My Science School

Snakes and ladders is based on an ancient Indian morality game. It was called Gyan Chaupar by the Jains, and Moksha Patam by the Hindus. It emphasised the Hindus. It emphasised the effects of virtues, which helped one to ascend a ladder, and vices which sets one back like a snake bite. Reaching the last (100th) square represented the attainment of Moksha. A Buddhist version existed in the Pala times in early Medieval India. It was taken to Victorian England.

The modified game was named Snakes and Ladders and stripped of its moral and religious aspects and the number of ladders and snakes were equalized. In 1943, the game was introduced in the US under the name Chutes and Ladders.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Chaupar, Chausar or Pacheesi was one of the most popular gambling games in India. It was played on a cross shaped fabric, with seven cowrie shells as the dice. A throw with five shells facing upwards would give you the highest score of 25, or Pachees. Beautiful sets of 16 gotis in silver were an integral part of the dowries in many communities. The game is depicted in the 5th Century Ajanta frescos.

This was taken to the west in the 19th century as Parcheesi or Ludo (Latin for “I play”). The shells were replaced by dice, and the fabric by board.

 

Picture Credit : Google

It has been universally acknowledged that the game of chess originated in India. It was played in the Gupta period in sixth century. The form was slightly different. It was called Chaturang, after the four branches of the army – elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry. It was played by four people, who used dice to move.

It then became popular in Persia as Shatranj, and was then picked up by the Arabs. It became two-handed and lost the dice. The modern game of chess is derived from the Arabic version. There is a board with squares found in the Harappan civilization ruins, which flourished 5000 years ago, it could have been some sort of precursor to chess.

 

Picture Credit : Google