Pippalada

Pippalada (Sanskrit: eater of the pippala or Ficus religiosa) is an ancient teacher of the Atharva-Veda, and also a school of thought founded by him. He is the son of the sage Dadhichi.

He is famous for Prasna Upanishad, where he answers his pupils queries.

Pippalada was married to Padma, daughter of king Anrayana. Pippalada had 12 sons and 144 grand sons he was adopted by the sister of his father Dadhimati. The names of Pippalada's sons are Bharamdwats, Gautam, Bhargav, bhardwaj, kocchsa, Kasyap, shandilya, atri, Prashar, Kapil, garg and Laghuvatas.

He is famous for making afraid Indra and other gods, as a child by the boon of Lord Shiva.

As Pippalada brought under the pipal tree after his parents died, no body was to name him, his name was known with the pippal. The mystical significance refers to this tree's association with initiation or nirvanic attainment; it was under a pippala that Gautama Buddha is said to have attained nirvana, as well as buddhahood.

A edition of Atharvaveda called "pipalada-shakha" is named after him.