An ''akshauhini'' ( ''akṣauhiṇī'') is described in the
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
(
Adi Parva
The Adi Parva ("Book of the Beginning") is the first of the eighteen ''parvas'' (books) of the Indian epic ''Mahabharata''. "Ādi" (wiktionary:आदि#Sanskrit, आदि) in Sanskrit means "first". Adi Parva traditionally has 19 parts and 236 ' ...
2.15-23) as a
battle formation consisting of 21,870 chariots (Sanskrit ''ratha''); 21,870 elephants (Sanskrit ''gaja''); 65,610 horses (Sanskrit ''turaga'') and 109,350 infantry (Sanskrit ''pada sainyam''). Thus one akshauhini consisted of 218,700 warriors (not including the charioteers, who didn't fight). The ratio is 1 chariot: 1 elephant: 3
cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
: 5
infantry
Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
soldiers. In each of these large number groups (65,610, etc.), the digits add up to 18.
It is mentioned in the ''Mahabharata'' that in the
Kurukshetra War
The Kurukshetra War (), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the Hindu Indian epic poetry, epic poem ''Mahabharata'', arising from a dynastic struggle between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, for the thr ...
the
Pandava
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, aɳɖɐʋᵊ IAST: Pāṇḍava) is a group name referring to the five legendary brothers, Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, who are central figures of the Hindu epic ''Mahabhara ...
army consisted of seven ''akshauhinis'' (1,530,900 warriors), and the
Kaurava army had eleven ''akshauhinis'' (2,405,700 warriors).
Composition
:Patti (
squad
In military terminology, a squad is among the smallest of Military organization, military organizations and is led by a non-commissioned officer. NATO and United States, U.S. doctrine define a squad as an organization "larger than a fireteam, ...
): 1 elephant (gaja) + 1 chariot (ratha) + 3 horse (ashwa) + 5 foot soldiers (padati) = 10 warriors
:Senamukha = (
platoon
A platoon is a Military organization, military unit typically composed of two to four squads, Section (military unit), sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the Military branch, branch, but a platoon can ...
): 3 elephant + 3 chariot + 9 horse + 15 foot soldiers = 30 warriors
:Gulma = (
company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
): 9 elephant + 9 chariot + 27 horse + 45 foot soldiers = 90 warriors
:Gana = (
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...
): 27 elephant + 27 chariot + 81 horse + 135 foot soldiers = 270 warriors
:Wahini = (
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation.
In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...
): 81 elephant + 81 chariot + 243 horse + 405 foot soldiers = 810 warriors
:Pritana/prutana = (
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
): 243 elephant + 243 chariot + 729 horse + 1215 foot soldiers = 2,430 warriors
:Chamu = (
division): 729 elephant + 729 chariot + 2187 horse + 3645 foot soldiers = 7,290 warriors
:Anikini = (
corps
Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was formally introduced March 1, 1800, when Napoleon ordered Gener ...
): 2187 elephant + 2187 chariot + 6561 horse + 10935 foot soldiers = 21,870 warriors
:Akshauhini = (
army
An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...
): 21870 elephant + 21870 chariot + 65610 horse + 109350 foot soldiers = 218,700 warriors
Kaurava army and their allies
The Kuru army is a coalition of 11 ''akshauhinis'' formed by the kingdom of Hastinapura in alliance with races like the
Samsaptakas,
Trigartas, the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Shalya of Madra.
*
Bhagadatta, king of
Pragjyotisha – 1 akshauhini
*
Shalya, king of
Madra – 1 akshauhini
*
Bhurishravas, Prince of the
Bahlika kingdom and the grandson of the king
Bahlika – 1 akshauhini
*
Kritavarma (who leads
Krishna
Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
's
Narayani Sena consisting of
Yadava clans of Andhakas, Vrishnis, Kukuras, Bhojas and the Shainyas
offered prior to the war) – 1 akshauhini
*
Jayadratha (king of the
Sindhu kingdom) – 1 akshauhini
*
Sudakshina, king of
Kambhoja – 1 akshauhini (has Yavanas & Sakas in his troops)
*
Karna, king of
Anga
Anga was an ancient Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan tribe of eastern South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The members of the Aṅga tribe were called the Āṅgeyas.
Counted among the "sixteen great na ...
– 1 akshauhini
*
Srutayudha, king of
Kalinga – 1 akshauhini
*
Shakuni
Shakuni (, , ) is one of the antagonists of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He was the prince of the kingdom of Gandhara when introduced, later becoming its king after the death of his father, Subala. He was the brother of Gandhari (Mahabharata), ...
, king of
Gandhara
Gandhara () was an ancient Indo-Aryan people, Indo-Aryan civilization in present-day northwest Pakistan and northeast Afghanistan. The core of the region of Gandhara was the Peshawar valley, Peshawar (Pushkalawati) and Swat valleys extending ...
– 1 akshauhini
*
Susharma, king of
Trigarta
Trigarta (also known as Kangra and Jalandhara) was an ancient Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan Monarchy, kingdom based in the region of modern day Punjab. The focal point of its administration was situated in Jalandhar. However at its zenith i ...
– 1 akshauhini
*
Kurus and other allies – 1 akshauhini
Pandava army and their allies
The Pandava army is a coalition of 7 ''akshauhinis'', primarily the
Panchala and
Matsya
Matsya () is the fish avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Often described as the first of Vishnu's Dashavatara, ten primary avatars, Matsya is described to have rescued the first man, Manu (Hinduism), Manu, from a great deluge. Matsya may be dep ...
forces, the Rakshasa forces of Bhima's son, Ghatotkacha and Vrishni–Yadava heroes.
*
Kuntibhoja, king of
Kunti kingdom – 1 ''akshauhini''
*
Malayadhvaja, king of Early Pandyas having a Conjugated armed force of
Pandyas,
Cholas and
Cheras – 1 ''akshauhini''
* Dhrishtaketu, king of
Chedis – 1 ''akshauhini''
*
Sahadeva
Sahadeva () was the youngest of the five Pandava brothers in the ancient Indian epic, the '' Mahabharata''. He and his twin brother Nakula were the sons of Madri, one of the wives of the Pandava patriarch Pandu, and Ashvini Kumaras, the ...
(Son of
Jarasandha), king of
Magadha – 1 ''akshauhini''
*
Drupada
Drupada (), also known as Yajnasena (, ), is the king of the southern part of Panchala Kingdom, in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is the father of Draupadi, the epic's lead female character. In the Kurukshetra War as the head of 1 akshauhi ...
, king of
Panchala, with his sons – 1 ''akshauhini''
*
Virata, king of
Matsya kingdom – 1 ''akshauhini''
*
Ghatotkacha and other allies – 1 ''akshauhini''
The 4 types of units that make up an ''akshauhini'' can also be seen in
Chaturanga, the predecessor of
chess
Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...
.
See also
*
Chakravyuha
*
Chaturanga
Chaturanga (, , ) is an Traditional games of India, ancient Indian Strategy game, strategy board game. It is first known from India around the seventh century AD.
While there is some uncertainty, the prevailing view among chess historians is t ...
*
Maharathi (warrior)
References
3
Akshauhini Wars in Detail - A Study{HinduMythology
Tactical formations
Mahabharata