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Snakes and Ladders is a board game that has found mention in many Bharatiya texts and possibly has originated in India. We see many 

Moksha Sopanam (Samskrit : मोक्ष-सोपानम्) is a game related to the commonly found gameboard called Snakes and Ladders (Samskrit : सर्प-सोपानम्) but uniquely interwoven with the concepts of Purusharthas, Dharmas, Ashramas and other Vedanta concepts into each cell of the gameboard. This unique game has found mention in many Bharatiya texts and possibly has originated in Bharatavarsha. Today, countless number of people play this game all over the globe. In this series of articles presented here we bring forward to you the evolution of this game along with Jnana integrated within it since ancient times.  

== Introduction ==

== परिचयः॥ Introduction ==

Snakes and Ladders is game can be found in various versions with various names across India. Vaikuntha Pali, Mokshapatam, Parampadam Sopaanam, Kailash Pheri, Ninyaanbe ka Pher, Karmaphal Pheri, Jnana Baazi, Jnana Chaupar, Leela are some of the names that are popularly associated to some ancient versions of this game.  However, there are Jain versions, Buddhist Versions, Sufi versions, Persian versions and many other contextual adaptations of this game as well.   

Snakes and Ladders is game can be found in various versions with various names across Bharatavarsha. Vaikuntha Pali, Mokshapatam, Parampadam Sopaanam, Kailash Pheri, Ninyaanbe ka Pher, Karmaphal Pheri, Jnana Baazi, Jnana Chaupar, Leela are some of the names that are popularly associated to some ancient versions of this game.  However, there are Jain versions, Buddhist Versions, Sufi versions, Persian versions and many other contextual adaptations of this game as well.   

What I realised is that each one of the games encodes a particular belief, lifestyle, philosophy and social context within it.  If we attempt to document the hidden nuances of these games, we can possibly associate them to a society that believed in this philosophy and tried to propagate it.     

There must have been an ancient version of the snakes and ladders board game which reflected the beliefs of Vedic times.  As social systems changed, the game evolved by accepting the changing beliefs and traditions of the "newer societies".  The Jain, the Sufi, the Buddhists and Islam, all accepted the beautiful design of the board game, but changed it's content and structure to suit their context.  The British also adopted the game and re-designed it as a game of morals and ethics. Their colonies adopted this new version of snakes and ladders as well, and thus was India's age old "mokshapatam", "vaikuntha pali", "jnana chaupar" and "karma pher" which got renamed as snakes and ladders that we play today.     

There must have been an ancient version of the snakes and ladders board game which reflected the beliefs of Vedic times. As social systems changed, the game evolved by accepting the changing beliefs and traditions of the "newer societies".  The Jain, the Sufi, the Buddhists and Islam, all accepted the beautiful design of the board game, but changed it's content and structure to suit their context.  The British also adopted the game and re-designed it as a game of morals and ethics. Their colonies adopted this new version of snakes and ladders as well, and thus was India's age old "mokshapatam", "vaikuntha pali", "jnana chaupar" and "karma pher" got ras snakes and ladders that we play today.

Taking this thought further, we have re-created a very ancient version of the सर्प - सोपानं game that existed in ancient times. This was a 72 cell game board with some interesting words inscribed within each cell<ref>[[commons:File:Snakes_and_Ladders_(Game_of_Heaven_&_Hell)_Wellcome_L0035004.jpg|Snakes and Ladders]]</ref>.  Some seemed to be moral and karmic, while others were more difficult to understand.  However, since there were multiple games designs under the name Jnana Chaupar, this particular version is based on the Buddhi Yoga. This version is very similar to other versions like Leela, however, the contents of some of the cells are different and the way the snakes have been configured is also different.

Taking this thought further, we have re-created a very ancient version of the सर्प - सोपानं game that existed in ancient India. This was a 72 cell game board with some interesting words inscribed within each cell<ref>[[commons:File:Snakes_and_Ladders_(Game_of_Heaven_&_Hell)_Wellcome_L0035004.jpg|Snakes and Ladders]]</ref>.  Some seemed to be moral and karmic, while others were more difficult to understand. However, since there were multiple games designs under the name Jnana Chaupar, we decided to call this particular version ''Buddhi Yoga''. This version is very similar to other versions like Leela, however, the contents of some of the cells are different and the way the snakes have been configured is also different.

Buddhi Yoga (Samskrit : बुद्धियोगम्) refers to the Yoga of Understanding, as explained by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. <blockquote>तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् | ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते || (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 10])</ref> </blockquote>Meaning : To these who are thus in a constant union with Me, and adore Me with an intense delight of love, I give the Yoga of understanding by which they come to Me. Sri Aurobindo (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([http://bhagavadgita.org.in/Chapters/10/10 Adhyaya 10])</ref>

Buddhi Yoga (Samskrit : बुद्धियोगम्) refers to the Yoga of Understanding, as explained by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. <blockquote>तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् | ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते || (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 10])</ref> </blockquote>Meaning : To these who are thus in a constant union with Me, and adore Me with an intense delight of love, I give the Yoga of understanding by which they come to Me. Sri Aurobindo (Bhag. Gita. 10.10)<ref>Bhagavad Gita ([http://bhagavadgita.org.in/Chapters/10/10 Adhyaya 10])</ref>

Thus does Sri Krishna suggest the Buddhi Yoga (The Yoga of Understanding) to his disciples to help them attain the final stage of Moksha.    

Thus does Sri Krishna suggest the "Yoga of understanding", Buddhi Yoga to his disciples.  This design encodes our knowledge of the three main paths to moksha (मोक्षः); tantra (तन्त्रम्) or jnana (ज्ञानम्), karma (कर्म) and bhakti (भक्तिः).  The snake in last cell suggests that the game was played differently than the "race to win" game that we know today.  The rules of play as mentioned by Harish Johari in Leela and first hand encounters with some learned people in Varanasi helped in formulating the rules of play for Buddhi Yoga.     

== बुद्धियोगं मोक्ष-सोपानं च ॥ Buddhi Yoga and Moksha Sopanam ==

This design encodes our knowledge of the three main paths to moksha (मोक्षः); tantra (तन्त्रम्) or jnana (ज्ञानम्), karma (कर्म) and bhakti (भक्तिः).  The snake in last cell suggests that the game was played differently than the "race to win" game that we know today.  The rules of play as mentioned by Harish Johari in Leela and first hand encounters with some learned people in Varanasi helped in formulating the rules of play for Buddhi Yoga.     

The path of moksha is for those who have been born.  They who have been born are essentially an aspect of Prakriti, the "para-shakti" or the feminine energy. They are of the tri-guna nature, ie. they comprise of the satta, raja and tamas aspects. This suggests that all the players playing this game (we humans) are essentially feminine.  Therefore, when discussing the game, the player is assumed to be of the female gender.         

The path of moksha is for those who have been born.  They who have been born are essentially an aspect of Prakriti, the "para-shakti" or the feminine energy. They are of the tri-guna nature, ie. they comprise of the satta, raja and tamas aspects. This suggests that all the players playing this game (we humans) are essentially feminine.  Therefore, when discussing the game, the player is assumed to be of the female gender.