An Akshauhini (Sanskrit: अक्षौहिणी), was an ancient battle formation that consisted of 21,870 chariots (Sanskrit ratha); 21,870 elephants; 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry,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)
- Atirathi: Somadatta, Bhurishravas, Bhagadatta, Jayadratha, Kritavarma, Shakuni, 99 brothers of Duryodhana
- Maharathi: Ashwathama, Shrutyudha, Shalya, Duryodhana, Kripacharya
- Atimaharathi: Bhishma, Drona, Karna
Kaurava Army and Duryodhana's side:
- Bhagdatta the veteran - 1 Akshauhini
- Salya, king of Madra - 1 Akshauhini
- Bhoorisravas - 1 Akshauhini
- 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
- Nila of Mahishmati - 1 Akshauhini (from south)
- Five Kekaya brothers - 1 Akshauhini
- Kuru's own army and others - 3 Akshauhinis all put together
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.
Commanders in Chief: Dhristadyumna
- Atirathi: Ghatotkacha, Yuyutsu, Dhrupada, Virata, Uttara, Satyaki
- Maharathi: Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva, Yudhishthira, Dhristadyumna, Abhimanyu
- Atimaharathi: Arjuna
- Mahamaharathi: Krishna (didn't take part in Kurukshetra War)
Pandava Army and their Allies:
- Satyaki of the Vrishni clan - 1 Akshauhini
- Yuyudhana - 1 Akshauhini
- Dhrishtaketu, king of Chedis - 1 Akshauhini
- Jayatsena, son of Jarasandha - 1 Akshauhini (from Magadha) -- (Jarasandha, was slain by Bhima earlier, on Krishna's advice to neutralize Duryodhana's most powerful ally (father-in-law of Sisupal) and his son made ruler of Magadh for this assistance in the Kurukshetra War)
- 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 the various incarnations of Vishnu like Krishna and Rama, Balarama, Shiva, Hanuman, Parvati and Brahma.
Atimaharathi: A chariot warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi warriors simultaneously. Vali, Ravana, Parashurama, Jambavan, Bhisma, Karna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Indrajit are Atimaharathis.
Maharathi: A chariot warrior capable of fighting 60,000 warriors simultaneously; circumspect in his mastery of all forms of weapons and combat skills. Yudhishthira, Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva, Dhristadyumna, Drupada, Virata, Shalya, Duryodhana, Kripacharya, Ashwathama, Satyaki, Abhimanyu and Kamsa 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.
