What are some lesser known/interesting facts about Lord Rama?

 

1. Lord Rama was named eleven days after his birth by sage Vasishtha.
2. Vishwamitra imparted the knowledge of two lethal weapons known as Bala and Atibala to Lord Rama.
3. Lord Rama invoked a weapon known as Manavastra to kill a demon named Subahu. The force of the weapon flung Subahu one hundred miles away into the ocean.
4. Indra gave a bow, a large sword and two inexhaustible quivers to sage Agastya. Lord Rama later received these weapons from Agastya.
5. On seeing Lord Rama for the first time, Sugriva was afraid and fled towards a mountain called Malaya.
6. Lord Rama eventually met Sugriva atop Malaya mountain. The ape showed Sita's ornaments which he had earlier collected from the ground.
7. Lord Rama lifted the skeleton of Dundubhi and hurled it one hundred yojanas away to impress Sugriva with his valour.
8. Lord Rama performed another miraculous feat. He picked up his bow and affixed a golden arrow. He shot the arrow from his bow and made it to penetrate seven sala trees. The arrow then penetrated the ground and quickly returned to him.
9. Ravana's aerial vehicle known as Pushpaka Vimana was placed atop Trikuta mountain. After Ravana was slain, Vibhishana presented the Vimana to Lord Rama.
10. When Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya, he distributed thirty crores of gold coins to the brahmanas of Ayodhya.
11. Upon Indra's request, Vayu gave Lord Rama a golden garland which was decorated with one hundred lotuses.
12. Upon Lord Rama's request, Sita took off the pearl necklace from her neck and gave it to Hanuman.

These are some lesser known facts about Lord Rama from Ramayana.

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Lesser-known facts about tigers

 

1. Tigers have antiseptic saliva – Their saliva contains antibacterial properties, helping prevent infections when they lick their wounds.
2. They can imitate other animal sounds – Tigers can mimic prey calls, such as deer, to lure them closer.
3. Their skin is striped too – If you shave a tiger, you'll see that its skin has the same striped pattern as its fur.
4. No two tigers have the same stripes – Each tiger’s stripe pattern is unique, just like human fingerprints.
5. They are excellent swimmers – Unlike most big cats, tigers enjoy water and can swim long distances, sometimes up to several kilometers.
6. A tiger’s roar can be heard up to 3 km (1.8 miles) away – Their powerful vocal cords allow them to communicate over long distances.
7. Tigers have night vision six times better than humans – This gives them an advantage when hunting in the dark.
8. They can take down prey larger than themselves – Tigers can kill animals like gaur (a massive wild cattle species) and even crocodiles.
9. Tigers are solitary but communicate through scent marking – They use urine and scratch marks on trees to establish territory and warn others.
10. A group of tigers is called a "streak" or an "ambush" – Though tigers are mostly solitary, when they do gather, this is what they are called.

Lesser-Known Facts About Lord Parashurama

 

1. Parashurama is an Ansha Avatar of Vishnu

Unlike Rama, Krishna, or Narasimha, who are Purna Avatars (complete incarnations) of Vishnu, Parashurama is an Ansha Avatar, meaning a partial incarnation who manifested to fulfill a specific purpose—eliminating arrogant and tyrannical Kshatriyas.

2. Parashurama Beheaded His Own Mother

Once, Sage Jamadagni, his father, ordered Parashurama to behead his mother, Renuka, as a test of obedience. Without hesitation, he complied. Later, when his father offered him a boon, he asked for his mother’s resurrection, which was granted.

3. His Real Name Was Rama

Parashurama’s original name was Rama. Since he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and received an infallible axe (Parashu) as a divine gift, he became known as Parashurama (Rama with an axe).

4. He Wiped Out Kshatriyas 21 Times

To rid the earth of tyrannical rulers, Parashurama annihilated Kshatriya clans 21 times.

5. Kartavirya Arjuna Once Defeated Parashurama

Kartavirya Arjuna, a powerful Kshatriya king with a divine boon, once rendered Parashurama unconscious in battle. Lord Shiva had to revive him. However, Parashurama eventually killed Kartavirya Arjuna with his axe.

6. Lord Rama Took Away His Vishnu Tattva

During Mata Sita’s swayamvara, Parashurama was astonished when Lord Rama broke the divine bow of Shiva. Upon realizing Rama’s supreme cosmic form, he acknowledged him as Vishnu’s complete incarnation. Later, Lord Rama used the Vaishnavastra to absorb Parashurama’s Vishnu energy, as he had become arrogant.

7. Guru of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna

Parashurama trained three key figures of the Mahabharata—Bhishma, Drona, and Karna—in warfare and divine weapons.

8. His Battle with Bhishma Lasted 21 Days

Parashurama and Bhishma fought an intense battle for 21 days, but neither could claim victory. Bhishma was about to use Praswapastra (a weapon inducing deep slumber) against his guru, but Narada stopped him to prevent insult. Parashurama then admitted his inability to counter the weapon. Lord Brahma declared that Bhishma would eventually be defeated by Arjuna.

9. Parashurama’s Curse on Karna Didn’t Work

It is widely believed that Parashurama cursed Karna to forget the Brahmastra at a crucial moment. However, lesser known is the fact that this curse did not actually take effect.

10. Parashurama Is a Chiranjeevi (Immortal)

Unlike most avatars of Vishnu, Parashurama is immortal and is said to still reside on Earth, meditating in Mahendragiri.

11. He Will Be the Guru of Lord Kalki

At the end of Kali Yuga, Parashurama will return as the preceptor of Lord Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, and train him in warfare.

These lesser-known facts highlight the unique role of Parashurama in Hindu mythology as a warrior, guru, and immortal sage.