# Akshauhini

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Army division featured in Hinduism

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An ***akshauhini*** ([Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit_language): अक्षौहिणी *akṣauhiṇī*) is described in the [Mahabharata](/source/Mahabharata) ([Adi Parva](/source/Adi_Parva) 2.15-23) as a [battle formation](/source/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*).[1][2] 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](/source/Cavalry): 5 [infantry](/source/Infantry) 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](/source/Kurukshetra_War) the [Pandava](/source/Pandava) army consisted of seven *akshauhinis* (1,530,900 warriors), and the [Kaurava](/source/Kaurava) army had eleven *akshauhinis* (2,405,700 warriors).

## Composition

- **Patti** ([squad](/source/Squad)): 1 elephant (gaja) + 1 chariot (ratha) + 3 horse (ashwa) + 5 foot soldiers (padati) = 10 warriors

- **Senamukha** = ([platoon](/source/Platoon)): 3 elephant + 3 chariot + 9 horse + 15 foot soldiers = 30 warriors

- **Gulma** = ([company](/source/Company_(military_unit))): 9 elephant + 9 chariot + 27 horse + 45 foot soldiers = 90 warriors

- **Gana** = ([battalion](/source/Battalion)): 27 elephant + 27 chariot + 81 horse + 135 foot soldiers = 270 warriors

- **Wahini** = ([regiment](/source/Regiment)): 81 elephant + 81 chariot + 243 horse + 405 foot soldiers = 810 warriors

- **Pritana/prutana** = ([brigade](/source/Brigade)): 243 elephant + 243 chariot + 729 horse + 1215 foot soldiers = 2,430 warriors

- **Chamu** = ([division](/source/Division_(military))): 729 elephant + 729 chariot + 2187 horse + 3645 foot soldiers = 7,290 warriors

- **Anikini** = ([corps](/source/Corps)): 2187 elephant + 2187 chariot + 6561 horse + 10935 foot soldiers = 21,870 warriors

- **Akshauhini** = ([army](/source/Army)): 21870 elephant + 21870 chariot + 65610 horse + 109350 foot soldiers = 218,700 warriors

[3]

## 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](/source/Samsaptakas), [Trigartas](/source/Trigartas), the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Shalya of Madra.[4]

- [Bhagadatta](/source/Bhagadatta), king of [Pragjyotisha](/source/Pragjyotisha_kingdom) – 1 akshauhini

- [Shalya](/source/Shalya), king of [Madra](/source/Madra) – 1 akshauhini

- [Bhurishravas](/source/Bhurishravas), Prince of the [Bahlika kingdom](/source/Bahlika_kingdom) and the grandson of the king [Bahlika](/source/Bahlika_(Mahabharata)) – 1 akshauhini

- [Kritavarma](/source/Kritavarma) (who leads [Krishna](/source/Krishna)'s [Narayani Sena](/source/Narayani_Sena) consisting of [Yadava clans](/source/Yadava#The_Satvatas) of Andhakas, Vrishnis, Kukuras, Bhojas and the Shainyas [offered prior to the war](/source/Kurukshetra_War#War_preparations)) – 1 akshauhini

- [Jayadratha](/source/Jayadratha) (king of the [Sindhu kingdom](/source/Sindhu_kingdom)) – 1 akshauhini

- [Sudakshina](/source/Sudakshina), king of [Kambhoja](/source/Kambojas) – 1 akshauhini (has Yavanas & Sakas in his troops)

- [Karna](/source/Karna), king of [Anga](/source/Anga) – 1 akshauhini

- [Srutayudha](/source/Srutayudha), king of [Kalinga](/source/Kalinga_(Mahabharata)) – 1 akshauhini

- [Shakuni](/source/Shakuni), king of [Gandhara](/source/Gandhara) – 1 akshauhini

- [Susharma](/source/Susharma), king of [Trigarta](/source/Trigarta_kingdom) – 1 akshauhini

- [Kurus](/source/Kuru_kingdom) and other allies – 1 akshauhini

## Pandava army and their allies

The Pandava army is a coalition of 7 *akshauhinis*, primarily the [Panchala](/source/Panchala) and [Matsya](/source/Matsya_(tribe)) forces, the Rakshasa forces of Bhima's son, Ghatotkacha and Vrishni–Yadava heroes.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- [Kuntibhoja](/source/Kuntibhoja), king of [Kunti kingdom](/source/Kunti_kingdom) – 1 *akshauhini*

- [Malayadhvaja](/source/Malayadhvaja_Pandya), king of Early Pandyas having a Conjugated armed force of [Pandyas](/source/Pandyas), [Cholas](/source/Cholas) and [Cheras](/source/Cheras) – 1 *akshauhini*

- Dhrishtaketu, king of [Chedis](/source/Chedi_kingdom) – 1 *akshauhini*

- [Sahadeva](/source/Sahadeva_of_Magadha) (Son of [Jarasandha](/source/Jarasandha)), king of [Magadha](/source/Magadha_(Mahajanapada)) – 1 *akshauhini*

- [Drupada](/source/Drupada), king of [Panchala](/source/Panchala), with his sons – 1 *akshauhini*

- [Virata](/source/Virata), king of [Matsya kingdom](/source/Matsya_kingdom) – 1 *akshauhini*

- [Ghatotkacha](/source/Ghatotkacha) and other allies – 1 *akshauhini*

The 4 types of units that make up an *akshauhini* can also be seen in [Chaturanga](/source/Chaturang), the predecessor of [chess](/source/Chess).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## See also

- [Chakravyuha](/source/Chakravyuha)

- [Chaturanga](/source/Chaturanga)

- [Maharathi](/source/Maharathi_(warrior)) (warrior)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Section II"](http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01003.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** 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*](https://books.google.com/books?id=LmojzoCC5F8C&pg=PA408). Kegan Paul. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780415244978](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780415244978). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["A Glossary Of Terms in Indian Scriptures"](https://sheetaluwach.com/glossary-indian-scriptures). 5 March 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210414194930/https://sheetaluwach.com/glossary-indian-scriptures/) from the original on 2021-04-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (1883–1896). [*The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose*](https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05019.htm). Kolkata: Pratap Chandra Roy. p. 5 (Udyoga Parva): Section XIX. Retrieved 8 May 2022.

3. [Akshauhini Wars in Detail - A Study](http://8sib.blogspot.com/search/label/Akshauhini)

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[\[1\]](https://rkmthrissur.org/categories/sri_mahabharatam/357798000000227397)

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