Why did Sage Pippalada punish Shani Dev? Learn about the promises that the giver of karma still keeps today.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Shani Dev, the son of Surya Dev, is considered the god of justice and the giver of the fruits of karma. In Hinduism, it is believed that anyone upon whom Shani Dev casts his gaze faces increased difficulties in their life. Worshiping the Peepal tree is considered a good way to gain relief from Shani Dosha, and there is a mythological story behind it. Let's learn more about it.

Story related to Sage Pippalada

According to the story recounted in the Prashna Upanishad, Maharishi Dadhichi offered his bones to Lord Indra to kill the demon Vrittasura. His wife, unable to bear this, decided to commit sati. She immolated herself on Maharishi Dadhichi's funeral pyre and placed her three-year-old son in the hollow of a large peepal tree.

The boy began to grow, eating the peepal tree's fruit that had fallen into the cavity. One day, the sage Narada passed by that spot and, seeing the boy in distress, asked him about his identity. The boy replied, “I don't know anything about myself or my parents.”

Narada told the whole truth

Then, using his divine vision, Narada revealed to the boy that he was the son of the great philanthropist Maharishi Dadhichi. He then told him everything about his parents. The boy then asked what caused his parents' untimely deaths. Narada Muni explained that they were under the influence of Shanidev. The sage named the boy Pippalada.

After hearing Narada's words, Pippalada performed intense penance to Brahma, which pleased him and he asked for a boon. Pippalada then requested the power to burn anyone to ashes with just his glance. Upon receiving this boon, Pippalada invoked Lord Shani and cast his glance upon him, causing Shani's body to burn.

Sun God asked Brahma for help.

Surya, too, was unable to save his son and sought help from Lord Brahma. Brahma then appeared and urged Pippalada to spare Shanidev, but Pippalada refused. Brahma then told Pippalada that he could ask for two boons instead of one.

Ask for these 2 promises

Pippalada agreed to this condition and asked for two boons: that Saturn would not have any influence on anyone's horoscope until the age of five. The second boon was that the Peepal tree gave me, the orphan, autumn. Therefore, anyone who offered water to the Peepal tree before sunrise would not be affected by Saturn's Mahadasha. Since then, the tradition of offering water to the Peepal tree and worshipping it to relieve the effects of Saturn's Mahadasha has continued.

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