Ever thought you can learn battle formations using Golu dolls? You did not think so right? Here is a brief photo story showing you the same.
The picture above is that of Nagara fort near Shimoga. You will be amazed to see some of its surviving features. There are watch towers, battlements, ramparts etc. These were all part of fort designs in Karnataka. Whether you go to visit Chitradurga fort or even a ruined Devanahalli fort near Bangalore, some of these features are unmistakable. You have watchtowers guarding the inner forts, bastions to fire or store ammunition, ramparts where soldiers walked and stood guard. So many thoughts that went in to defence and offence of structures right? So it came as something of my surprise when I went to Dhaatu Dasara dolls and found this arrangement.
At first shot it seems like a lotus kept in centre and a couple of men in horses, elephants etc. But this is the padmavyuha or what is known as lotus arrangement of the army. The Padma Vyūha is a circular or spiral battle formation, shaped like a lotus in bloom — with multiple layers or petals that opened inward and closed again after trapping enemies. It is multi tiered and protects the commander or an important official enclosed at the centre just like the inner and outer lotus petals protect the core. This arrangement was used in the Mahabharata war, on day 15 by Kauravas. As it looks like the blooms of the lotus from above, hence the name.
The above picture shows a typical battle scene. But look at the various arrangements; there are rectangular formations, infantry and cavalry etc. These formations or arrangements of men in battle field is called Vyuha. And it was quite popular during the Mahabharata war which lists 18 such arrangements.
To give you a list they are – Padma Vyuha, Chakra Vyuha, Garuda Vyuha, Suchimukha Vyuha, Makara Vyuha, Kurma Vyuha, Trishula Vyuha, Shakata Vyuha, Sarvatomukha Vyuha, Krauncha Vyuha, Mandala Vyuha, Vajra Vyuha, Samudra Vyuha, Mala Vyuha, Sarpini Vyuha, Ardha-Chandra Vyuha, Suchi Vyuha, Padmagarbha Vyuha. Each of them depict a pattern like Krauncha means heron formation, Suchi means needle like, Trishula is trident and so on.
By now you must of guessed; these were all used in different days of the war and it was not just to look pretty in the battle. These vyuhas were all strategic in nature-sometime defensive, sometimes offensive, sometimes just to confuse or inflict maximum damage. For example Suchimukha Vyuha was used to safeguard Jayadratha on the 14th day of war. It was the mastermind of Guru Dronacharya.
The formations were the masterplans of commanders in the army and in the Kurukshetra war it was generally well planned by powers like Guru Dronacharya, Lord Krishna , Arjuna etc.
This image shows Padmavyuha in the centre and Suchimukha Vyuha and Shakata Vyuha in the sides. This was a very detailed doll arrangement for Dasara done by Dhaatu Center and I was simply delighted to see this.
The Shakata Vyuha is a cart shaped formation. This was used on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war. It is once again a defence formation. Troops are arranged like a rectangular or box-shaped cart, often with front, sides, and rear defended. It can move slowly forward while maintaining shape, like pushing a chariot of troops. And quite useful for siege defense, protecting non-combatants, or escorting treasure/cattle.
The suchimukha meant needle formation. It was shaped like a pointed triangle or spearhead.It was Ideal for offensive thrusts into enemy lines. And could penetrate enemy formation with concentrated force at a point.
Each of these Vyuhas were used during the Mahabharata war. And to counteract them, the opposite side used to have an arrangement of their own. For example if the Garuda Vyuha or the eagle arrangement was used on one side to sweep over the forces and do a speedy destruction, the counteract vyuha for this was the heron formation or Krauncha Vyuha.
Take a look at each of the vyuhas used during the 18 days of war. Isn’t it amazing!What strategies, precisions and clarity was brought in to fight the war.
Vyuhas of the 18 Days of the Mahabharata War
- Day 1: Vajra Vyuha (Thunder bolt formation) — used by the Pandavas; Sarvatomukha Vyuha (Facing all directions) by the Kauravas. The Vajra vyuha is a squared formation and has the generals at centre with infantry at all sides. Bheema led this group on the first day.
- Day 2: Garuda Vyuha — used by Kauravas; Pandavas respond with Krauncha. Krauncha or heron formation was a formidable arrangement in the shape of heron and was an offensive strategy. King Drupada was at the head of this formation.
- Day 3: Kauravas used Garuda Vyuha and Pandavas -Ardha-Chandra Vyuha (Half-moon formation).
- Day 4: Kauravas used Mandala Vyuha (Circular or spiral formation) while Pandavas Sringataka Vyuha or horn formation. In the mandala vyuha, a commander in chief leads the army and other smaller groups are led by a general.
- Day 5: Kauravas used Makara vyuha(crocodile formation) while Pandavas – Shyena Vyuha (hawk formation).
- Day 6: Kauravas used Krauncha vyuha while Pandavas used Makara vyuha. Bheema is said to have come in and out of this vyuha with ease, killing Kauravas with his mace.
- Day 7: Kauravas used Mandala Vyuha while Pandavas -Vajra Vyuha. Dhristadhyumna led this formation from the Pandavas end.
- Day 8: Kauravas used Kurma Vyuha (Tortoise formation — defensive posture). In the afternoon Bhisma choose the Oormi Vyuha that was the ocean formation where soldiers were positioned like the waves of the ocean. The Pandavas on this day chose Trishula Vyuha (Trident formation).
- Day 9: Kauravas used Sarvatobhadra while Pandavas used nakshatra mandala vyuha which is a constellation where Pandavas and few of their sons were in the front. The Sarvatobhadra meant safety from all ends. Bhisma was guarding from the front.
- Day 10: Kauravas used Asura Vyuha(demon formation) while Pandavas – Deva Vyuha(divine formation). Here the Pandavas had a a goal to subdue Bhisma so Shikandi was kept in the forefront and guarding her were Arjuna and Bhima.
- Day 11: Kauravas used Shakata(cart formation) while Pandavas Krauncha Vyuha. Guru Drona was the commander here from Kauravas end.
- Day 12: Kauravas used Garuda Vyuha while Pandavas used Ardha-Chandra Vyuha. Arjuna along with the commander Drishtadhyumna came up with this formation where Yudhistra was at the centre while Arjuna and Krishna were at the tip of this arrangement.
- Day 13: Kauravas used chakra Vyuha ( wheel formation) to trap Abhimanyu. This is a highly strategic vyuha. During the war Guru Drona created a multi tiered formation with six layers headed by Karna, Drona,Ashwatamma, Dushasana, Shalya and Kripacharya. Jayadratha was at the gate of this chakra. The goal of this vyuha is to capture a person. The soldiers keep coming in groups, engaging and disengaging leaving the enemy confused. The formation is easy to understand only when if there is a top view otherwise it is highly confusing for the person who has entered the vyuha.
- Day 14: Kauravas used chakrashataka and Pandavas khadag sarpa Vyuha(sword snake formation) on this day.
- Day 15: On this day Kauravas went with Padma vyuha and Pandavas -Vajra Vyuha.
- Day 16: Kauravas went with Makara Vyuha and Pandavas Ardha Chandra Vyuha.
- Day 17: ). Kauravas went for Surya Vyuha i.e son formation and Pandavas Mahisha Vyuha(buffalo formation)
- Day 18: Kauravas went with Sarvatobhadra while Pandavas went with Krauncha .
You see the elaborate planning that goes behind each? No wonder the chess game was invented to teach all these strategies and skills in the country.
These vyuhas were not static. They changed, were dynamic. Each fallen soldier in the formation was noted and the vyuha would restructure itself. The Vyuha had a goal-perhaps to save a person, to capture one or to destroy one and so on. Not all soldiers -infantry, cavalry , elephants, chariots knew the code or pattern to move. After all the men would have come from different kingdoms, or be local men, or prisoners of war or from the allies. So sound was used to indicate a change. It could be a drum beat, the sound of conch etc.
Phew what a lot of insights was given by a simple doll arrangement right? This is the depth that can be brought about with kids and this is what makes the lessons interesting.
So what do you think? Have you ever used dolls to teach something to your kids? If yes how? Leave your comment below.