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.