Shri Parshuram Temple, Chiplun, Konkan

Today at this temple

Quick facts

Primary deity

Vishnu

Tradition

vaishnava

Year founded

—

Founder

Ancient svayambhu — per Konkan-regional-tradition, the Parshuram Temple at Chiplun (Ratnagiri district, Konkan coast) is one of the OLDEST PARSHURAM SHRINES IN INDIA, founded at the location where LORD PARSHURAMA (6th avatar of Vishnu) is said to have created-the-Konkan-coast by shooting his parshu (axe) into the Arabian Sea which-receded to-reveal-the-land. Chiplun ("Chipli-van" = "camp-forest") was Parshuram's base-of-operations during his legendary-creation of the 7 Konkan-kingdoms. Modern temple-structure 1750s-1850s (Peshwa-era to British-colonial era) successive-reconstructions

Managing trust

Shri Parshuram Devasthan Trust, Chiplun — hereditary Brahmin management

Daily footfall

2,000-5,000 daily

Photography

outside_only

Non-Hindu policy

all_welcome

Dress code

Traditional attire; no shorts

Accessibility

♿ 👴 🍼

VIP darshan

—

Typical visit

60–150 min

Sthala Purana — the story

Per Ramayana and Puranic-tradition (particularly the Mahabharata and Brahma Purana), PARSHURAM ("RAMA-WITH-AXE", 6th Vishnu-avatar, son of Sage Jamadagni and Renuka Mata) is the AVATAR OF VISHNU BETWEEN VAMAN (5th) AND RAMA-CHANDRA (7th). Parshuram is unique among Vishnu-avatars for his BRAHMIN-KSHATRIYA identity — born Brahmin but wielding-warrior-skills. His legendary-creation-of-the-Konkan-coast: after conflicts-with-kshatriya-kings (21-times-cleared-earth-of-kshatriyas narrative), Parshuram sought-to-create-a-new-land where-Brahmins-could-live-peacefully. He went to the western-coast and SHOT HIS PARSHU-AXE INTO THE ARABIAN SEA; the sea-god receded-the-waters by the arrow-distance, revealing the Konkan-coast. Parshuram then settled CHITAPAVAN BRAHMINS ("purified-funeral-pyre Brahmins" — the name derives from Parshuram purifying-them via cremation-ritual), GOUD SARASWAT BRAHMINS, and KARHADE BRAHMINS in the new-land. Chiplun became his primary-abode. The Chiplun-Parshuram-shrine commemorates-this-creation-myth-and-Parshuram's ongoing-presence in Konkan

References: Mahabharata — Parshuram narrative Parshuram-Bhishma, Parshuram-Karna episodes · Brahma Purana and Skanda Purana Konkan-creation-myth

Darshan & aartis

Plan your visit

Gallery & media

Deity & iconography

Architecture & art

Traditional Konkan-Maharashtrian temple-style on hilltop; Peshwa-British-colonial stone-masonry; modest 15m shikhara; 60m × 50m compound

Style

Traditional Konkan-Maharashtrian temple-style on a hilltop overlooking Chiplun town; compound approximately 60m × 50m; Peshwa-era and British-colonial-era stone-and-masonry-construction; modest 15m shikhara

Shikhara height

15 m

Built of

Local Konkan stone; traditional Maharashtrian masonry

Notable features

Parshuram (6th Vishnu-avatar) primary-deity — rare among major-Indian-temples · KONKAN-CREATION-MYTH site — where Parshuram created-the-Konkan-coast · Akshaya Tritiya = Parshuram Jayanti supreme festival · KONKAN-BRAHMIN KULDEV (Chitapavan, Goud Saraswat, Karhade Brahmin communities) · Subsidiary shrines for Renuka Mata, Shiva, Kamadhenu · Chiplun Konkan-coast location · Mumbai-Goa NH-66 accessible · Pair with Ganpatipule (60 km S), Marleshwar, Kunkeshwar, Konkan-circuit

Protection status

state_protected

History timeline

1. Treta Yuga (traditional Puranic origin)

   Per Ramayana-Puranic-tradition, Lord Parshuram (6th Vishnu-avatar, son of Sage Jamadagni and Renuka Mata) created-the-Konkan-coast by shooting his parshu-axe into the Arabian Sea; the sea-receded to-reveal-the-coastal-land which became the 7 Konkan-kingdoms. Parshuram settled the Chitapavan, Goud Saraswat, and Karhade Brahmins in this newly-created-land. Chiplun was his base-of-operations

2. Ancient-medieval continuity

   Continuous Konkan-Brahmin-community-worship at Chiplun Parshuram site; pre-Peshwa modest-shrine-structures

3. 1750s-1850s

   Peshwa-era and British-colonial-era successive-reconstructions established the current temple-structure

4. Post-1947

   Maharashtra-state-endowment-management; Konkan-coastal-tourism integration; Chitapavan-Brahmin-diaspora (Mumbai-Pune-global) pilgrimage

Special phenomena

Poojas & sevas offered here

No bookable poojas listed yet

Festivals & signature events

• Ram Navami

  Annual

  Signature

Location & nearby temples

• Shri Marleshwar Cave Temple, Ratnagiri
  20.1 km · Marleshwar

Scriptural references

Mahabharata — Parshuram narrative

Parshuram-Bhishma, Parshuram-Karna episodes

Primary Mahabharata-Puranic Parshuram source

Brahma Purana and Skanda Purana

Konkan-creation-myth

Puranic Konkan-creation narrative

Explore related

• → Vishnu
  Deity page
• → vaishnava
  Tradition
• → Chiplun temples
  Nearby
• → Badrinath
  deity

Sources & credits