Mother of Chess — Shadyantra

Chessbazaar
2 min readMar 15, 2024

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In the rich tapestry of history, games have always held a special place. They entertain, challenge, and often reflect the cultures from which they emerge. Among these timeless pursuits, chess stands as a monument to strategy and intellect, captivating minds for centuries. Yet, behind this revered game lies a fascinating tale, shrouded in mystery and legend. Enter the enigmatic figure known as “Shadyantra,” often hailed as the Original form of chess.

The ancient game of Shad Yantra is originating over 8000 years ago, a game of strategy and intellect played on a 10x10 board known as Dashpaad. As the game evolved, It gets transition to the 8x8 Ashtpaad board, and get birthed variations like Chaturanga and eventually, Modern Chess board game.

In Shad Yantra, pieces were categorized into Army, Immortal, Royals, and Impersonator, each with distinct rules. Pawns being, non-autonomous units, moved under the guidance of higher-ranking officers, while autonomous officers and royals gained elevated moves when in proximity to certain pieces. Immortal figures like Naarad possessed unparalleled freedom of movement. Royals, led by the all-powerful King, navigated the board with strategic precision. Impersonators, the spies, held the ability to mimic any piece’s movement, executing clandestine maneuvers across the battlefield. Such was the complexity and intrigue of the Mother of Chess — Shad Yantra

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Chessbazaar is a India based online chess store. We offers high quality handcrafted chess pieces, chess sets & boards at affordable prices. www.chessbazaar.com