Image of a game of Chaturanga

How did Chess reach India?

Chess is believed to have originated in India in the form of Chaturang, a military strategy based game.

eshna benegal 30 Jul 22

Chess is believed to have originated in India in the form of Chaturang. Chaurang means ‘four limbs’, this is understood to have been used to refer to the four parts of the army; the elephants, the horsemen, the foot soldiers and the chariots. The game has two essential rules of chess; the aim is to capture a ‘king’ or ruler of some sort and each piece has a different kind of move. Chess was played on the Ashtapada or an 8x8 board. It was a non-chequered board that had spirals into the centre. Chaturanga was a battle-simulation game. The production of the board and the game is said to have taken place due to India’s rich history in mathematics.

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