From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the 1978 Rajesh Khanna film, see Chakravyuha (1978 film).
For the 1983 Kannada film, see Chakravyuha (1983 Film).
A depiction of the Padmavyūha or Chakravyūha formation as a labyrinth.

The Padmavyūha (Sanskrit: पद्मव्यूह) or Chakravyūha (चक्रव्यूह) refers to a Military formation narrated in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.



The various vyūhas (military formations) were studied by the Kauravas and Pandavas 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 their own side.

Abhimanyu and the Chakravyūha[edit]

Intricate rock carvings show, Abhimanyu entering the Chakra vyuha.

The Chakravyūha or Padmavyūha was a special formation (Vyuha), and knowledge of how to penetrate it was limited to only a handful of warriors on the Pandavas' side: namely Abhimanyu, Arjuna, Krishna and Pradyumna, of which only Abhimanyu was present at the most-famous occasion of its use. Because he had never learnt to escape the formation, he was trapped upon entry and fought alone. After Abhimanyu had penetrated the sixth tier of the formation, all the Kauravas' commanders attacked him simultaneously, against the customary rules of Dharmayuddha, and gradually exhausted and killed him.

Alternative versions[edit]

The rotating-circles-within-circles is a poetic concept, promoted over the years without any study of military history, any commentary by military officers, or even without actually trying such a formation and seeing the effects.

It is impossible to execute such a formation during an actual fight even with 10 people on foot, let alone divisions including infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants.

Anyone who is seriously interested in verifying the rotating-circles-within-circles myth can try making such two circles of say 10 men in each circle and try rotating them within each other while being attacked by another 10 people from outside. Toy bows and arrows and toy swords can be employed so that no one gets seriously injured.

Within 10-15 minutes the myth of rotating-circles-within-circles will disappear.

This is the very reason that such a supposedly "great military formation" (rotating-circles-within-circles) was never used in any recorded battles. Possible basis appears in a classic military maneuver, wherein a numerically superior force lures in an encircles a smaller force. With the 2-3-2 arrangement, this formation also looks like the outline of a blooming flower when seen from outside – hence the name of 'padmavyuha'.

This formation, keeping the front fixed while enveloping the enemy on both sides, has been widely used over last many centuries by armies all over the world, ranging from the Battle of Cannae in 216 B.C. to the siege at Stalingrad in November 1942. In similar formations, the inward ring attacks the enemy whereas the outward ring prevents relief efforts.

See also[edit]

  • Karna
  • The game of kabbadi is claimed by some to have originated from the Padmavyūha [1]