Pippalāda Tīrtha is a tīrtha on the bank of the Śābhramatī, near Dugdheśvara. It is named after Pippalāda Maharshi, the son of Dadhīci Bhārgava. Here Pippalāda did hard tapas (austerity) to repay the ṛṇa (debt) that came from his father’s great sacrifice of his own body. In the Kaliyuga this tīrtha is hidden.

Name and place

The tīrtha is named after Pippalāda Maharshi. It lies on the Śābhramatī bank near Dugdheśvara, the liṅga that formed from the milk of Surabhi at the place where Dadhīci gave up his body. The Padma Mahā Purāṇa places it in the unbroken line of holy places along this river (Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 157).

Pippalāda’s tapas and the Kṛtyā

Pippalāda came here to repay the great gift of his father Dadhīci. The devas had taken Dadhīci’s own bones for the weapon Brahmaśiras. By the order of his mother Suvarcā, and through this tapas, Pippalāda produced a Kṛtyā at this place. She is described as like the submarine fire.

Kahoda and the slaying of Kolāsura

Pippalāda’s son Kahoda kept up this tapas at the same tīrtha. The asura Kolāsura came to disturb the tapas and made many obstacles. Kahoda understood this and produced another Kṛtyā, who killed Kolāsura. The Purāṇa says that because of this killing the tīrtha became hidden in the Kaliyuga.

Merit of the tīrtha

A man who bathes here and drinks the water destroys the pāpa (sin) of brahmahatyā (killing a brāhmaṇa).
Planting aśvattha (fig) trees at this tīrtha frees a man from the bond of karma.
The Purāṇa says Pippalāda Maharshi himself stays hidden here on the Śābhramatī bank. Bathing where he is present gives moksha.

Sources

Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 157