CAKRAVYŪHA A Phalanx. A particular pattern of army formation on ground. In the Kaurava-Pāṇḍava war Droṇācārya formed a Cakravyūha wherein Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna got himself trapped and killed. (Abhimanyu, who forced himself inside the Vyūha did not know the method of geting out of it which Arjuna alone knew). Cakravyūha is made in the form and shape of Cart-wheels. Vyāsa has described the Cakravyūha made by Droṇa as follows:-- The great preceptor made the Cakravyūha and posted in it to maximum capacity kings, who were equal to Indra. In every opening of the vyūha were posted princes equal in prowess to the Sun. All the princes were organised compactly. And, all of them wore red uniforms and were adorned with other things also red in colour and held red flags. They also wore golden ornaments and garlands scented with Sandal paste. Ten thousand strong they rushed forward to fight with Abhimanyu. Duryodhana's son, Lakṣmaṇa, led the onrush. In the centre (of the Cakravyūha) stood Duryodhana in the company of heroes like Karṇa, Duśśāsana and Kṛpa. And, at the head of the army stood Droṇa, the captain of the army, who looked like the rising sun. Then there was the King of Sindhu, and near him stood Aśvatthāmā, and there stood in front of them thirty Kauravas, all of them equal to Devas. On the flanks were great heroes like Śalya, Bhūriśravas. And then did the battle rage.
[Droṇa Parva, Chapter 34] .