Mahabharat:Warriors and rank

 The Mahabharata War, also known as the Kurukshetra War, was a major conflict that took place in ancient India between two rival groups of cousins - the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The war involved numerous soldiers, each of whom had a specific rank and hierarchy. Here are the ranks and hierarchies of soldiers in the Mahabharata War:

Mahamaharathis

No Warrior in Mahabharata held this rank.

Shiva and Kali are said to be the ultimate Mahamaharathis who held the power of destroying the whole universe in one blink of an eye.

The only person who was capable of becoming a MahaMahaRathi was Aswathhama but there was a condition – he had to be extremely angry and excited to unleash his full potential (which he himself did not knew). Aswathhama had this potential because he descended as an avatar of Rudra, which is Shiva himself.

Only Drona, Bheesma and Krishna knew the true potential of an angry Aswathhama but they never revealed this to anyone. Aswathhama was one of the Chiranjivis and is supposed to live as an immortal, superceeding the “Ichhamrityu” of Bheesma. Vyasa is of the opinion that Shiva was a silent observer of the whole ordeal (in the form of Aswathhama) and would have taken steps to destroy the whole humankind, if Krishna failed to preserve Dharma before Kali Yuga prevailed.

Ati-Maharathi

No warrior in Mahabharata war held this rank. Vyasa was of the opinion that Krishna is the only Atimaharathi after Parashurama, because of his Sudarshan Chakra which is deadlier than Bhrahmasthra, Pashupatashtra and all divine weapons combined.

Apart from Parashurama and Krishna, Ravana’s son Indrajit was considered to be an Ati-Maharathi.

Maharathi

Bheesma, Drona, Arjuna, Karna, Ashwathama, Abhimanyu, Drupada, Virata, Vrishasena (Karna’s son), Dhrishtaketu, JaraSandha, Bhagadatta, Narakasura, Balarama.

Bheesma, Karna and Arjuna were equal to 2 Maharathis but not Drona.

This is because Drona is a Brahmin and he does not have Khastriya blood while the other three were princes of royal clan and had that legacy with them. Karna, although a “Soot putra” to the society is actually a prince and belongs to the prestigious “Khastriya” class, having obtained mastery of all weapons, battle formations from Parashurama, is considered equal to 2 Maharathis.

Atirathi 

Kripacharya, Kritvarma, Yuyutsu, Drishtadyumna, Satyaki, Shishupala, Bhurisrava, All son’s of Draupadi, Shalya, Kuntibhoja, Ghatotkacha.

Vyasa considers both Duryodhana and Bheema have the talent of an Atirathi but since both are weak in strategy and tactical thinking, they are slightly lesser than an Atirathi but higher than Rathis. Bheema and Duryodhana are considered equal to 8 Rathis.

Rathi

Duryodhana, Bheema, Nakul, Sahadev, Yudhisthir, Shikhandi, Drupad’s son, 99 Kaurava brothers (except Yuyutsu who is an Atirathi), Uttar, Shakuni, Jayadratha.