Padmavyuha
Encyclopedia
The Padmavyuha or Chakravyuha (चक्रव्यूह) refers to a Military formation narrated in the Hindu epic Mahabharata
.
(padma, पद्म) or disc (chakra, चक्र) when viewed from above. The warriors at each interleaving position would be in an increasingly tough position to fight. The formation was used in the battle of Kurukshetra
by Drona
charya, who became commander-in-chief of the Kaurava
army after the fall of Bhishma
Pitamaha.
The various vyuhas (military formations) were studied by the Kauravas and Pandava
s alike. Most of them can be beaten using a counter-measure targeted specifically against that formation. It is important to observe that in the form of battle described in Mahabharata
, it was important to place the powerful fighters in those positions where they could inflict the maximum damage to the opposing force, or defend the attacks from key warriors of the opposition.
, Arjuna
, Krishna
and Pradyumna
knew how to crack and penetrate this vyooha. However to the Pandavas disappointment, Pradyumna did not participate in the Mahabharata war. Additionally, Arjuna's son Abhimanyu knew how to penetrate the Padmavyuha but not how to exit the formation. He learned the techniques to enter the formation when he was still inside the womb of his mother, Subhadra
since her Husband, Arjuna
was discussing the formation and its conquest with her. Ironically, Subhadra fell asleep while Arjuna was explaining, and Arjuna was called away by Krishna
for the Khandava forest extermination in the middle of his lesson. Thus, Arjuna could not finish explaining Subhadra
how to escape from the Padmavyuha.
Consequently, Abhimanyu
was unaware as how to escape from the Padmavyuha. He was thus killed in the Kurukshetra War
while trying to break free this formation. Mahabharata
also has references wherein the rules of war were broken by Kauravas to kill Abhimanyu
. After Abhimanyu
penetrated the sixth tier of spiral formation, all the Kaurava warriors attacked him in unison, though the main killer was Jayadratha
. It was against the rules of Dharmayuddha
, which stated that multiple warriors should not attack a single warrior.
The thirteenth day of Mahabharat war is remembered for the construction of Chakravyuha by Dronacharya. It is a very special day both for Kauravas and Pandavas. On this day, Jayadratha
from the Kauravas side and Abhimanyu
from the Pandavas side played a pivotal role. Jayadratha was very effective in stopping all the four pandavas from entering the chakravyuha (by making use of a boon granted to him by Lord Shiva
); Abhimanyu
was very effective in holding all the Kaurava maharathis (Great Charioteers, colloquially Great Warriors) at bay and thereby preventing the advancement of Kaurava
forces towards the Pandavas.
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
.
Background
The Chakravyuh or Padmavyuh, is a multi-tier defensive formation that looks like a blooming lotusLotus (plant)
Lotus identifies various plant taxa:* Nelumbo, a genus of aquatic plants with showy flowers** Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred or Indian lotus** Nelumbo lutea, the American or Yellow lotus...
(padma, पद्म) or disc (chakra, चक्र) when viewed from above. The warriors at each interleaving position would be in an increasingly tough position to fight. The formation was used in the battle of Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
by Drona
Drona
In the epic Mahābhārata, Drona or Dronacharya was the royal guru to Kauravas and Pandavas. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the Devastras. Arjuna was his favorite student. Dronas love for Arjuna was second only to his love for his son Ashwatthama...
charya, who became commander-in-chief of the Kaurava
Kaurava
The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:...
army after the fall of Bhishma
Bhishma
Bhishma or Bheeshma or Devavrata or 'Bhishma Pitamah' was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with wish-long life and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king. He was one of the most prominent characters of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the grand uncle of both the...
Pitamaha.
The various vyuhas (military formations) were studied by the Kauravas and Pandava
Pandava
In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu , by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. Although, Karna is told by Lord Krishna that according to the laws and ethics he is the first son of Kunti making...
s alike. Most of them can be beaten using a counter-measure targeted specifically against that formation. It is important to observe that in the form of battle described in Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, it was important to place the powerful fighters in those positions where they could inflict the maximum damage to the opposing force, or defend the attacks from key warriors of the opposition.
Formation
The Chakravyuha/Padmavyuha was a special formation and only a few exclusive Pandava warriors, namely, AbhimanyuAbhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
, Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
, Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and Pradyumna
Pradyumna
Pradyumna is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is one in 24 Keshava Namas , praised in all pujas. It is also the only name in Sanskrit with all the 3 letters joint...
knew how to crack and penetrate this vyooha. However to the Pandavas disappointment, Pradyumna did not participate in the Mahabharata war. Additionally, Arjuna's son Abhimanyu knew how to penetrate the Padmavyuha but not how to exit the formation. He learned the techniques to enter the formation when he was still inside the womb of his mother, Subhadra
Subhadra
Image:Jagannath, Baladev and Subadra in Radhadesh.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=|Subhadra, flanked by her brothers Balarama and Jagannatha . Deities of the Radhadesh temple in Belgium...
since her Husband, Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
was discussing the formation and its conquest with her. Ironically, Subhadra fell asleep while Arjuna was explaining, and Arjuna was called away by Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
for the Khandava forest extermination in the middle of his lesson. Thus, Arjuna could not finish explaining Subhadra
Subhadra
Image:Jagannath, Baladev and Subadra in Radhadesh.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=|Subhadra, flanked by her brothers Balarama and Jagannatha . Deities of the Radhadesh temple in Belgium...
how to escape from the Padmavyuha.
Consequently, Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
was unaware as how to escape from the Padmavyuha. He was thus killed in the Kurukshetra War
Kurukshetra war
According to the Indian epic poem Mahābhārata, a dynastic succession struggle between two groups of cousins of an Indo-Aryan kingdom called Kuru, the Kauravas and Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in the Kurukshetra War in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of...
while trying to break free this formation. Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
also has references wherein the rules of war were broken by Kauravas to kill Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
. After Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
penetrated the sixth tier of spiral formation, all the Kaurava warriors attacked him in unison, though the main killer was Jayadratha
Jayadratha
In the epic Mahābhārata, Jayadratha was the king of Sindhu Kingdom . He was married to Dushala, the only sister of the 100 Kaurava brothers. He was the son of the sinful king Vridhakshtra.- Abduction of Draupadi:...
. It was against the rules of Dharmayuddha
Dharmayuddha
Dharmayuddha is a Sanskrit word made up of two roots: dharma meaning righteousness, and yuddha meaning warfare. In the ancient Indian texts, dharmayuddha refers to a war that is fought while following several rules that make the war fair....
, which stated that multiple warriors should not attack a single warrior.
The thirteenth day of Mahabharat war--Different perspectives
Jayadratha
In the epic Mahābhārata, Jayadratha was the king of Sindhu Kingdom . He was married to Dushala, the only sister of the 100 Kaurava brothers. He was the son of the sinful king Vridhakshtra.- Abduction of Draupadi:...
from the Kauravas side and Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
from the Pandavas side played a pivotal role. Jayadratha was very effective in stopping all the four pandavas from entering the chakravyuha (by making use of a boon granted to him by Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
); Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
was very effective in holding all the Kaurava maharathis (Great Charioteers, colloquially Great Warriors) at bay and thereby preventing the advancement of Kaurava
Kaurava
The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:...
forces towards the Pandavas.
See also
- KarnaKarnaKarna or Radheya is one of the central characters in the epic Mahābhārata, from ancient India. He was the King of Anga...
- A possible solution to Padmavyuha
- The game of kabbadi is claimed by some to have originated from the Padmavyuha http://www.kabaddi-games.com/