Chaturanga - The Best Toys of 2006 - Chaturanga

Chaturanga is an ancient game from India that dates as far back as 600 AD. A precursor to chess, it is played on a board measuring eight squares by eight squares. Each player moves a total of 16 pieces, each of which represents a military figure. Although the rules of movement differ from chess, the object of the games is the same: to defeat one's enemy.

The word Chaturanga is Sanskrit and can be literally translated to: quadripartite. This means divided into four parts. In fact, it is a metaphor for the Indian army back in the Vedic times. During that period, each platoon was composed of an elephant, a chariot, foot soldiers, and cavalry--four parts. The pieces on a Chaturanga board represent these four different sub-units.

Although the original rules of the game are not entirely clear, modernized variations taken from ancient texts, have become the accepted norm. In terms of moving the pieces, the game has a number of differences from chess. For example, although the pawn (or foot soldier) moves similarly to the pawn in chess, it does not get an initial two-square move. The elephant is capable of moving two squares diagonally, while the counselor figure may only move one.

For those who enjoy chess or games of mental strategy, Chaturanga may be an interesting addition to their collection. Front Porch carries one of the most popular versions of the game, complete with sculpted pieces. It even comes with an authentic cloth surface--as the game would have been played on, as well as wooden dice.