(The KSH in this name is pronounced like 'ctio' in 'action'. The N is pronounced like 'n' in 'turn'.)
Ancient Indian army consisted of four divisions.
In actual war field, any of the four can take on against any of the four.
But, while forming the divisions of the army, a mix of all the four categories in a particular proportion was taken.
The basic unit of an army was called paththi and it consisted of one chariot, one elephant, three horses and five soldiers.
Every next higher unit was three times its previous one. This continues upto 7 steps. Then this last division multiplied 10 times was called akshouhini or akshohini.
The following table explains the count clearly.
It is clear from the table that the ratio of the forces (E:C:H:S:) is 1:1:3:5 in any division.
It should be understood that an elephant means a warrior ( some hold that an elephant carries 7 warriors, generally ) on an elephant with its driver and guards. A chariot means a fighter in a chariot with a driver, 2 or 4 horses and its rear-guards. A horse means a fighter mounted on a horse. Besides these animals, bullock carts etc., were also used for transportation purpose. Several staff were also employed as non-fighting force to do ancilliary services. War camps provided for entertainment programs too at night.
Incidentally, all the 4 words from Vaahini to Annekini are synonyms of the word 'army' in Samskritham. Also, In Udyoga parva too, there occurs description of akshouhini. But that differs from this, needing different numerical interpretation for correlating with the one given in Aadi parva.
The army of the Paandavas consisted of 7 Akshounis and that of the Kouravas 11. Then the total number of elephants, horses,men and chariots involved in the war on both sides together can be calculated, leaving out drivers and non-fighting forces. That comes around 3 93 660 elephants, 3 93 660 chariots, 11 80 980 horses and 19 68 300 soldiers besides the mounted men on the animals. Few of them must have survived. Amazing !
Name of the division Narration Composition of E C H S in it, in that order. Paththi basic unit 1, 1, 3, 5 Senaamukham 3 times Paththi 3, 3, 9, 15 Gulmam 3 times Senaamukham 9, 9, 27, 45 Ganam 3 times Gulmam 27, 27, 81, 135 Vaahini 3 times Ganam 81, 81, 243, 405 Prithana 3 times Vaahini 243, 243, 729, 1215
Chamu 3 times Prithana 729, 729, 2187, 3645 Aneekini 3 times Chamu 2187, 2187, 6561, 10935 Akshouhini 10 times Aneekini 21870, 21870, 65610, 109350 "After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA
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