Overview
Parashurama (Sanskrit: परशुराम, "Rama with an axe"), also known as Rama Jamadagnya, Bhargava Rama, and Virarama, is regarded in Hindu tradition as the sixth avatar of Vishnu, the preserver deity, among the Dashavatara. He is counted among the Chiranjivi, the immortals, who, according to tradition, will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga to serve as the guru of Kalki, the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu.
According to the texts, Parashurama was born to the sage Jamadagni and Renuka. He is said to have been foretold to appear at a time when overwhelming evil prevailed upon the earth. In tradition, when the Kshatriya rulers began to abuse their power, he is described as having corrected the cosmic equilibrium by destroying most of them. He is depicted as the husband of Dharani, regarded as an incarnation of Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu.
In the epic Ramayana, Parashurama appears during Rama's homeward journey to Ayodhya following the latter's wedding to Sita, and challenges him to combat. He subsequently acknowledges Rama as an avatar of Vishnu and retires to his abode to perform yoga. In the epic Mahabharata, he is portrayed as the guru of several prominent figures, including Bhishma, Drona, Rukmi, and Karna.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Parashurama.