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GyanbaziGame of Snakes and Ladders Though it has turned into a popular game, the Gyana Chaupad or Gyana Bazi is a reminder of the ultimate goal of a human being and also shows the steps leading to its attainment. It is available in Hindu, Muslim, and Jain versions. Its simplified version is played universally in India. This Pata is a fine example of Jain version. The checkered board, representing the progress of one's life, is divided into eighty-four numbered squares, each with words pointing out the rules of conduct and their good and bad effects. The game is played by throwing dice. The ladders denote good behaviour and virtues that elevate the player to a higher level. The snakes denote downfall: the player slides down to the tail end after landing on the snake-head. Four-tiered pavilion at the top represents the heavens. Its summit, occupied by a crescent-shaped siddhashila flanked by peacocks, is where the liberated beings live.
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