Maharathi (warrior)
As per Hindu epics, a Maharathi is a warrior having mastery of all forms of weapons and combat skills.[1] Maharathas are masters of all Vyuhas or battle formations and excellent strategists.[2]
Levels of warrior excellence
- Mahamaharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 24 Atimaharathi's simultaneously.This includes Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Ganesha, kartikeya and 10 Mahavidyas are Mahamaharathi's.
- Atimaharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi warriors simultaneously.Ravan's son Indrajit is considered as a Atimaharathi who possessed all three ultimate weapons of Trimurti's.Parasurama the sixth avatar of Vishnu is also considered an Atimaharathi (as he possessed all three weapons of the trinity Pashupatastra, Vaishnavastra and Brahma astra)
- Maharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 12 Atirathi class warriors or 720,000 warriors simultaneously, circumspect in his mastery of all forms of weapons and combat skills. Kartavirya Arjuna, Lord Rama, Kumbhakarna, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Ravana, Lava, Kusha, Sugriva, Atikaya, Jambavan, Vali, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Arjuna, Ashwatthama, Abhimanyu, Balrama, Lord Narasimha, Alambusha, Vrishasena (the son of Karna), Bhagadatta, Narakasura, Drupada, Virata, Jarasandha and Dhrishtaketu were Maharathis.
- Atirathi: A warrior capable of contending with 12 Rathi class warriors or 60,000 warriors simultaneously. Kritavarma, Shalya, Kripacharya, Bhurisravas, Yuyutsu, Shishupala, Virata, Akampan, Satyaki, Drishtadyumna, Kuntibhoja, Ghatotkacha, all sons of Draupadi, Prahasta, Angada, Somadatha and Pradyumna were Atirathi's.
- Rathi: A warrior capable of attacking 5,000 warriors simultaneously. Duryodhana, Sudhakshina, Jayadhradha, Dusassana, Vikarna, all 97 brothers of Duryodhana, Shakuni, Yudhishtir, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva, Uttar , Shikhandi, Uttamaujas etc were Rathi's.
In Mahabharatha
As per Bhishma in Mahabaratha, there are three classes of warriors: Ratha, Atiratha and Maharatha (in increasing order of might).[3]
From Kaurava side
Rathis
- Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kambojas
- Shakuni, King of Gandhara and uncle of Kauravas
- Duryodhana's son Lakshmana and the son of Dussasana
- Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhu and brother in law of Kauravas
- All 99 brothers of Duryodhana including Dushasan are single Rathis
- Duryodhana is classified as a warrior equal to 8 Rathis
Atirathis
- Bhoja chief Kritavarma
- The ruler of the Madras, Salya
- Bhurisravas, the son of Somadatta
- Kripa, also known as Kripacharya, the son of Saradwata
Maharathis
- Alambhusha, the Chief of Rakshasas
- The ruler of Pragjyotisha, the brave Bhagadatta
- Vrishasena, the son of Karna,
- Guru Drona
- Asvathama, the son of Guru Drona, one of the eight chiranjeevi
- Karna, is equal to 2 Maharathas.[4](But at the tale of Rathas and Atirathas, Bhishma classified him as just half a Ratha in order to weaken his moral when fighting against his brothers Pandavas as per the request of Lord Krishna)
- Bhishma, even though he never classified himself, later it was revealed that he is equal to 2 Maharathi.
From Pandava side
Rathis
- Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu Sons of Drupada
- Shikhandi, the son of the King Drupada of the Panchala
- Yudhishtira the son of Pandu and Kunti
- Nakul and Sahadeva are single Rathis
- Bhima is regarded as equal to 8 Rathas.
Atirathis
- Satyaki of the Vrishni race,
- Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada
- Kuntibhoja,the maternal uncle of Pandavas
- Ghatotkacha,prince of Rakshasas and master of all illusions, son Bhima and Hidimba.
Maharathis
- Virata King of Virata Kingdom
- Drupada, King of Panchalas
- Dhrishtaketu, the son of Shishupala, the king of the Chedis
- Abhimanyu,the son of Arjuna
- Arjuna is equal to 2 Maharatha warrior
Akshauhini
Usually a Maharathi warrior is the general of an akshauhini. An akshauhini is described in the Mahabharata as a battle formation consisting of 21,870 chariots (ratha); 21,870 elephants; 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry as per the Mahabharata. 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 Pandava 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 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.
References
- ↑ Handbook of Hindu Mythology by George M. Williams
- ↑ Srimad Bhagavad Gita by Asoka Kausika, Star Publications, 1998
- ↑ K M Ganguly(1883–1896) Bhishma to Duryodhana at the tale of Rathis and Maharathisa October 2003, Retrieved 2015-05-02
- ↑ K M Ganguly(1883–1896)The Mahabharatha Book 7: Drona Parva SECTION I Karna is equal to 2 Maharatha warrior, October 2003, Retrieved 2015-04-11
External links
- Athimaharathi
- Mahābhārata online
- All volumes in 12 PDF-files (Holybooks.com, 181 MB in total)
- Reading Suggestions, J. L. Fitzgerald, Das Professor of Sanskrit, Department of Classics, Brown University
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