Kripa – Kripacharya – is one of the important persons in the
Mahabharata. Story of the birth of Kripa is found in the Agni Purana. He was
the son of Rishi Sharadvan and celestial nymph Janapadi. Although Sharadvan was
born in the lineage of saints, he was more interested in Dhanurveda (science of
archery). To show his deep interest some scriptures states that he was born
with bow and arrow.
An expert archer from a young age, Sharadvan did intense
penance in the forest to learn all the nuisances of archery. Keeping his bow
and arrow nearby he performed Tapas to get blessings from the Trimurtis.
As the intensity of the penance of Sharadvan increased,
Indra, King of Devas, felt threatened. He saw Sharadvan as a potential threat
to his throne and status.
To break the penance, Indra deputed celestial nymph
Janapadi. She enticed Sharadvan in numerous ways but found on success. Finally
she succeeded but just for a moment – Sharadvan lost his senses for a moment
but he immediately gained control. But in that second he dropped his semen.
When wisdom dawned, he left behind his bow and arrow and went deep into the
forest to do penance.
The ejected semen had fallen on an arrow nearby. It broke
into two giving birth to a male and female child.
King Shantanu (the great grandfather of Pandavas and Kauravas
and father of Bhishma) who was passing by saw the children and he brought them
to Hastinapura. As the king felt Kripa (pity) for the children, they were named
Kripa and Kripi. Thus Kripa and Kripi became part of Hastinapura.
Sharadvan who was living in the forest through
his divine powers came to know about his two children. He then went to
Hastinapur palace and taught Kripa lessons in archery. Gradually, Kripa became
a great master in archery and got the name Kripacharya.