Moksha Patam: Snake and Ladder had its origin in India.

The game had its origin in India and was called Moksha Patam or Parama Padam or Mokshapat. It was used to teach Hinduism and Hindu values to children. The British renamed it Snakes and Ladders.

Now, when and who created this game? Most people believe it was created by the 13th-century poet saint Gyandev. There are certain references that take the game back to the 2nd century BC.

The ladders represented virtues and snake vices. In the original game square, 12 was faith, 51 was Reliability, 57 was Generosity, 76 was Knowledge, and 78 was Asceticism. These were the squares where the ladder was found.

Square 41 was for Disobedience, 44 for Arrogance, 49 for Vulgarity, 52 for Theft, 58 for Lying, 62 for Drunkenness, 69 for Debt, 84 for Anger, 92 for Greed, 95 for Pride, 73 for Murder and 99 for Lust. These were the squares where the snake was found.

The Square 100 represented Nirvana or Moksha. The British took the game to England in 1892 and named it Snakes and Ladders and changed it according to Victorian value.