Akshauhini

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An Akshauhini (Sanskrit: ), was an ancient battle formation that consisted of 21,870 chariots
(Sanskrit ratha); 21,870 elephants; 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry,
[1]
as per the Mahabharata (Adi
Parva 2.15-23). The ratio is 1 chariot : 1 elephant : 3 cavalry : 5 infantry soldiers. In each of these large
number groups (65,610, etc.), the digits add up to 18.
It is said that the size of Pandavas army in the Kurukshetra war was 7 akshauhinis, and those of
Kauravas 11 akshauhinis.
The count is arrived as follows:
One elephant (Gaja), one chariot (Ratha), three horses (Ashwa) and five foot soldiers (Padhata) form a
Patti;
Three Pattis form a Sena-Mukha;
Three Sena-Mukhas make a Gulma;
Three Gulmas a Gana;
Three Ganas a Vahini;
Three Vahinis a Pruthana;
Three Pruthanas a Chamu;
Three Chamus a Anikini;
Ten Anikinis form an Akshauhini. Thus an Akshauhini, by calculation, contains 21,870 elephants,
21,870 chariots, 65,610 Horses, and 109,350 foot soldiers.
Kuru Army of 11 Akshauhinis is formed by the kingdom of Hastinapura in alliance with races like the
Samshaptakas, Trigartas, the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Shalya of Madra.
Commanders in Chief: Bhishma (10 days), Drona (5 days), Karna (2 days), Shalya (1 day),
Ashwatthama (after Duryodhana loses the mace match with Bhima]
Commanders in Chief: Dhristadyumna
Atirathis: Dushasana, Jayadratha, Shakuni and Vikarna
Maharathis: Duryodhana, Kripacharya and Shalya
Atimaharathi: Bhisma, Dronacharya ,Karna and Ashwathama
Kaurava Army and Duryodhana's side:
Bhagadatta the veteran - 1 Akshauhini
Shalya, king of Madra - 1 Akshauhini
Nila of Mahishmati - 1 Akshauhini (from south)
Kritavarma (Krishna's Narayani sena of Yadavas) - 1 Akshauhini
Jayadratha (Saindhava) - 1 Akshauhini
Sudakshina, king of Kambhoja - 1 Akshauhini (has Yavanas & Sakas in his troops)
Vinda and Anuvinda (from Avanti) - 1 Akshauhini
Kalinga Forces - 1 Akshauhini
Shakuni of Gandhara - 1 Akshauhini
Susharma of Trigata - 1 Akshauhini
Kurus and other Allies - 1 Akshauhini
Pandava Army: is a coalition of 7 Akshauhinis, primarily the Panchala and Matsya forces, the
Rakshasa forces of Bhima's son, and Vrishni-Yadava heroes.
Atirathis: Yuyutsu, Uttara, Shikhandi and Upapandavas
Maharathis: Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva, Yudhishthira, Dhristadyumna, Satyaki, Ghatotkacha,
Abhimanyu, Drupada and Virata
Atimaharathi: Arjuna
Pandava Army and their Allies:
Satyaki of the Vrishni clan - 1 Akshauhini
Ghatotkacha - 1 Akshauhini
Dhrishtaketu, king of Chedis - 1 Akshauhini
Sahadeva, son of Jarasandha - 1 Akshauhini (from Magadha)
Drupada with his sons - 1 Akshauhini
Virata the king of Matsya - 1 Akshauhini
Pandya, Chola and other allies - 1 Akshauhini
Levels of Warrior Excellence:
Mahamaharathi: A chariot warrior capable of fighting 24 Atimaharathi warriors simultaneously. No
warrior has attained this status, not least because there have never been 24 Atimaharathi warriors at the
same time but, warriors who can be called Mahamaharathis are Shiva, Vishnu,Shakti, Brahma.
Atimaharathi: A warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi warriors simultaneously.Narsimha,Vali,
Kartavirya Arjuna,Parshurama, Ravana,Indrajit,Kumbhakarna, Narakasuran,
Jambavan,Rama,Laxhman,Hanuman Bhisma,Drona,Kripa,Karna,Ashwatthama,
Arjuna,Krishna,Balram,Jarasandha and devas in heaven like Indra,Skanda, Ganesha were Atimaharathis.
Maharathi: A warrior capable of fighting 60,000 warriors simultaneously; circumspect in his mastery
of all forms of weapons and combat skills. Yudhistra, Bhim, Nakul, Sahadev, Kritavarma, Satyaki,
Dhristadyumna, Shalya, Duryodhana,Sugreeva, Kamsa, Dushashana, Vikarna, Yuyutsu,and Pradyumna
were Maharathis.
Atirathi: A chariot warrior capable of contending with 10,000 warriors simultaneously. Yuyutsu,
Uttara, Shikandhi, Dushashana, Vikarna, Jayadratha and Shakuni were Atirathis.
The 4 types of units that make up an Akshauhini can also be seen in Chaturanga, the predecessor of
chess.
See also
Chaturanga
Chess
References
1. ^ Sachau, Eduard (1910). Alberuni's India: an account of the religion, philosophy, literature, geography,
chronology, astronomy, customs, laws and astrology of India about A.D. 1030, Volume 1
(http://books.google.com/books?id=LmojzoCC5F8C&pg=PA408). Kegan Paul.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akshauhini&oldid=624137977"
Categories: Tactical formations Mahabharata
This page was last modified on 4 September 2014 at 09:46.
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