Namasthe- A spiritual game called Mokshaprapthi

November 13, 2008

Dear all,

In ancient times there was a game called Mokshaprapthi or Salvation. Usually adults drew it for children and encouraged them to play the game as their first step towards spirituality. 100 numbered squares (numbered from 1 to 100) of equal size drawn on the floor with chalk or white paint provides the basis of the game of samsaram or the game of life.

100th square is named as Mokshapraapthi. All the positive qualities like faith, detachment, meditation, kindness, knowledge, attitude of total surrender, truthfulness, helpful nature etc are the ladders to get to mokshaprapthi.

Now there are several snakes that can slow down or break our journey. Snakes are the negative qualities like greed, anger, envy, lack of disciplinene, disobedience. selfishness, cruelty, arrogance, lust etc occupying several squares in our path of spiritual progress.

Does this game resemble any of the games available now? Yes, Snakes and Ladders were made by British imitating the old game of Mokshaprapthi. The element of spirituality was taken away by deleting the names of spiritual ladders and material snakes. Now it is simple Snakes and Ladders.

Even though children might not have understood the full meaning of all the names of the ladders and snakes, they would have understood what would help them to progress spiritually and what would cause obstacles in their journey.

And it is interesting to note that as adults also we constantly play the game and who knows how many more janmas we have to keep playing this game? Really we do not know which snake at what time will pull us all down. We often do not even realize that a bad snake has bitten us and we often attribute most of the things to fate.

May Guruvayurappan bless all of us to reach the 100th square, enjoying the journey with Him on the right side, holding our hand and supporting us ALL THE TIME. He is assuring us : " na mae bhaktha pranashyathi- My devotee never perishes. "

Regards and prayers

savitri