What is "kripa"

Not to be confused with "Kripa" , a female given name.

Kripa ( Sanskrit: कृप, in IAST transliteration), also known as Kripacharya ( Sanskrit: कृपाचार्य) or Krupacharya is an important character in the Mahābhārata, one of the eight Chiranjivi. He was the son of Shardwan and Janapadi, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King Shantanu. Later on Kripa became an acharya, teacher of the royal children, giving him the name Kripacharya. He taught the Kauravas and Pandavas for many years, before Dronacharya was appointed for further education by Bhishma. His twin sister Kripi married Drona. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war in the Hindu epic of the Mahabharata. Along with sages Parashurama, Vyasa, and Aswatthama, Kripa is considered to be foremost among the rishis in Kaliyuga. Kripa will also become one of the Saptarishi in the 8th Manvantara along with sage Vyasa ,sage Aswatthama and sage Parashurama

Kripa is the concept of divine grace in Hinduism. It is the central tenet of Bhakti Yoga and Bhakti movements, which are seen as reform movements in Hinduism as compared to the Hinduism which finds its origins in the Vedas; though variously it can mean "grace", "mercy", or "blessing", depending upon the context. The Hindi word Kirpala from Sanskrit Kripala means "kind" and is used as a given name for males, while "Kripa" (Kṛpā), is used as a female given name.