Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
Situated near Viśrāma–ghāṭa, in the eastern part of Mathurāpurī, Pīpaleśvara Mahādeva, one of the four area–protectors (kṣetra-pālas) of Mathurā, always protects the area of Mathurā.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This Deity of Lord Shiva is one of the four protectors of Mathura known as the kshetra-palas. The word ‘kshetra’ means ‘area’ or ‘field’ and ‘pala’ means ‘guard’ or ‘protector’. The other three kshetra-palas of Mathura are Bhuteshwara, Rangeshwara, and Gokarneshwara. The Deity in the form of a Shiva-linga is named after the sage Pippalada, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) and was once saved from impending danger by the Lord, thus the name ‘Pippaleshwara’ means ‘the Lord and protector of the sage Pippalada’.
