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Once Agastya Rishi came to the banks of Gomatee River with his disciples with the objective of Teerth Yaatraa. He took Satra Yagya Deekshaa and did that Yagya for one year. At that time Asur were ruling in Swarg. Kaitabh Asur was Ashwatth and Peepal named Asur. Ashwatth used to assume Peepal's form and Peepal used to assume a Brahman's form and came to destroy Rishi's Yagya. Whoever came to bring Samidhaa (wood for Yagya), Ashwatth used to eat him and Peepal used to eat his disciples assuming the form of Saam Ved singer. (For the same reason, even today, Saam's singer is considered cruel among Braahman.)

So Braahman went to Shani Dev who was doing Tapasyaa on the southern shores and told him their saga. Shani Dev said - "Let me finish my Tapasyaa, then I can kill these Asur. Some Muni said - "We all give you a part of our own Tapasyaa." Hearing this Shani got ready to kill those Asur. First he went to Ashwatth assuming the form of a Braahman and started circumambulating it. Ashwatth thought that he was only an ordinary Braahman so he swallowed him. As Shani looked at his intestines, Ashwatth immediately got burned to ashes. After burning Ashwatth, he went to the other Asur who was in the form of the Braahman. He became Asur's disciple and started studying under him. Thus Peepal also swallowed him also as he swallowed other Braahman.

After killing both the Asur, Shani asked Braahman - "Now what can I do for you, O Braahman?" Hearing this all Braahman got very happy and bestowed him with several kinds of boons. Pleased with this, Shani also said - "Whoever will regularly touch Ashwatth tree on my day, Saturday, their all wishes will be fulfilled and they will not be afflicted. Who will take a dip in Ashwatth Teerth their all wishes will be fulfilled and who will touch Ashwatth tree in the morning they will not suffer with Shani Graha Dosh.