The game had its origin in
Now, when and who created this game? Most people believe it was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. There are certain references which take the game back to 2nd century BC.
The ladders represented virtues and snakes vices. In the original game square 12 was faith, 51 was Reliability, 57 was Generosity, 76 was Knowledge, and 78 was Asceticism. These were the squares were the ladder was found.
Square 41 was for Disobedience, 44 for Arrogance, 49 for Vulgarity, 52 for Theft, 58 for Lying, 62 for Drunkenness, 69 for Debt, 84 for Anger, 92 for Greed, 95 for Pride, 73 for Murder and 99 for Lust. These were the squares were the snake was found.
The Square 100 represented Nirvana or Moksha.
Email This
21 comments:
I enjoyed reading this post and wanted to know were these virtues written on the board? How exactly was this information interpreted and imparted to the children.
Thank you
Wow, you wouldve thought.
I loved playing the game as a child. Of course, modern versions do not have the vices and virtues printed on the board! But family seems to remember it, and that wasn't too long ago...
Dear sir... This site is really excellent... i was looking for various mantras on internet...fortunately i come across with this site and i found all the mantras whichever is required...i liked the most is avalabilty of various vedic chants for free...
Dear sir... This site is really excellent... i was looking for various mantras on internet...fortunately i come across with this site and i found all the mantras whichever is required...i liked the most is avalabilty of various vedic chants for free...
the hinduism is the great religion everything was written by our ancients but we people never knows how to respect our ancients and their wise saying. in this game actualy ending of the stage is reaching to hari lord vishnu . that means mukthi but in snakesand ladder they kept home
I seem to remember an extended version my family played when I was younger, in which the goal was not simply reaching the final square but extended beyond that. Above the hundred-square board, there were images of the Devas in a line all leading to the final image of Lord Vishnu. Once the player crossed the hundredth square, the player moved on this line until (s)he reached Lord Vishnu, presumably attaining moksha.
I also remember that, when I played the game as a child, if a player was near the hundredth square but rolled the dice higher than what was required to land on the 100th square, the player needed to move to the square and then count backwards for the additional number of spaces rolled above what was needed to land on the last square. However, if I'm not mistaken, there was no such going backwards after passing the hundredth square - the player simply progressed to "moksha" faster.
This information is really a piece to be passed to next generations. May be we can make our children play and telling them these meaning of each snake and relavant troubles with those bad habits.
The game is called vaikunTapALI in Telugu.
Do you know of anyplace where an original version of the game can be purchased? I saw one at the Meenakshi Temple about a year ago -- just a poster-sized paper version; I intended to pick up a copy on my way out, forgot, and have regretted it since.
no i am also searching...encouraging to hear that you saw it near Madurai Meenakshi Temple....
I was also given one in paper form (from a mandir I believe) but I don't remember exactly from where...
Harish Johari wrote a book and reproduced the game. Called Leela, it is a wonderful and amazing instructional device.
Friends,
This game is available in all book shops in Andhra Pradesh in paper form.
But, The Blocks are named in Telugu.
Some one must put the Efforts to get it printed in their Respective Languages and give it as a Compliment on the eve of something like a NewYear.
Cost just less than Rs.5 per sheet.
Jai Sanathana Dharma !!!
This is really very interesting. We Indians have devalued our own creations. When we have something of our own, we don't value it. But when the same thing comes through WESTERN land, we worship it as God.
It was interesting to learn that the game was used to teach different virtues to the children.
Nice post.
Hello,
My name is Amol. Rashi is Simha. Birthdate is 23/06/1977. I wish to know by when my Sade Sati is going to get over ? What is the phase of Sade Sati currently going on ? When will I see good days in all my areas ??
This Parama Padam chart is available in Tamil at Srirangam Temple shops.
By the by the word 'Hinduism' is a coinage by the British and it is not a religion as depicted by the British. It is Sanatana Dharm - a way of life - code of conduct. If you think deeply, most of the problems of poor understanding of our rich culture is due to poor and wrong translation of our literature. The British twisted / tweaked all these to suit their purpose of establishing her rule.
Another biggest setback with us is anything foreign will be blindly aped and followed and fail to appreciate our own.
Radhe Krishna
This is a wonderful piece of information, appreciate your effort and time to blog this. Thankyou.
I request all readers to spread such information to other and hope it will help many to recognise and admire the knowledge welath and rich heritage of our country. thank you.
Sunitha Ragavan
There is one Mokshapat available in Amraoti, maharashtra. This Mokshapat is desined by Samanway Maharshi Shri Gulabrao Maharaj. his period was from 1881 to 1915. He was blind from childhood, he has contributed about 134 books on various topics mainly on BHAKTI MARG. He was deciple of Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. Information about Sant Gulabrao maharaj is available on web site. i shall try to post his version of Mokshapat as soon as it is available to me in soft version. I have seen it and played it.This mokshapat teaches the teaching of sanatan Dharma.
Om Namo Nayanaaya
I am fortunate to read this article Today on Vaikunda Ekadesi.Thanks for this wonderful article.God bless you
- Krithigaivasan Radhakrishnan
I have the soft version of Mokshapat designed by Samanvay Maharshi Shri Gulabrao Maharaj.
He was the desciple of Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj or Gyandev.
If you are interested please request me on shrirang_20@rediffmail.com.
Its very nice game and its much beyond the Snake n Ladder.
It has more than 350 squared divided levels. At the start you are at "Janmasthan" and gradually you need to move to "Moksha" level.
Inbetween it will take us through various good and bad things and its results in terms of ladders n snakes.
Jai Bharat !
Post a Comment