📿Dadhichi Jayanti - दधीचि जयंती

In the history of Sanatan Dharma, no donor like Maharishi Dadhichi has emerged. According to the mythological account, Devguru Brihaspati had left heaven due to Indra's pride and taking advantage of this, Demon Guru Shukracharya attacked the Devlok by demons and took away heaven from Indra. On the advice of Brahmadev, Indra again captured heaven by obtaining Narayana Kavach from sage Vishwaroop, son of Maharishi Tvashta. But both demons and gods were the children of Maharishi Kashyap and the mother of Vishva Roop was also a demon.

Hence, on the request of the demons, sage Vishva Roop offered sacrifices to both gods and demons in the Vijay Yagya. Angered by this, Indra cut off all three heads of the sage Vishva Roop due to which the gods were accused of the sin of killing Brahma and became powerless. Maharishi Tvashta, extremely angry at the killing of his son, manifested a mountain-like demon named Vrittasur, wielding a mace and a conch, from his sacrificial altar. With the orders of Maharishi Tvashta, Vritasura killed the gods and regained control of heaven.

Defeated Indra went to seek refuge with Shri Hari where he was reprimanded for killing Brahm but on advice Shri Hari asked Indra to seek help from Maharishi Dadhichi. Shri Hari asked Indra to please Dadhichi and get his bones and make Vraj out of them and fight with Vritasura, because Dadhichi was blessed with Vajra bone by Shiva. Indra reached Maharishi Dadhichi's ashram and narrated his entire story to him. Dadhichi agreed to sacrifice the ashes out of charity. Indra worshiped these bones and created a thunderbolt named Tejavan from them and killed Vritasura.

After Dadhichi's demise, his pregnant wife handed over her womb to the gods before committing Sati. Gabhastini's womb was nurtured by the Devvriksha Ashvattha i.e. Peepal. That child was nourished by the Peepal tree by eating its leaves, hence the child was called Pippalad.