Maharathi (warrior)

Karna (right) confronts Arjuna, in the Kurukshetra war

As related in 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

There is a reference of several levels of excellence in the Mahabharata, Ramayana which is a part of India's Sanskrit itihasas. However what determines these is by and large left unknown. This has led to speculation.

• Mahamaharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 24 Atimaharathi class warriors or 207,360,000 warriors simultaneously. This includes Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Durga, Manikanta, Kartikeya, Ganesha.
• Atimaharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi class warriors or 8,640,000 warriors simultaneously. Hanuman, Rama, Krishna, Arjuna, Indrajit(Avatars of Vishnu : Rama, Krishna) are considered as Atimaharathis. Arjuna was reincarnation of Nara- the divine form of Lord Vishnu. Different forms of Lord Shiva are also Atimaharthis. Veerabhadra, Bhairava etc. fall under this category.
• 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. Lakshmana, Abhimanyu, Vrishsen, Parshuram, Vali, Alambusha, Angada, Ashwatthama, Atikaya, Bhima, Karna, Bhishma, Drona, Kumbhakarna, Sugriva, Jambavan, Ravana, Bhagadatta, Narakasura, Lakshmana, Balarama, Jarasandha were Maharathis.
• Atirathi: A warrior capable of contending with 12 Rathi class warriors or 60,000 warriors simultaneously. Lava, Kusha, Kritavarma, Shalya, Kripacharya, Bhurisravas, Drupada, Yuyutsu, Virata, Akampan, Satyaki, Drishtadyumna, Kuntibhoja, Ghatotkacha, Prahasta, Angada, Duryodhana, Jayadratha , Dushasana , Vikarna, Virata, Yudhishtir, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Pradyumna were Atirathi's.
• Rathi: A warrior capable of attacking 5,000 warriors simultaneously. Somadatha, Sudhakshina, Shakuni, Shishupala, Uttar, all 96 brothers of Duryodhana, Shikhandi, Uttamaujas, all sons of Draupadi, etc. were Rathi's.

References

External links

• 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