“Snakes and Ladders” is a very popular board game that is played using a real board and a dice, and is also one of the favourite online games for kids. The game has an interesting history and is more complex than it might appear on the surface, so let’s take a closer look at it.
Game play is simple. Each player has a token and begins alongside the first square which is numbered “1”. Following the roll of a dice, the player moves the number of squares indicated. If the player lands at the foot of a ladder, she ascends the ladder to the square where the ladder ends. Should a player land on the head of a snake, then he descends to the square marked by the snake’s tail. Should the player score a “6”, she gets another turn otherwise play passes on to the next player. The winner is the first person to reach the square marked “100”.
The origins of the game are Indian and the Indian name for it was “ParamapadaSopaanam” or “Moksha Patam “ which translates as the ladder to salvation. There is a strong association between the game and many aspects of the Hindu religion which includes concepts such as karma. In many ways the game is fatalistic, in that life is all about destiny, and that we are all subject to luck.
The game is also about morality. When a player lands on a ladder he ascends to a higher level and the ladders are symbolic of the primary virtues of humility, generosity and faith. When a player lands on a snake he is removed to a lower level and the snakes are symbolic of the primary vices of anger, murder, theft and lust. Thus the road to “Moksh”, or salvation, is achieved by doing good, whilst the road to reincarnation as a lower life form is paved by doing evil. Interestingly, in the early form of the game there were always more snakes than ladders, indicating that is harder to do good than the reverse, though the modern game has the same number of ladders as snakes.
Even in modern game formats the concepts of good and evil are preserved. Where the ladders commence there is generally an illustration of a good act being performed and where they end there is an indication of reward. Conversely, on squares where the head of snake appears some naughty act is shown being carried out and at the tail is an illustration of pain or punishment, though sadly in some formats these moralistic and mysterious elements of the game are neglected.
Snakes and ladders is just one example of the many kids games online that are based on classical games and whichthemselves are based on morals and religious beliefs.