Antique Marble Moksha Patam Board | Late 1800s Indian Snakes and Ladders Game

Hand-Carved Gyan Chaupar with Devanagari Numerals and Mineral Pigments | Educational Provenance

✦ More Than a Game – A Spiritual Map of Life

This antique marble Moksha Patam board, dating to the late 19th century, is one of the rarest surviving examples of India’s original Snakes and Ladders. Known traditionally as Moksha Patam or Gyan Chaupar, it was designed not as simple entertainment but as a teaching tool for spiritual education. Used in an educational setting, this piece is carved from solid marble and hand-painted with natural mineral pigments, creating a tactile and enduring version of a game most often found on fragile cloth or paper.

✦ Sacred Symbolism in Design

Invented in 13th-century India by the poet-saint Gyandev, Moksha Patam mapped the soul’s path toward liberation:

• 12 Ladders of Virtue – truth, compassion, devotion, and other qualities that elevate the spirit.

• 11 Snakes of Vice – lust, anger, greed, and pride, dragging the soul downward. The longest snake runs from square 99 (lust) to 10, a striking lesson on spiritual downfall.

• Devanagari Numerals – each number carved into the 100-square grid, resonating with divine and cosmic meaning.

• Sacred Motifs, including:

  • Veena for Saraswati (knowledge)

  • Damru for Shiva (cosmic rhythm)

  • Bow and Arrow for Rama (dharma)

  • Bansuri for Krishna (divine play)

  • Fish for Matsya, Vishnu’s avatar

  • Bel Patra leaves sacred to the Hindu trinity

This is both an artwork and a moral-philosophical guide, preserved in stone for over 120 years.

✦ Cross-Cultural Resonance

While deeply rooted in Hindu and Jain traditions, Moksha Patam resonated with Buddhist teachings of karma and liberation, and with Sufi interpretations that equated the 100th square with divine presence. This board is therefore not only a Hindu spiritual artefact but also a universal metaphor for human striving toward enlightenment.

✦ Why This Piece is Exceptional

✔ Collector’s Treasure – one of very few marble-carved Moksha Patam boards known to exist.
✔ Museum-Quality Heritage – a late 1800s teaching tool with direct cultural and educational provenance.
✔ Decorative and Spiritual – works equally as wall-mounted art, a sculptural tabletop piece, or a contemplative object in meditation spaces.
✔ Handcrafted Legacy – mineral pigments and relief carvings by artisans, softened with natural patina.

✦ Specifications

• Material: Hand-carved marble with natural mineral pigments

• Design: 100-square Moksha Patam with snakes, ladders, and sacred symbols

• Dimensions: 80 cm x 80 cm

• Era: Circa late 1800s

• Provenance: Educational setting, India

• Condition: Excellent antique condition with patina and natural surface wear consistent with age

✦ Styling & Display

• Wall-mounted in galleries, temples, or collector interiors

• Displayed flat as a centre table for heritage or spiritual spaces

• Ideal for boutique hotels, museums, and private collections seeking depth and conversation

✦ Delivery & Collection

Due to its weight and delicacy, this piece qualifies for specialist courier delivery or white-glove handling. UK collection by appointment is also available. Please contact Regen Bespoke for tailored delivery arrangements.

Exclusively available at Regen Bespoke.