Cakravyuh (Chakravyuha):
Cakra means "wheel" and vyuha means "battle formation."
Cakravyuh is a circular, spiral-shaped military formation used in ancient Indian warfare, especially mentioned in the Mahabharata.
It is designed like a moving wheel or labyrinth, with multiple rotating layers of warriors.
The soldiers and chariots form successive circular tiers, making it extremely difficult for enemies to penetrate or escape once inside.
Only a few trained warriors knew how to enter and exit it safely — it required knowledge of precise battle strategies and timing.
In the Mahabharata, Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, famously entered the Cakravyuh but did not know how to exit, leading to his heroic death.
Makaravyuh (Makaravyuha):
Makara refers to a mythical sea creature (often seen as a crocodile or a composite aquatic animal) and vyuha again means formation.
Makaravyuh is a battle formation resembling the shape of a Makara — with a broad front, narrow middle, and a powerful rear, mimicking a sea creature's movement and strength.
This formation is used to confuse and trap the enemy — initially allowing them to advance, then surrounding and crushing them as they get deeper into the formation.
It combined deceptive openness with deadly force, much like a Makara would first appear slow or passive but strike with deadly precision.
It was a more fluid, adaptive strategy compared to the rigid circular motion of chakravyuh.
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