Where is the historical place named Samanta-panchaya mentioned in Mahabharat and what is its significance?
This is a story of a place called Samanta Panchaya, a place well known to us where death danced during Mahabharat times.
Tagged: Akshauhinis
In ancient Indian epics like the Mahabharata, an Akshauhini represents a formidable battle formation, a massive army unit with precise divisions of infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants. Each Akshauhini is meticulously organized, symbolizing strategic prowess and sheer scale in warfare. These vast formations played crucial roles in historic battles, embodying the grandeur and intensity of ancient war tactics. Explore the composition, significance, and stories of legendary Akshauhinis on AncientIndianStories.com.
An Akshauhini is a unique military formation described in ancient Indian texts like the Mahabharata, known for its vast size and organization. The formation consists of a highly specific ratio of four types of forces:
1 Akshauhini includes:
- 21,870 Chariots (Rathas)
- 21,870 Elephants (Gajas)
- 65,610 Cavalry (Ashvas)
- 109,350 Infantry (Padas)
This composition follows the ratio of 1:1:3:5 for chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry respectively. Each Akshauhini thus represents an enormous and carefully balanced army, with a total of 218,700 soldiers and animals. In the Mahabharata, 18 Akshauhinis were fielded in the Kurukshetra war: 11 for the Kauravas and 7 for the Pandavas, illustrating the massive scale of the conflict.
