Parashu

(“battle-axe”) A characteristic object in
Hindu iconography, and one that
appears in various forms—sometimes
with a very light, thin handle and a larger
head, at other times with a handle the
size of a club (gada) and a very small,
thin head. This weapon has the
strongest mythic associations with
Vishnu’s sixth avatar or incarnation,
Parashuram, who uses it in his war of
extermination against the the ruling
kshatriya class when their pride has
grown too strong. The battle-axe is also
commonly carried by the god Ganesh
and signifies his power to cut through
obstacles and impediments. It also commonly appears in various images of the
deities Shiva, Vishnu, and the Goddess,
as one among their galaxy of weapons.