Akshauhini


An akshauhini is described in the Mahabharata as a battle formation consisting of 21,870 chariots ; 21,870 elephants ; 65,610 horses and 109,350 infantry as per the Mahabharata. Thus one akshauhini consisted of 218,700 warriors. The ratio is 1 chariot : 1 elephant : 3 cavalry : 5 infantry soldiers. In each of these large number groups, the digits add up to 18.
It is mentioned in the Mahabharata that, in the Kurukshetra War, the Pandava Army consisted of 7 akshauhinis, and Kaurava Army consisted of 11 akshauhinis. Thus, the total count of warriors who participated in the war, being 3,936,600.

Composition

One elephant, one chariot, three horses and five foot soldiers 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 an 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 Samsaptakas, Trigartas, the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Shalya of Madra.
Commanders in Chief:
  1. Bhishma,
  2. Drona,
  3. Karna,
  4. Shalya,
  5. Ashwatthama

    Kaurava Army and Duryodhana's side

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.

Pandava Army and their Allies

The 4 types of units that make up an Akshauhini can also be seen in Chaturanga, the predecessor of chess.