Board games were prevalent across all strata of Vedic society but held special significance in royal courts. The Arthashastra by Kautilya (c. 3rd century BCE) mentions regulations for gambling houses, acknowledging the state’s interest in gaming revenues while warning against the social ills of addiction.
In Vedic thought, life itself was seen as a game ( līlā ) played by the gods. Ashtāpada reflected this: vedic board game
The earliest reference to gaming in Vedic literature appears in the Rigveda and the later Yajurveda . The game of dice, known as Aksha or Devana , was a significant social activity. Board games were prevalent across all strata of
The standardization of the gaming board is a crucial legacy. known as Aksha or Devana
