MOKAPATA OF JNANADEVA – THE ORIGIN OF THE GAMES OF SNAKES AND LADDERS
By Siddharth Y. Wakankar
Summary
Mokapata of Jnanadeva – The origin of the games of snakes and ladders contends that the modern board game snakes and ladders originated from an Indian spiritual game called Mokshapata. The author, drawing on decades of research into games in Sanskrit literature, notes that games travel across cultures and that their origins are often obscured. In India, games were more than entertainment; players recited divine names during play and some games incorporated depictions of deities. Mokshapata, attributed to the 13th‑century saint Jnanadeva, symbolises the soul’s journey toward liberation. Its board contains 84 squares representing 84 life forms, with nine ladders and fifteen snakes representing virtues and vices. Players progress by ascending virtues and avoiding vices, illustrating Bhagavata philosophy. Over time, names of squares were modified by devotees to include additional concepts, and Jnanadeva’s brother Sopanadeva created a variant called Sopanapata. The article argues that snakes and ladders thus has Indian origins and that its original form combined entertainment with moral education, showing how games served as vehicles for spiritual teaching.
Conclusion
The article asserts that snakes and ladders is derived from Jnanadeva’s Mokshapata, a board game designed to teach spiritual lessons through play. By linking virtues and vices to ladders and snakes, Mokshapata guided players toward liberation, proving that games in India often fulfilled didactic as well as recreational functions. Recognising this origin situates a popular modern game within India’s rich cultural and religious history.