Kripa
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with "Kripa" , a female given name.
Kripa ( in IAST
transliteration), also known as Kripacharya or Krupacharya is an important character in the Mahābhārata
, one of the seven Chiranjivin (the "immortals" who are to remain alive throughout the present age, the Kali Yuga
).
He was the son of Shardwan and Janapadi, born in a particularly extraordinary manner (see below).
had a grandson called Shardwan (or Sharadvan). Shardwan was born with arrows, making clear he was a born archer
.
From his early childhood, he was more interested in archery than in the study of the Vedas. He meditated and attained the art of all types of warfare. He was such a great archer that no one could defeat him.
This created panic amongst the gods. Especially Indra
, the King of the Gods, felt the most threatened. He then sent a beautiful Apsara
(divine nymph
) from the Heaven to distract the celibate saint. The nymph, called Janapadi, came to the saint and tried to seduce him in various ways.
Shardwan was distracted and the sight of such a beautiful woman made him lose control. As he was a great saint, he still managed to resist the temptation and controlled his desires. But his concentration was lost, and he dropped his bow and arrows. His semen fell on some weeds by the wayside, dividing the weeds into two - from which a boy and a girl were born. The saint himself left the hermitage and his bow and arrow and went to the forest for penance.
Coincidentally, King Shantanu, the great-grandfather of the Pandava
s, was crossing from there and saw the children by the wayside. One look at them was enough for him to realize that they were the children of a great Brahmin
archer. He named them Kripa and Kripi and decided to take them back with him to his palace.
s. He also taught the children archery, Vedas and other Shashtras and the secrets of the Universe.
The children grew up to become experts in the art of warfare. The boy Kripa, who came to be known as Kripacharya, was now assigned the task of teaching the young princes all about warfare.
On growing up Kripa was the chief priest at the court of Hastinapura
. His twin sister Kripi married Drona
, the weapons master to the court - who, like her and her brother, had not been gestated in a womb, but outside the human body.
He fought in the great battle of Kurukshetra
for the Kaurava
side. Afterwards, he was appointed to be the teacher and preceptor of Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna
.
As noted, he is one of the seven Chiranjivin (the "immortals" who are to remain alive throughout the present age, the Kali Yuga
).
Kripa ( in IAST
IAST
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is a transliteration scheme that allows a lossless romanization of Indic scripts as employed by the Sanskrit language.-Popularity:...
transliteration), also known as Kripacharya or Krupacharya is an important character in the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, one of the seven Chiranjivin (the "immortals" who are to remain alive throughout the present age, the Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga...
).
He was the son of Shardwan and Janapadi, born in a particularly extraordinary manner (see below).
Birth
Gautama MaharishiGautama Maharishi
Gautama Maharishi is one of the Saptarishis Gautama Maharishi is one of the Saptarishis Gautama Maharishi is one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi of the current Manvantara (seventh). He was one of the Maharishis of Vedic times, known to have been the discoverer of Mantras --...
had a grandson called Shardwan (or Sharadvan). Shardwan was born with arrows, making clear he was a born archer
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
.
From his early childhood, he was more interested in archery than in the study of the Vedas. He meditated and attained the art of all types of warfare. He was such a great archer that no one could defeat him.
This created panic amongst the gods. Especially Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
, the King of the Gods, felt the most threatened. He then sent a beautiful Apsara
Apsara
An Apsara , also known as Vidhya Dhari or Tep Apsar in Khmer, Accharā or A Bố Sa La Tư , Bidadari , Biradali , Widodari and Apson , is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in...
(divine nymph
Nymph
A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
) from the Heaven to distract the celibate saint. The nymph, called Janapadi, came to the saint and tried to seduce him in various ways.
Shardwan was distracted and the sight of such a beautiful woman made him lose control. As he was a great saint, he still managed to resist the temptation and controlled his desires. But his concentration was lost, and he dropped his bow and arrows. His semen fell on some weeds by the wayside, dividing the weeds into two - from which a boy and a girl were born. The saint himself left the hermitage and his bow and arrow and went to the forest for penance.
Coincidentally, King Shantanu, the great-grandfather of the Pandava
Pandava
In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu , by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. Although, Karna is told by Lord Krishna that according to the laws and ethics he is the first son of Kunti making...
s, was crossing from there and saw the children by the wayside. One look at them was enough for him to realize that they were the children of a great Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
archer. He named them Kripa and Kripi and decided to take them back with him to his palace.
Life
When Shardwan came to know of these children he came to the palace, revealed their identity and performed the various rituals which are performed for the children of BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s. He also taught the children archery, Vedas and other Shashtras and the secrets of the Universe.
The children grew up to become experts in the art of warfare. The boy Kripa, who came to be known as Kripacharya, was now assigned the task of teaching the young princes all about warfare.
On growing up Kripa was the chief priest at the court of Hastinapura
Hastinapura
Hastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapur was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings. The throne of this city was the prize over which the Kurukshetra War of the epic...
. His twin sister Kripi married Drona
Drona
In the epic Mahābhārata, Drona or Dronacharya was the royal guru to Kauravas and Pandavas. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the Devastras. Arjuna was his favorite student. Dronas love for Arjuna was second only to his love for his son Ashwatthama...
, the weapons master to the court - who, like her and her brother, had not been gestated in a womb, but outside the human body.
He fought in the great battle of Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
for the Kaurava
Kaurava
The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:...
side. Afterwards, he was appointed to be the teacher and preceptor of Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
.
As noted, he is one of the seven Chiranjivin (the "immortals" who are to remain alive throughout the present age, the Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga...
).