Although the earlier tradition of the Pawars relates them with the Rashtrakutas, later tradition tells an interesting story as to how they acquired their name, a story which recalls the Chauhan version of the fire sacrifice.

The sage Vasishtha had a cow called Kamadhenu (a cow which grants all one's wishes) and this was stolen by another sage, Vishvamitra. Vasishtha therefore made an offering to the sacrificial fire at Mt Abu, whereupon a hero sprang out of the fire, brought the cow back, and returned it to Vasishtha, who bestowed the name Paramara (slayer of the enemy) on the hero, from whom the Paramara clan was descended.