Sage Pippalada is considered to be the founder of this Śā́khā. This Śā́khā also has twelve Khaṇḍas. The Paippalāda tradition of reciting Atharvaveda has been discontinued in 19^th century, at the same time the manuscripts have been kept; this tradition is again practiced now a days.

The followers of Paippalāda Saṃhitā are currently to be found in few places of Orissa and adjacent areas of Bihar and West Bengal; they recite the Saṃhitā in ekaśruti (on a single tone). Epigraphic and literary evidences show that this Śā́khā once thrived in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and few places of Gujarat, east Bengal and in Tamil Nadu as well.