Kripa

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Kripa
Kripi (twin-sister)
  • Drona (brother-in-law)
  • Ashwatthama (nephew)
    • HomeHastinapur, Kuru Kingdom

    Kripa (

    IAST: Kṛpācārya), is a figure in Hindu mythology. According to the epic Mahabharata, he was a council member of Kuru Kingdom and a teacher of the Pandava and Kaurava
    princes.

    Born to warrior-sage Sharadvan and

    Kurukshetra war
    and was among the few survivors of the war.

    Kripa is considered as a

    Saptarishi—the seven revered sages—in the next Manvantara, which is a cyclic period of time in Hindu cosmology
    .

    Names

    The Sanskrit word Kripa (Kṛpa) means 'pity' or 'mercy'. According to the Mahabharata (c. 700 BCE – 400 CE), he and his sister were named "Kripa" and "Kripi" as they were adopted by King Shantanu out of pity.[1][2][3][4] Kripa was given the title "acharya" ('master') as he was an expert archer.[5][4]

    In the epic, Kripa is known by many other names including Gautama ('descendant of Gautama'), Sharadvata ('son of Sharadvan'), Sharadvanputra ('son of Sharadvan') and Bharatacharya ('teacher of the descendants of Bharat').[6][3]

    Birth and upbringing

    According to the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, a boy named Sharadvan was born to sage Gautama and his wife Ahalya. Contradictory to this account, some later Puranic scriptures such as Agni Purana mention him as Gautama's great-grandson.[1][4] Sharadvan showed great passion in archery and as he matured, he became a great archer. He once did penance to become indomitable, but this threatened the devas, especially Indra. He then sent a beautiful apsara (celestial nymph), Janapadi, from heaven to distract the celibate saint.[2][1] When Sharadvan saw her, he lost his control and ejaculated. Ashamed of his actions, he left his weapons and went deep into a forest. The semen fell on some weeds, dividing the weeds into two parts. A boy and a girl were born from the weeds.[2][4]

    tapas in the forest, heard of his children and went to the palace of Kuru. He revealed their identity to the king and taught Kripa the four branches of Dhanurveda (archery). Kripa became a great archer like his father and taught warfare to many warriors and kings.[1][5][4]

    Life before the Kurushetra War

    The Adi Parva mentions that Kripa taught the

    Yadavas about Dhanurveda.[4] Later, the Pandava and Kaurava princes studied under Drona, Kripi's husband who was born to Bharadvaja and apsara Ghritachi in the similar way like her. When the princes' training was over, a test was organised. Karna—the adopted son of a charioteer—challenged Arjuna in an archery match, but Kripa interfered and asked Karna to specify his lineage.[6]

    The

    Pandavas during their incognito period of exile.[6]

    Kurukshetra War and later life

    Kripa (top left) fighting with Shikhandi

    In the

    Yudhamanyu, as well as killed Abhimanyu's guards, Suketu and Kalinda prince. The Shalya Parva mention that Kripa advised Karna to make peace with the Pandavas. On the 18th day of the war, the Kauravas side was defeated and Duryodhana was killed by Bhima. Kripa cried for him and along with Ashwatthama, he massacred the remaining Pandava army during that night and lit the fire at the camp.[6]

    The Stri Parva of the epic records Kripa returning to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, the parents of the Kauravas, and telling them about the war.[8] In the epic's Ashramavasika Parva, when Dhritarashtra decided to retire to the forest, Kripa wanted to accompany him. However, Dhritarashtra stopped him and advised Yudhishthira, the new emperor of Kuru Kingdom, to make Kripa a council member. When the Pandavas also retired to the Himalayas after many years, Kripa became the preceptor of Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. It is believed that after fulfilling his duties, Kripa finally went to the forest for penance and lived the rest of his life.[6]

    Legacy

    In

    yugas
     (age). According to some scriptures, Kripa was blessed with immortality because of his discipline, loyalty and impartial nature.

    According to the

    Saptarishi, the seven most revered sages, in the next Manvantara, which is a cyclic period of time identifying the age of a Manu, the progenitor of mankind, in Hindu cosmology.[9][10]

    References

    Citations

    1. ^ a b c d e Mani 1975, p. 418.
    2. ^ a b c d Ganguli 1896, Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXXX
    3. ^ a b Gandhi 2004.
    4. ^ a b c d e f g Dalal 2010, p. 206.
    5. ^ a b Varkey 2001, p. 22.
    6. ^ a b c d e Mani 1975, p. 419.
    7. ^ Ganguli 1896, Udyoga Parva: Uluka Dutagamana Parva: Section CLXVII
    8. ^ Ganguli 1896 Stri Parva: Jalapradanika Parva: Section XI
    9. ^ Wilson 1840, Chapter II
    10. ^ Mani 1975, p. 485.

    Sources

    • Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature. Robarts - University of Toronto. Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 418, 419.
      ISBN 9780842608220
      .
    • sacred-texts.com
      .
    • Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin UK.
      ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9
      .
    • Varkey, C.P. (2001). A Pilgrimage ~ Through the Mahabharata. St Pauls BYB. pp. 22–.
      ISBN 978-81-7109-497-4
      .
    • Gandhi, Menka (16 October 2004). Penguin Book Of Hindu Names For Boys. Penguin UK.
      ISBN 978-81-8475-836-8
      .
    • Wilson, Horace Hayman (1840). "The Vishnu Purana".
      sacred-texts.com
      .
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