ANCIENT STRATERGY GAME - CHATURANGA

    CHATURANGA or CHATUR  for short, is an ancient Indian strategy game that is commonly theorized to be the common ancestor of the board games Chess, Xiangqi, Shogi, Siltuyin and Makruk.

    It is first known from the Gupta Empire in India around 6th century AD. In 7th century it was adopted as chatrang (shatranj) in sassanid Persia, which in turn was form of chess brought to late Medival Europe. The exact rules of chaturanga are unknown. In particular, there is uncertainly as to the moves of the GAJA(elephant).

    Myron Samsin argues that chaturanga originated in the kingdom of Bacteria 255-53 BC, in a fusion of the many short moving men derived from the various moves of an Indian Race game, perhaps Seega or Chaupur on the Ashtapada the board of another race game. 

    Sanskrit caturanga is a bahuvrihi compound, meaning "having for limbs or parts" and in epic poetry often meaning "Army". The name comes from a battle information mentioned in the Indian epic "MAHABHARATA", referring to four divisions of an army, namely elephantry, chariotry, cavalry and infantry. An ancient battle formation, akshauhini, is like the setup of chaturanga.

       It was played on an 8 X 8 uncheckered board, called "ASHTAPADA", which is also the name of a game. An early reference to an ancient India board game is sometimes attributed to Subandhu in his VASAVADATTA, dated between the 5th and 7th century AD. 

    The Pieces were RAJA, MANTRI, RATHA, GAJA, ASHWA, PADATI.

    The GAJA had special powers as two squares in any diagonal direction, jumping over the first.

    The additional rules were the stalemate win. The player that is first to bare the opponent king wins.

    The ancient board games were not only a source of entertainment but also a source of tremendous knowledge based strategy. This sharpened the mind of the people hence more young and talented men were raised and deployed to rule the kingdom. As it directly affected the war strategies hence ruled the vast area.