02/11/2022
Recently I attended the online lecture hosted by .centreofyogastudies on Snakes & Ladders and the Subtle Body.
Jacob Schmidt-Madsen gave a really fascinating talk on how our contemporary game evolved from 🐍
Gyan caupar was both a spiritual pastime and a spiritual practice. It was educational, ritualistic, fun and even meditative, divinatory or exploratory in purpose. Reminds me of how is commonly used today.
Pawns (souls) move along the board of 72 squares (spiritual stages) using dice or cowrie shells (karmic fate). Some squares would be connected by forward & backward links (positive & negative karma). Notably, the middle of the top row is the winning position (liberation). You can overshoot and fall all the way back down. Also, some snakes are friendly and lead you up 💁🏻♀️
The game existed in many varieties to transmit different religious knowledge systems. Most boards are of or orientation.
You can see the labelling of the squares with the 3 guṇas in the top left, and recognisable elements of philosophy e.g. Prakṛti.
When played, the game is extremely self-reflective, as you experience a personal journey moving through the board, maybe even notice recurring patterns. Anyone who plays around with Tarot knows the frustrations of pulling the same cards all the time!
On Jain boards, you can find verses of poetry on certain squares 😍 and terminology related to the subtle body. This is where you can see the influence of ta***ic and yogic traditions. Some boards develop the central column / spine or sushumna nadi as we yogis know it, integrating something similar to a chakra system.
So not only is this game about karmic existence but it is also a map of the subtle body and inner transformation 💖
Really looking forward to the next talk from the SOAS yoga studies department. 10/10.
**ra
