lord Parashuram : The recent statement by Congress leader Rekha Jain, in which she described Lord Parashuram as more cruel than Aurangzeb and termed Hindutva as ‘dangerous’, is not only a distortion of historical facts but also an affront to Indian culture and faith. Through this article, I aim to present a factual rebuttal of this misleading claim.
Yes, He Was Fierce -But Why? : It is indeed true that Lord Parashuram exterminated many Kshatriyas, but understanding the underlying cause behind this act is crucial. He killed those Kshatriyas who had forsaken their dharma and become engrossed in lust and greed, plundering the property of the people and consuming it like demons.
They had become rulers who opposed righteousness and disregarded public welfare. Had Parashuram been inherently anti-Kshatriya, why did he not kill the righteous Kshatriya, Shri Ram? The reason is clear: Shri Ram abided by dharma and was dedicated to the welfare of his people.
Lord Parashuram - Protector of Dharma and Supreme Strategist : In the truest sense, Parashuram was the supreme strategist of a dharmic war against unrighteous Kshatriyas. He destroyed adharma and reinstated dharma. His struggle was not against any particular caste but against an ‘ecosystem’ that had turned hostile to dharma and was plunging society into unrighteousness.
Historical and Religious Introduction of Lord Parashuram : Lord Parashuram is worshipped as the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. He was the son of Sage Jamadagni and Mother Renuka. The core purpose of his life was to annihilate adharma and re-establish dharma. References to Parashuram as a protector of dharma, ascetic, and just warrior are found in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and various Puranas. The Mahabharata (Vana Parva, Chapter 116) clearly states that Parashuram annihilated those Kshatriyas who misused state power to oppress the public.
Not Killing the Righteous Kshatriya Shri Ram-A Just Approach : The strongest evidence lies in Lord Parashuram’s meeting with Shri Ram (Ramayana, Balakanda), where he respectfully honoured Ram and, owing to Ram’s righteousness, not only pardoned him but also gifted him his divine bow. This proves that Parashuram’s struggle was only against unrighteous rulers, not the entire Kshatriya community.
Comparison with Aurangzeb-Historically Illogical and Insulting : Aurangzeb was a historical tyrant, fundamentalist, and cultural destroyer who demolished thousands of temples in India, forcefully converted countless Hindus, and executed saints like Guru Tegh Bahadur and Samarth Guru Ramdas. Lord Parashuram’s objective was the protection of dharma, whereas Aurangzeb’s intent was its destruction and suppression. Thus, comparing the two is not only factually incorrect but also an affront to the dignity of Indian civilisation.
The Fallacy of Calling Hindutva ‘Dangerous’ : Hindutva does not signify narrow-mindedness but rather the ‘Hindu worldview’, which embodies tolerance, diversity, service, truth, and peace. Hindutva is rooted in Indian philosophy, yoga, Vedanta, non-violence, compassion, and the lofty ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). Calling it ‘dangerous’ is not only ignorance but also an insult to crores of faithful Indians. Historically too, Hindutva has never propagated aggressive imperialism or religious intolerance.
- At a time when society needs unity and cultural awareness, such misleading and inflammatory statements are unfortunate. It is imperative for all of us to respect historical facts, honour the symbols of Indian culture, and resolve any differences through dialogue and wisdom -not by spreading untruths that divide society.
