View source for Kripa

{{short description|Character in the Mahabharata, A Chiranjivi}}
{{other uses}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox character
| series = [[Mahabharata]]
| image = Krepa-kl.jpg
| caption = Javanese shadow puppet of Kripa
| family =
| relatives = {{ubl|Sharadvan (father)|Janapadi (mother)|[[Kripi]] (twin-sister)|[[Drona]] (brother-in-law)|[[Ashwatthama]] (nephew)}}
Shantanu (foster father)
| home = [[Hastinapur]], [[Kuru Kingdom]]
| weapon = Bow and arrows
| info-hdr = Information
| gender = Male
| affiliation = [[Acharya]], [[Chiranjivi]]
}}
'''Kripa''' ({{langx|sa|कृप|lit=pity}}, {{IAST3|Kṛpa}}), also known as '''Kripacharya''' ({{langx|sa|कृपाचार्य}}, {{IAST3|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 ''[[apsara]]'' Janapadi in an extraordinary manner, Kripa and his twin-sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]] of Kuru Kingdom. Kripa was trained by his birth father and became a great archer like him. Later in the epic, he fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] and was among the three survivors on the Kaurava side, along with [[Ashwatthama]] and [[Kritavarma]].
Kripa is a ''[[chiranjivi]]'', an immortal being destined to live until the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]'', the last ''[[yuga]]'' (age). According to some texts, he will also become one of the ''[[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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=418}}<ref name = "C130" />{{sfn|Gandhi|2004|}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}} Kripa was given the title "[[acharya]]" ('master') as he was an expert archer.{{sfn|Varkey|2001|p=22}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}}
In the epic, Kripa is known by many other names including Gautama ('descendant of [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]'), Sharadvata ('son of Sharadvan'), Sharadvanputra ('son of Sharadvan') and Bharatacharya ('teacher of the descendants of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharat]]').{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=419}}{{sfn|Gandhi|2004}}
==Birth and upbringing==
According to the ''[[Adi Parva]]'' of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', a boy named Sharadvan was born to [[Gautama Maharishi|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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=418}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}} 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 [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]], especially [[Indra]]. He then sent a beautiful ''[[apsara]]'' (celestial nymph), Janapadi, from heaven to distract the celibate saint.<ref name="C130">Ganguli 1896, [https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01131.htm Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXXX]</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=418}} 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.<ref name = "C130" />{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}}
[[Shantanu]], the king of [[Kuru Kingdom]], was hunting, when one of his soldiers spotted the twins and brought them to him. Shantanu became compassionate towards them that he adopted them and returned to his palace. The children were then named Kripa and Kripi.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=418}}<ref name = "C130" /> Sharadvan, who was performing ''[[tapas (religion)|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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=418}}{{sfn|Varkey|2001|p=22}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}}
==Life before the Kurushetra War==
The ''Adi Parva'' mentions that Kripa taught the [[Pandavas]], [[Kaurava]]s, [[Vrishni]]s and [[Yadavas]] about ''Dhanurveda''.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}}  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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=419}}
The ''[[Sabha Parva]]'' of the epic narrates that Kripa participated in the [[Rajasuya]] ritual of [[Yudhishthira]], where he distributed ''[[dakshina]]'' (fees). In the ''[[Virata Parva]]'', Kripa helped [[Duryodhana]], the eldest Kaurava, by sending spies to find the [[Pandavas]] during their incognito period of exile.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=419}}
==Kurukshetra War and later life==
[[File:Kripa and shikhandi.jpg|left|thumb|Kripa (top left) fighting with Shikhandi]]
In the [[Kurukshetra War]] between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Kripa supported Duryodhana and fought from his side.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=206}} The ''[[Udyoga Parva]]'' of the '' Mahabharata'' mentions that [[Bhishma]], commander of the Kaurava army, declared Kripa as a mighty warrior.<ref>Ganguli 1896, [https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05167.htm Udyoga Parva: Uluka Dutagamana Parva: Section CLXVII]</ref> During the war, Kripa fought with many warriors including Brihatkshetra, Chekitana, [[Satyaki]], [[Sahadeva]], [[Arjuna]], [[Bhima]], Dhrishaketu and Vardhakshremi. He also defeated [[Shikhandi]] and [[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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=419}}
The ''[[Stri Parva]]'' of the epic records Kripa returning to [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], the parents of the Kauravas, and telling them about the war.<ref name = "Stri" >Ganguli 1896 [https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11011.htm Stri Parva: Jalapradanika Parva: Section XI]</ref> 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.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=419}}
==Legacy==
In [[Hinduism]], Kripa is described as a [[Chiranjivi]], a "immortal" who will remain alive until the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]'', the last of the four ''[[yugas]]'' (age). According to some scriptures, Kripa was blessed with immortality because of his discipline, loyalty and impartial nature.
According to the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' (c. 400 BCE – 900 CE), Kripa will become one of the ''[[Saptarishi]]'', the seven most revered sages, in the next ''[[Manvantara]]'', which is a cyclic period of time identifying the age of a [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]], the progenitor of mankind, in [[Hindu cosmology]].<ref name = "Vishnu" >Wilson 1840, [https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp076.htm Chapter II]</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=485}}
== Literature ==
The Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram is a mantra that is featured in [[Hindu texts|Hindu literature]]:
{{Blockquote|text=अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:।<br>कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरञ्जीविन:॥<br>सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्।<br>जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥
aśvatthāmā balirvyāsō hanumāṁśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ।<br>kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaitai cirañjīvinaḥ॥<br>saptaitān saṁsmarēnnityaṁ mārkaṇḍēyamathāṣṭamam।<br>jīvēdvarṣaśataṁ sopi sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ॥<br>|title=Sapta Chiranjivi Stotram}}
The mantra states that the remembrance of the eight immortals ([[Ashwatthama]], [[Mahabali]], [[Vyasa]], [[Hanuman]], [[Vibhishana]], [[Kripa]], [[Parashurama]], and [[Markandeya]]) offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.
== References ==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}
===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/418/mode/1up|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|pages=418, 419|isbn=9780842608220 }}
* {{cite web|year=1896|title = The Mahabharata, Book 1-18|publisher=[[sacred-texts.com]]|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|authorlink=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|url = http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/ }}
* {{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=Kripa|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|year=2010|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
*{{cite book|last=Varkey|first=C.P.|title=A Pilgrimage ~ Through the Mahabharata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZoLhsMr3pMC&pg=PA22|year=2001|publisher=St Pauls BYB|isbn=978-81-7109-497-4|pages=22–}}
*{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Menka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5rzpNK3AiIC&q=Krpa|title=Penguin Book Of Hindu Names For Boys|date=2004-10-16|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-836-8|language=en}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp076.htm|title=The Vishnu Purana|first=Horace Hayman|last= Wilson|year=1840|publisher=[[sacred-texts.com]]}}
{{refend}}
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Chiranjivins]]
[[Category:People in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:People of the Kurukshetra War]]