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

• Mahamaharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 24 Atimaharathi's simultaneously.This includes Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Lord Krishna, Muruga and Ganesha are Mahamaharathi's.
• Atimaharathi's: A warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi warriors simultaneously. Ravana's son Indrajit is considered as the only Atimaharathi. He possessed all three ultimate weapons of Trimurti's. Parasurama the sixth avatar of Vishnu is also considered an Atimaharathi by few (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, Ravana, Lava, Kusha, Sugriva, Atikaya, Jambavan, Lord Hanuman, Vali, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Arjuna, Ashwatthama, Abhimanyu, Balrama, Lord Narasimha, Alambusha, Bhagadatta, Narakasura, Drupada, Virata, Jarasandha and Dhrishketu were Maharathis.
• Atirathi: A warrior capable of contending with 12 Rathi class warriors or 60,000 warriors simultaneously. Kritavarma, Shalya, Kripacharya, Bhurisravas, Yuyutsu, Shishupala, Akampan, the Upapandavas, Satyaki, Drishtadyumna, Kuntibhoja, Ghatotkacha, 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: Rathi, Atirathi and Maharathi (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 Madra, Shalya
• 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
• Guru Drona
• Ashwathama, the son of Guru Drona, one of the eight chiranjeevi
• Karna, is equal to 2 Maharathas.^[4](But at the tale of Rathis and Atirathis, Bhishma classified him as just half a Rathi in order to prevent him from fighting against his own brothers Pandavas)
• Bhishma, even though he never classified himself, later it was revealed that he is equal to 2 Maharathis.

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 classified as a warrior equal to 8 Rathis

Atirathis

• Satyaki of the Vrishni race,
• Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada
• Kuntibhoja,the maternal uncle of Pandavas
• All the sons of Draupadi, the Upapandavas
• 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 Maharathi warriors

References

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