The first pertains to his battle with Parashurama. Parashurama was one of the incarnations of Vishnu, born on earth to teach a lesson to the ruling classes, the Kshatriyas, who had become very arrogant and were riding rough-shod over the ordinary people. As a human on earth, he meditated on Shiva and obtained the divine axe, parashu, with whose help he waged wars against all the erring princes and cleared the world of their evil. Deeply indebted to Shiva, he then came to Mount Kailas to pay obeisance to his mentor. Ganesha who was guarding the entrance to his father's chambers would not let him in, saying he had to wait till he obtained Shiva's permission. Parashurama felt that he, a devotee, needed no permission. When Ganesha refused to give in, Parashurama, hot-tempered at all times, struck Ganesha's tusk with his axe and broke it. Shiva and Parvati appeared before him and chastised Parashurama, who then worshipped Ganesha and obtained his forgiveness and blessings.