A story which impels us to challenge & overcome limitations

This story is in the context of Nandishwara narrating the glory of Shiva to Sanatkumara (Satarudra samhita of Shiva Mahapurana).

Nandishwara said: "Listen to the reverential story of the avatara of Shiva known by the name of Pippalada which enhances devotion in the minds of the intelligent. 

"There was a sage named Dadhichi who was a great Shaivite, a glorious descendant in the Chyavana-Bhrigu race. He in the battle with Kshuva (a king & devotee of Vishnu) defeated & cursed Lord Vishnu himself through the grace of Shiva (which made him free of aging). His wife the highly fortunate Suvarcha was a maha pativrata, an ascetic with enough power to curse even the devas. It was through her womb that Shiva, the performer of various divine sports appeared on earth."

Surprised to hear this part of the story, Sanatkumara interrupted Nandishwara and requested him thus; O immensely intelligent one, you who are of the form of Sri Rudra are highly blessed and a Satguru - be pleased to narrate to me the incident of when & how Suvarcha cursed the devas. 

To this the son of Silada feeling delighted & reminiscing the lotus-feet of Shiva went on to answer so -    

Once the un-aging Indra & other devas were defeated in a battle by the daityas led by Vritrasura. They all, lost in despair, took shelter in the ashrama of sage Dadhichi. Thereafter leaving behind all their weapons with the sage the devas headed by Indra along with their guru Brihaspati & rishis went to Brahmaloka and expressed their sufferings to Brahma. On hearing the devas, Brahma-the grandsire could see through his divine vision that this luminous asura Vritra had been created by Tvasta from the power of his tapas to put an end to the devas. Brahma addressing the devas said: “know this to be the solution of your problem which i'm speaking for the preservation of Dharma. Some time back, sage Dadhichi due to his hard penance pleased Shiva and got from him a boon that turned his bones to a Vajra (unbreakable/like a diamond). Ask Dadhichi to offer his bones, he shall donate them to you no doubt. Create from those bones a Vajra-danda (weapon) which will surely turn Vritra to ashes.”

Thus, Indra, the other devas with Brihaspati & rishis returned to the sage’s ashrama. Sighting sage Dadhichi and his wife Suvarcha, Indra and his team respectfully bowed to both of them with joined palms expressing humility & adoration. At once perceiving the intent of the devas, sage Dadhichi sent Suvarcha inside the ashrama. Suvarcha, abiding by her pativrata dharma, did so.

Well versed in polity and accomplishment of his tasks as he was, Indra stated: “O benevolent sage, we the devas and rishis troubled by Tvasta have come seeking refuge in you the great Saivite and well-wisher of others. Be pleased to donate your bones to us out of which can be created the weapon capable of destroying Vritrasura”. That muni on hearing these words of Indra willingly gave-up his own body at that very instant meditating on Lord Shiva. On the strength of this great sacrifice and freedom from worldly bondages, sage Dadhichi rose to Brahmaloka. There rained flowers at that sacred spot and surprised all.

Indra then called for Surabhi- the heavenly cow to lick the flesh out of the body. At Indra’s command, Vishwakarma then built a weapon out of the bones - as tough as a diamond - radiant with the energy of Shiva. Shara and Brahmashira were the two main Vajras made out of the spine of the sage for Indra. Other smaller vajras were made out of the other bones and distributed among other devas. Becoming splendorous due to Shiva’s energy Indra now being empowered rushed to kill Vritra as Shiva would rush to kill Yama. Finally in the battle, Indra cut-off the head of Vritra bringing relief and delight to the devas. The devas in-turn rained flowers in appreciation. This is the background of the incarnation of Shiva as Pippalada.

Listen further - Suvarcha the dutiful wife  of Dadhichi who had gone inside the ashrama on her husband’s insistence finished her household chores and returned. Not finding her husband there and on seeing all the devas she perceived of the happening there through her ascetic intuition. Angered and feeling cheated by the devas she cursed them. “O wicked devas, you all are too self-centred, greedy and of limited intelligence like that of animals. Therefore, may you all turn into animals hereafter.” Cursing thus and disturbed by her separation from her husband, Suvarcha the devoted wife intending to follow her husband prepared to enter a pyre to give-up her physical body. At that time, a divine voice from the sky was heard intended to pacify and comfort Suvarcha; as directed by Shiva. “Listen O intelligent lady, stop yourself from taking this extreme step. The tejas (brilliance) of the sage is enshrined in your womb in the form of a child. You should give birth to it by all means.  Thereafter you can do as you please. As per the injunctions of Brahma destroying a foetus is forbidden.” Saying so, the divine voice went silent. For a moment Suvarcha was astonished. However, abiding by those divine words she stepped down the pyre.

Longing to be with her husband at the soonest, that chaste lady tore open her belly to bring forth the child. There came out of her womb a dazzling brightness in the form of the foetus radiating lustre in all the ten directions. Suvarcha saluted the divine lord Shiva in the form of a babe. She spoke the following words to him “Be pleased to stay here under the Pipal tree for a prolonged period of time to bless the world. Myself and my husband shall remember and sing your praise from the other world.”  Saying so she bid farewell to this world entering the flames. She immediately rose up to Brahmaloka placed by the side of her husband Dadhichi.

On seeing the baby alone, all the devas and the trinity Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra came to the spot to celebrate the birth of the Lord along with denizens of heaven like the apsaras, yakshas, kinnaras, gandharvas who danced and sang with musical drums and other instruments. Lord Brahma then named the boy Pippalada completing samskaras for Lord Shiva’s incarnation. Then they all returned back to their respective abodes.

For his part, Pippalada undertook severe tapas when many years elapsed as per the earthly norms. His body though old aged shone brilliantly. One day when he went to the river side for his morning bath and ablutions he saw there the young and charming princess Padma (daughter of king Anaranya) an incarnation of Goddess Shakti. The moment Pippalada’s eyes cast on Padma there arose a strong desire in him to marry her. Therefore he went to the king’s palace to ask for Padma in marriage. The king welcomed him with due respects, offered him a seat of honor, water to freshen up with and served other royal drinks and herbs. After accepting all these with a delightful mind Pippalada asked for Padma in marriage. Hearing this the king was taken up by grief and fear as to how can he give away such a young and beautiful daughter to an old and weary sage. Noticing the king to be hesitant Pippalada, a part manifestation of Shiva himself, threatened the king to either give away his daughter or he would throw the entire kingdom into flames. After some lament, in consultation with his minister, the king finally gave away Padma to the old sage. Pippalada happily brought Padma to his ashrama where they started living together joyfully. 

Padma served her husband with all her heart in thought, word and deed as Goddess Lakshmi serves Lord Narayana. Pippalada too staunchly followed his routine rituals and thus carried on for sometime. 
Amazingly he transformed his old & worn-out physique into that of a handsome young husband as if it was child's play and enjoyed the company of his wife. Pippalada begot 10 sons of Padma who were all equal in sagacity as their father. Thus, both Pippalada and Padma were happy and comfortable.     

In due course, Pippalada observed that the people of the earth were tormented by the ill-effects of Shani. To bring them some relief that benevolent sage Pippalada lovingly granted a boon to all the people stating “from birth until 16 yrs of age no one shall face the ill-effects of Shani and that Shani will not trouble those who are devotees of Lord Shiva. These words of mine are true. In case Shani fails to honor these words then he shall reduce to ashes.” For the fear of Pippalada Shani even today does not dare to transgress his words. Thus the people of this world found some respite.

Merely by remembering the three sages Vishwamitra, Kaushika and Pippalada people are freed from the torments of Shani. (Misfortune, depression, physical illness etc)

Anyone who recalls this sacred and awe-inspiring story is freed from the ill-effects of planets. This is a very pious story of an incarnation of Shiva which grants health, wealth, prosperity and moksha on anyone who reads, recites or speaks of it and enhances true devotion in their minds.

This story offers us two important lessons from the professional point of view:

1. Freedom from the fear of loss - the very thought that we are bound to lose something and some other party gaining benumbs us and prevents us from doing our best. The sacrifice of Dadhichi is testimony to the fact that a perceived loss is in fact a gain on the higher plane. While at work, when we face hard choices let us rid ourselves from the fear of losing something and go ahead with a mind open towards exploring possibilities.

2. Limitations are imaginary - Feeling constricted, confined or stuck with some trait or a habit that demarcates our endeavors is merely an imaginary feeling. Inferred from the story of Pippalada, we realisze that once we reach our core awareness anything is possible.