Snakes and Ladders: The Enduring Reverence for Snakes in Indian Culture

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By Neeyati Rometra

9 min read

  • India
  • Culture
  • Mythology
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    • Table of Contents

    1. The Profound Origins of Snakes and Ladders
      1. Evolution of Snakes and Ladder
    2. The Enduring Reverence for Snakes in Indian Art and Culture
    3. Snakes in Hinduism and Indian Culture
    4. Snakes in Buddhism and Jainism
      1. Conclusion
      2. REFERENCES

    The seemingly simple game of Snakes and Ladders, a cherished pastime across the globe, holds a profound and rich history deeply intertwined with Indian culture. Far from its modern, chance-based iterations, this game, originally known as Moksha Patam or Gyan Chaupar, served as a powerful allegory for life's moral and spiritual journey. Rooted in ancient philosophical principles, it ingeniously transformed abstract concepts of virtue, vice, and enlightenment into an engaging, interactive experience, guiding players towards self-improvement and spiritual liberation.

    The Profound Origins of Snakes and Ladders

    The ubiquitous game of Snakes and Ladders, a playful yet profound metaphor for life's journey, boasts a rich history rooted in India. Originally known as Moksha Patam or Gyan Chaupar, meaning "game of knowledge," it was more than just entertainment. These early versions were often elaborate, handcrafted on cloth or paper, featuring intricate squares, ladders, snakes, and even decorative imagery.

    While its exact genesis remains a subject of scholarly debate, some attribute its creation to the thirteenth-century Marathi Saint Dnyaneshwar, who reputedly used it as a tool for moral instruction. Others trace its origins back to the tenth-century text Rishabh Panchasika, or even as early as the second century A.D. Regardless of its precise date, the game's purpose was clear: to teach children about the consequences of their actions and the path to spiritual liberation.

    In its original form, players used cowrie shells as dice to navigate a board where each square represented either a virtue or a vice. Landing on a virtue would propel them forward, while a vice would send them backward. Over time, some variations explicitly depicted ladders as virtues and snakes as vices, reinforcing the game's central message. The ultimate goal wasn't just to reach the end, but to achieve enlightenment or Moksha—freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth—a powerful allegory for personal growth and spiritual advancement.

    Evolution of Snakes and Ladder

    The earliest evidence of the game, a precursor to modern Snakes and Ladders, hails from medieval India and Nepal. While today's boards typically feature one hundred squares, medieval Hindu versions had seventy-two squares, and Jain boards from present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan often contained eighty-four squares.

    Snakes and Ladders, Maharashtra, India; c.1800; Gouache on paper mounted on cloth, Royal Asiatic Society of Britain and Ireland


    Jain Version of the Game Snakes and Ladders called Jnana Bazi or Gyan Bazi; c. 19th century, Gouche on Cloth; Wikimedia Commons

    Snakes and Ladders or Gyan Chaupar, Punjab Hills, India; Late 19th Century, The British Museum

    Source: https://mapacademy.io/article/gyan-chaupar/

    Notably, Vaishnava boards from the Punjab Hills were far more expansive, boasting over three hundred squares arranged in left-to-right sections with snakes and ladders moving laterally across a vertical format. Some Gyan Chaupar versions even incorporated Vaishnava imagery, with the final destination square labeled as Vaikuntha, or "the Abode of Vishnu." Interestingly, these versions often included a moral lesson about over-reaching: Vaikuntha was placed a few steps before the very end, and the game's final square typically featured a snake's head, sending the player back to the start as a symbolic punishment for attempting to surpass Vishnu's abode.

    Other Gyan Chaupar designs were laid out over the image of Lok Purusha, the "Cosmic Being." These boards functioned as karmic devices, imbuing players with moral lessons. Squares were often labeled with various virtues—such as faithfulness, generosity, and knowledge—or vices like vanity, crudeness, theft, lust, debt, and violence, frequently drawing inspiration from Hindu and Jain mythology.

    The game of Gyan Chaupar traveled to England during the 18th and 19th centuries, brought back by British officers who were captivated by its intriguing design. These boards were then studied, exhibited, and some even became commissioned collectibles.

    The British adaptation of the game, while retaining a focus on morality through illustrations of good and bad deeds, notably stripped away the deeper spiritual connotations of its Indian predecessor. These nuances, which might have puzzled a British audience, were simplified into more familiar Victorian concepts of good and evil.

    It was in the year 1943 when Milton Bradley introduced it to the USA as 'Chutes and Ladders.' The company deliberately swapped the snake illustrations for chutes, aiming to make the game more appealing and interesting for the children. Similarly, other international variations appeared, such as the German 'Leiterspiel,' which incorporated circus animals.

    Today, the majority of modern versions have let go of the game's original moral and spiritual underpinnings, transforming it into a game predominantly governed by just random chance.

    Game of Snakes and Ladders in Kutch embroidery by Kala Raksha

    Click here to buy the game of Snakes nad Ladders in Kutch embroidery.

    The Enduring Reverence for Snakes in Indian Art and Culture

    Snakes hold a deeply revered and multifaceted position in Indian culture and heritage, woven into the very fabric of its mythology, customs, and beliefs. Far from being mere limbless creatures, they are often worshipped, embodying profound symbolism that persists to this day.

    Primarily, snakes symbolize reincarnation, death, and renewal, a powerful connection derived from their ability to shed their skin—a vivid metaphor for rebirth. This symbolic weight is prominently displayed in Indian art and religious iconography. The cobra, or Naga, is intricately linked with Lord Shiva, often depicted as Nagendra or Vasuki coiled around his neck, representing perpetuity and divine knowledge. Similarly, Lord Vishnu is frequently portrayed in repose upon the cosmic serpent, Shesha Naga. Beyond divine associations, Hindu folklore abounds with tales of snakes as guardians of precious treasures and protectors of sacred shrines.

    Lord Gangadhara Shiva in Chhau mask by Dharmendra Sutradhar

    This guardianship role likely stems from the dual reverence and apprehension humans feel towards snakes; by associating them with forbidden places, people are deterred from venturing into them. This symbolism further extends to snakes as custodians of sacred places, knowledge, and wisdom, often depicted as wise creatures in folklore and mythology. Snakes hold a profound and multifaceted significance across various cultures and religions, particularly in India, where they are revered as benevolent beings and powerful deities. Their symbolism extends to knowledge, renewal, and strength, a belief that dates back to prehistoric times.

    Snakes in Hinduism and Indian Culture

    Snakes, particularly Nagas, are profoundly embedded in Indian folklore, mythology, and religious texts. From the ancient Vedic period, especially the Atharva Veda and later Samhitas, Nagas are mentioned as semi-divine beings who receive adoration and worship. Evidence of serpent worship, in the form of deities, dates back to artifacts discovered in the Harappan period (Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa), highlighting their enduring significance. In contemporary Indian culture, the worship of snakes, known as Nag Puja, is widely practiced by families to ensure the protection of children and the household, with Nag Panchami being a significant annual festival devoted to divine serpents in the Hindu month of Shravana. This festival honors these revered creatures, believed to bring protection and prosperity, and is celebrated in temples across India, steeped in numerous associated stories.

    King Vasuki represented as a churning rope in Samudra Manthan, Samudra Manthana Sculpture, Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakkal, Karnataka

    Source: https://indiantempless.in/2025/03/01/mahakumbh-story-history-and-mystery/

    A powerful Nagaraja (Serpent King) from the Gupta period, circa early 5th century CE. This stone sculpture originates from Madhya Pradesh, India.

    Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38196

     

    Among the most prominent serpentine figures is King Vasuki, also called Naag Vasuki, who reigns as the king of all Nagas. He is famously depicted as the churning rope in the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), symbolizing universal cooperation. Furthermore, Vasuki is believed to have safeguarded the seed of creation during the Manvantara catastrophe, underscoring his vital role in cosmic preservation.

    Lord Vishnu reclining on Sheshnaag (five or seven-headed serpent). The Vishnu Anantasayana panel, Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh. 5th-6th century CE. The Gupta-period sculpture.

    Source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3876/vishnu-anantasayana-panel-dashavatara-temple-deoga/

    Similarly, Sheshnaga, also known as Sheshayi Nag or Ananta Nag, is a revered snake demi-god intimately associated with Lord Vishnu. Vishnu is often depicted reclining upon Sheshnaga's coiled body, and Sheshnaga is worshipped alongside the deity. Typically shown with multiple heads, the names Shesha and Ananta signify "infinite" or "never-ending," highlighting his eternal nature and his role as the cosmic substratum. The snake also serves as a potent symbol of time, frequently shown coiled around Lord Shiva.

    Ramakali Ragini: A Woman Offering Milk to a Snake, India, Basohli, 1690–95 Photo © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.

    Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/825654

    Beyond their spiritual and mythological roles, snakes hold rich symbolic meaning in Indian culture. They are often seen as bestowers of wealth for those who show them respect, reflecting a belief in their mystical power. This mystical connection extends prominently into Ragamala paintings, where snakes are a recurring and vital symbol. They signify a protagonist's deep bond with nature and often suggest mystical power or spiritual enlightenment, as beautifully illustrated in Raginis like Asavari, where a woman's peaceful interaction with snakes conveys her harmony with wild forces. Moreover, snakes carry subtle erotic symbolism, with their forms and association with fertility representing desire and the anticipation of a lover, as exemplified in "Ramakali Ragini," where a snake drinking milk foreshadows an impending romantic encounter. Ultimately, in Ragamala paintings, snakes are crucial for setting the ambiance and enriching the visual narrative with profound layers of symbolic meaning.

    Snakes in Buddhism and Jainism

    Buddha in Meditation under a Seven-Headed Naga, Central Thailand, 7th century

    https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/77730

    Stupa drum panel with protective serpent Sada period, late 1st century CE Amaravati Great Stupa, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India | Limestone Credit Line: Lent by British Museum, London Rights and Reproduction: © The Trustees of the British Museum, Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/761607

    Beyond Hinduism, snakes hold equally significant roles in Buddhism and Jainism. In Buddhism, multi-headed serpents, particularly Nagas, are revered as powerful protectors; Lord Buddha himself is occasionally depicted meditating beneath the benevolent canopy of a seven-headed serpent, as seen in ancient Thai art and within the stupa drum panels (as shown in the image above, showcasing a panel from Amaravati Stupa, Andhra Pradesh), the entwined Naga serves as ultimate guardians of sacred relics contained within the stupa. This protective symbolism extends to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, specifically in his Simhanada form, who is often shown with a serpent-entwined trident or a halo of serpents, signifying his power to cure diseases attributed to serpent spirits and purify both elemental and karmic defilements. Similarly, in Jainism, the twenty-third Tirthankara, Parshvanath, is frequently sheltered by the hood of Nagraj, emphasizing the serpent king's role as his divine protector.

    Conclusion

    From its ancient origins as a tool for moral and spiritual instruction, the game of Snakes and Ladders has undergone a remarkable evolution. While modern versions often simplify its complex allegories into mere chance, the enduring reverence for snakes in Indian culture continues to thrive. Beyond the game, these mystical creatures remain integral to Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, symbolizing rebirth, protection, cosmic time, and wisdom. This profound cultural resonance underscores the deep and lasting significance of snakes within the diverse tapestry of Indian heritage.

    Click here to read more about symbolism of snake in tribal and folk arts

    REFERENCES

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