Gyan Chauper Board (with Text)

Gyan chaupar is a board game originating from ancient India, that was popularly played not only for entertainment but also because it provided lessons in morality. The game was also known as moksha pata and parama padam and is today commonly known as Snakes and Ladders. Gyan chaupar boards can be classified as Jain or Hindu based on the iconography employed in their design and the moral philosophy espoused in their gameplay. This example is of a Jain gyan chaupar, in the form of the cosmic person (lokapurusha), which is a common motif in Jain art representing the three main realms of the Jain universe. The grid of 9x9 squares features multiple snakes that represent the bad behaviour which will cause the player to stay within the mortal realms or descend into hell, whereas the ladders represent the ideals that will quickly elevate the player to a heavenly abode.