by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore
Royal Saint Pipa or Pipadeva was the king of a small State called Gagaraunghra. Actually his correct dates are not known but he is said to have flourished in the 16th Century. He was famous as a righteous king and particularly showed great respect to saints and his position did not come in the way of serving them. His family deity was called Jagadambadevi (mother of the earth). According to stories current in that area, Pipa was capable of talking to the Goddess and he even fed her. Thus she would accept the offerings directly from king Pipa.
He led a simple life and never indulged in royal luxuries. He was very regular in reading scriptures and meditation. Ascetics who passed that way would normally visit his Palace and talk to him about dharma. Once a group of ascetics came to the Palace. He welcomed them and made arrangements for their comfortable stay. As usual he went to the temple of Jagadamba for worship. To his surprise she told him that she would take the offerings only after his guests had their food. Accordingly, Pipa offered them food and had their blessings. Then Pipa requested them to guide him to have the darshan of Lord Rama. They told him to start this procedure through a Guru and asked him to go to Varanasi and became a disciple of Swami Ramananda.
Pipa went to Varanasi and sent a message that he wanted to meet him. Ramananda sent the reply saying that his hermitage is open only to poor people and not kings. Immediately Pipa gave up his kingdom and distributed his wealth among the needy and the poor. To test his devotion, Ramananda asked him to jump into a well. Pipa was ready to do that. Ramananda stopped him and went to his Palace. Pipa was impressed by his guru Ramananda and wanted to be his follower listening to his religious discourses. Ramananda disuaded him and told him that it would be difficult for a king who had so much of royal responsibilities to be a disciple of an ascetic because of the hard life involved. He asked, ‘Can you fast for days together because you may not get food at all. Even if you get something to eat, it will be so simple and may be unpalatable because of its tastelessness. That too you have to beg and get the food. Nobody will supply the food.’ Pipa agreed.
But to test him further, Ramananda sent him to a place where no offerings were available. Pipa came back empty handed. The Saint asked him what he will do for food. Pipa replied, God wants that I should fast and try to understand how poor people led their lives days together. This is a lesson for me from the God divine. He fasted but concentrated on reading the scriptures and doing meditation.
In the meantime, Ramananda wanted to go to Dwaraka, the place of Lord Krishna. Pipa expressed his desire to go with the saint to Dwaraka. Ramananda told him that the journey by walk would be highly difficult for a king like Pipa. But Pipa was steadfast in his resolve to go to Dwaraka, the great pilgrimage centre of Lord Krishna. Then Ramananda told him that he could go with him as an ascetic and not as a king. Pipa immediately abdicates his throne and becomes an ordinary man. Hearing this news his wife too refuses to live in a Palace where her husband is not there and hence expresses her desire to accompany him to Dwaraka. Thus both husband and wife go to Dwaraka.
After reaching Dwaraka. Pipa is supremely happy and worships Lord Krishna with all devotion. He refuses to take food and is simply immersed in meditation at the holy feet of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is pleased with Pipa, gives him darshan, blesses him and tells that he would get moksha or salvation if he continued in the same path uninterrupted by worldly desires. Pipa returns to his place.
The people of the State to whom he was a king were surprised and adore him as a great saint. They come in large numbers and pay respects to him. He tells them not to bring any worldly offerings but to come with devotion to Lord Krishna. Some jealous people kidnap his wife but Pipa prays to Lord Krishna who saves her through some pious people. Pipa was very happy and his devotion to the Lord increased manifold.
Another incident is equally interesting. Once Pipa and his wife were passing through a forest and suddenly a lion accosted them. His wife was afraid but Pipa told her that God would reside in a lion also and we should not be afraid of him. Pipa spoke to the lion as if he was his friend and advised him not to trouble the people who did not harm him. The lion came nearer Pipa and licked his feet showing friendship and affection. Pipa patted him and prayed to the Lord to give him a human birth next time and whispered Rama- Krishna mantra in his ears. The ferocious lion became a tamed animal and local people were surprised at this sudden change in the lion. They knew it was the magic of Pipa. It is said, this lion was born as Narsi Mehta in the next birth.
Once Pipa found a vessel full of gold coins. When he mentioned this to his wife, some thieves overheard this and went there to take away the gold coins. But to their disappointment they found a snake in the vessel. But when Pipa went there, he found the gold coins which he distributed among the poor people.
Pipa had a cow which supplied milk to the ascetics. One day some thieves stole the cow and ran away. Pipa ran after them along with the calf and shouted, ‘Friends, you will not get the milk without the calf, please take the calf also.’ The thieves were taken aback and ran away leaving the cow.
Once Pipa went to a friend’s house for food. He noted the absence of his wife as the husband alone was serving food. Pipa understood that she was hiding herself because she did not have decent clothes to come out. Immediately Pipa blessed her and there was no dearth of clothes and food at her house thereafter. Impressed by this, the friend and his wife became devo- tees of Pipa.
Many devotees came to Pipa for advice and guidance. He refrained from giving them discourse or lecture but asked them to lead a simple life following ethical principles. He specially told them to avoid luxury. Rich people can see God if they can serve the poor. God is a friend of the poor people. Many rich people came to him and offered gold and money to exhibit their richness and show their vanity. The first advice of Pipa to such people was to come with empty hand after distributing all money to the poor and needy. Then only one would understand the secret of life. Thus many rich people went away disappointed and Pipa felt sorry for their ignorance of the divinity.
Once a rich merchant came to Pipa and requested him to visit his mansion so that he could show him his wealth. But Pipa did not accept his invitation because he did not want to disappoint the common people. The rich merchant tried to entice Pipa by telling him that his visit may enrich his wealth. Pipa did not go to his house and told him to distribute his wealth to the poor. A disappointed merchant went back cursing him. In the meantime, the merchant incurred heavy losses and became poor. Even then his greed for wealth did not diminish. He came to Pipa and requested him to bless him with original wealth and in return he would give him some wealth. Pipa advised him to pray for permanent divine wealth and not temporary monetary wealth. Ultimately he became his disciple.
Thus Pipa became a household name in 16th Century for his simplicity and religious life. Though he is not known widely in South India, his impact on dharmic way of life is felt in North India. That is the greatness of king Pipa.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – June 07th, 2015
