About Gyan Chaupar
You’re probably familiar with the children’s game Snakes & Ladders (or Chutes and Ladders in North America), but did you know that this simple board game originated from a much older and meaningful game of moral, spiritual and religious education?
It’s not known exactly where or when it originated but copies of the game dating back hundreds of years have been found in Northern India and Nepal. It is from here that it found its way to Britain in the late 1800’s and was simplified to become the children’s game that is so popular worldwide today.
Unlike the modern children’s game, Gyan Chaupar was a game for all ages, steeped in rich cultural meaning to support the players in their personal growth by mirroring the journey of life. It was adapted by different communities including Hindu, Jain, Vaishnava and Sufi, to reflect their own spiritual and religious beliefs. Various names for the game have included Gyan Chaupar, meaning the game of self-knowledge or wisdom, as well as Moksha Patam, Gyan Bazi and Leela.
The game begins in the heavens and takes each player on a journey through the cycle of life, death and rebirth, with the snakes and the ladders teaching the opportunities and pitfalls of earthly karma. Some versions of the game also represented the human body, integrating concepts such as the seven chakra’s or energy centres.
Re-imagining the game of wisdom
We came across Gyan Chaupar in a museum in India and immediately felt a calling to understand its meaning and integrate it into our lives. What began as a personal curiosity quickly developed into a cathartic and profound creative experience in which we found ourselves designing a new game based on insights from our own experiences, research and meditations to suit our own time and place in history.
Our first edition game is a modern take on the traditional game, using the 84 square grid often used by Jain communities. While non-religious in its design, it retains the cyclic journey through life and integrates multicultural spiritual and moral concepts including emotions, virtues and vices, esoteric philosophy and the chakra system at the centre of the board. Each square features an illustration representing its meaning and many have hidden symbolism for curious players to explore.
Our aim is to reintroduce the real game of Snakes & Ladders to the modern world to support humanity in its healing and evolution of consciousness. We hope that you enjoy playing Gyan Chaupar and that it positively impacts your journey through life.