Thread by @_SanatanDharma

Did you know? The game we now call Snakes & Ladders was born in India in the 13th century not as a pastime, but as a spiritual lesson.
🧵#Thread Its original name? Moksha Patam.
Its original goal ? Not winning, but reaching Nirvana.👇

2. Moksha Patam wasn’t just a game it was a moral compass.
Ladders -Virtues like honesty, kindness, devotion
Snakes -Vices like greed, anger, lust
Final square - Liberation (Moksha)
Life lessons… hidden in play.

3. The idea was simple yet profound:
Every ladder lifts you closer to spiritual freedom.
Every snake drags you down into the cycle of rebirth.
A child learned Karma, Dharma, and Moksha while having fun.

4. As centuries passed, Moksha Patam travelled across cultures:
In England, it became Snakes and Ladders
In the USA, it became Chutes and Ladders
But the soul of the game was lost.
The Western versions removed the moral teachings.

5. In its original Indian form, the board had:
72 or 84 squares (symbolizing stages of life)
Virtue squares: Truth, Compassion, Faith
Vice squares: Theft, Arrogance, Cruelty
Each move was fate, not strategy mirroring life.

6. The ultimate goal wasn’t “winning” it was self-realization.
In the game’s spiritual context:
The board-The journey of life
The player-The soul
The final square -Union with the Divine

7. Ancient wisdom disguised as entertainment.
A playful reminder that:
Every choice lifts you or lowers you.
Every action counts.
Even today, Moksha Patam holds a lesson:
Life is not about speed… but about direction.

8. Next time you see Snakes & Ladders, remember: You’re looking at 700+ years of Indian wisdom
a game that turned morality into play, and play into a path to Moksha.
9.If this thread made you smile, learn, or say “Wow”…
🔁RT to share the wisdom of Moksha Patam
🤝Follow @_SanatanDharma for more hidden gems of Ancient India.