Moksha Patam

Recently I came across a very interesting concept about a very famous indoor game which we all have been playing since our childhood and for ages now. And the game name is "Snake and Ladder". Got to know some amazing facts about this all-time favourite game, as to how and when this game came into existence. And was in total mesmerization to know, how our old sages and saints used to impart knowledge in one's life and how to attain Moksha through this board game.

The story goes this way, in the 13th-century poet-saint "Gyandev" created a children's game called "Moksha Patam". But later the Britishers named it as " Snake and Ladder ".

In the original one, hundred square game board, Gyandev has elaborated the phase of our life and the stages of knowledge which one has to attain to reach salvation. It goes this way:- 12th square was faith, the 51st square was reliability, the 57th square was generosity, the 76th square was knowledge, and the 78th square was asceticism. These were the squares where the ladders were found and one could move ahead faster. 

Next comes the 41st square was for disobedience, the 44th square for arrogance, the 49th square for vulgarity, the 52nd square for theft, the 58th square for lying, the 62nd square for drunkenness, the 69th square for debt, the 84th square for anger, the 92nd square for greed, the 95th square for pride, the 73rd square for murder and the 99th square for lust. These were the squares where the snake waited with its mouth open. The 100th square represented "Nirvana" or "Moksha".

This shows how in olden times, knowledge used to impart even through games. Feel extremely proud of our Sanatana dharma and their ideologies. Proud of Hindutva. 

Garbh Sanskar (The Pre-Birth Knowledge)

A very important Sanskar which holds a higher value in getting a beautiful soul in one's life. It is one among the 16 sanskaras/rituals which are followed especially in Hinduism. And this topic is very near to my heart, as I have experienced and have thoroughly enjoyed this amazing process.

The meaning of Grabh Sanskar means, educating the fetus in the womb. In Indian culture, it is believed education of spiritual, material and traditional values starts from the time the fetus is formed in the womb. It is scientifically proved that baby can learn from initial stages. Mother's bond with a child starts from the time of conception. Baby listens to the mother and her feelings even when it is developing in the womb. The mother can shape up a baby's first impression by listening to good music,  chanting the mantra's doing meditations and yoga. All these promote good and positive well being of the mother and also have a greater impact on the baby too.

Having said the above I personally look at the Grabh Sanskar as an opportunity to impart spiritual thoughts. In this view, we should direct our thoughts towards the Sattva Guna such as good qualities and positive thinking in the material sense to achieve the ultimate goal, in reducing the desire in an individual. In simple terms to impart the seed of future with spiritual knowledge and interests in the baby.

One more very important accept I would like to add here is the effects of chanting mantras and listening to our old scriptures and Upanishads, which has a very higher impact on the fetus in the womb. The powerful chantings and listening or reading out aloud of our ancient scriptures like- Bhagavad Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, Kathopnishad to name a few, which has a greater impact on the brain of the fetus, because in the 7th month the baby can hear from the mother's womb and its surrounding and also respond to them. Also few instruments music such as-  Veena, Flute and Samaveda mantras which has a greater impact on the baby's brain development. If an expecting mother follows all these practices, one is bounded to have a spiritually inclined soul in the family.

As I  said earlier Grabh Sanskar is practised in Hinduism from ancient times. It has been traced from Hindu Vedas which dates to 1500 -500 BC. We can also see its reference in Mahabharat which was roughly written in 400BC. One of the famous and well-known tales is that of Abhimanyu from Mahabharata. When Arjuna's wife was expecting with there son Abhimanyu, Arjuna told a knowledge about how to penetrate the Chakravyuh, a particular war formation. When Abhimanyu became a young man and a warrior in the Kurukshetra war, he remembered his father's story and was able to employ the strategy, which he had heard when he was in his mother's womb.

This sanskara also finds its place in Ayurvedic medicine, which acts as a guide for expecting mother as a parental guide and to incorporate the true knowledge and sattva guna to the baby in the womb. It is all about the well being of an expecting mother to be in a good state of mind,  physically fit,  emotionally stable and mentally calm. This sanskara helps in being creative and communicating with the unborn child.

Amid this lockdown, many expecting mothers who are going through anxiety issues, this phase of expecting a baby, can be turned in to blessing in disguise and keep themselves busy in following and imparting this knowledge to the baby.