The Origin of Backgammon

Manasollasa (or Abhilashitarthachintamani) - Bhulokamalla, Somesvara - 1130

This encyclopædia written in Sanskrit was composed in 1130 at the request of Somesvara III, king of the Indian Chalukya dynasty. It is divided into 5 Vimsatis, each vimsati contains 20 adhyaya i.e chapters.

The fifth and last vimsati named « Krida Vimsati » described several games (krida) played by the Royal Court. Among these games, there are the dice games in chapter « Pasaka Krida » (adhyaya 13) and more particularly the « Golaka-Krida » (V n°652-653) similar to the current Backgammon. Golaka-Krida was played with 2 or 3 cubic dice (golaka) : golakakridane patyau dvau golau yadi va trayah (V n°704).

Vimasati 5 - Adhyaya 13 - V n° 634-711

V n° 634-638

Pasaka Krida is played on a board (phalaka) made of wood (daru) almost 1m long, 40cm wide and 40 cm high. On this board, 24 rounded (vrttayata) houses (grha) measuring 8cm wide and 18cm long are arranged in 2 rows at a distance of 2cm each. In this game, the pawns (sarika) are in the shape of breast (kucha) each measuring 6cm long and 3cm wide. These pawns are usually made of ivory. 15 pawns are white and 15 are colored (citrita or vicitrita), so there a total of 30 pawns. The white pawns have to be brought to the white houses and colored pawns to the colored houses. This game is called Pasaka Krida since dice (pasaka) are used for playing it.

V n° 639

King Somesvara explained 2 Pasaka Krida variants depending upon the arrangement of the pawns :

Catussarika [« 4 pawns » variant]
Panchasarika [« 5 pawns » variant]

V n° 640-642 : Catussarika	2 pawns in each room are placed on the top (on « head » or sirasi), one side white and the other colored. 4 pawns of the same color are placed in the 6^th house, 4 pawns in the 4^th house further and 5 pawns at the opposite ending. The position of the remaining white pawns is analogous. This is the Catussarika variant.
V n° 643-644 : Panchasarika	Now, Panchasarika method is given. 5 pawns are placed on the top, 5 pawns of the other color in the 5^th house further and 5 pawns on the 6^th house further. Thus 15 colored pawns are to be placed in different houses. This is the Panchasarikas variant.
V n° 645-647	2 pawns are placed at head and one in the next house and others in 6^th house, next 5 pawns in single colour are placed. At the end (apasirse) of the other row, are placed 5 pawns of (also) the same color. At the beginning 2 pawns are placed at top and 2 and 2 are placed in other lines so altogether 12 pawns.
V n° 648-649 : Potali Vinyasa	After leaving one house, 2 pawns are placed in each house; one coloured one in each house are placed upto 6^th house. Then all coloured pawns are placed in 7^th house. 2 pawns in 10^th house; one in 11^th and one in 12^th house and one in opposite ending (avasirsake) are to be arranged. Thus Potali Vinyasa [« Bundle arrangement »] is explained by King Somesvara.
V n° 650-651	2 pawns on the top, 4 pawns are placed separately; 3 are placed in the following 5 houses. 5 pawns are placed in the 12^th house after an empty one; 4 pawns in the 10^th house below.
V n° 652-653 : Golaka Krida	2 pawns (of a color) are placed on the « head », whereas 5 pawns of the other color are in 6^th house and 3 pawns in the 8^th house, and 5 further pawns of the first color in the 12^th house. Other pawns are placed as per order. Thus the arrangement of pawns in Golaka Krida is explained.

V n° 654-661

The dice (pasaka) are made of ivory (gajadantavinirmita), in the size of index finger (tarjanimatraka) and in square shape. There are smooth, equal and good to look at and auspicious. The 4 dice sides are marked with black dots like eyes (tilaka) to indicate the throw (daya) :

[5] the side with 4 dots and a central dot corresponds to the throw called panchika
[2] the side with 2 dots corresponds to the throw called dwika
[3] if 3 dots are marked on the die, it is called trika, it gives success according to the discretion of the user
[4] In between the 2 dots of dwika, if 2 more dots are marked, it is called chatuska

2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 (double dwika, double trika, double chatuska, double panchaka) are called samdaya [doublets]. 2-3, 2-4, 2-5 and 3-4 are called srarikapanchakam. 4-5 is called dasadaya. The expert players use these throws.

V n° 662-664

The sides of cubic dice (glolaka) are marked with 1 (called pada), 2, 3, 4 , 5 and 6 round dots.

A man must throw 2 dice (in a game), as well golaka as pasaka, without partiality (in favor of one player or the other) in order to move on Earth.

V n° 665-668

The pawns are moved in four styles :

If the pawns move quickly, it is called gama [Running Game],
If the pawns move here and there, it is called cara [Holding Game],
If the pawns stop and move, it is called binding (bandha). If we make a bandha against another bandha, this is called a pratibandha [Backgame],
The bandha that stops other's way is called a blockade (gatibandha). The bandha that helps in avoiding a gama is called by clever players nibandha [Anchor Game].

Thus gama, cara, pratibandha and nibandha are explained by King Bhulokamalla in the method of playing the game.

V n° 669-683

All these tactics are good and gama is the best since gama goes without stopping. The pawns placed at the top should move in gama. If these pawns are moved downward, success will be obtained quickly. While going fast, the opposing pawns should be killed and own pawns should be protected. All the pawns have to enter in their Homefield. Pawns should not be placed in houses 5 and 6. He who wants victory should move quickly (gama) and not slowly (sukshmeakshi). Throws have not to be used to delay the game. Thus delay (vilambana) should not be done as it destroys gama. Wise person thinks twice and protects his own pawns. Thus gama should be used intelligently; then success is definite. gama and pratibandha helps opposing nibandha or cara. When gama is done, cara should be used for victory. When the « head » is blocked (bandhasirsa), cara gives victory. For this, houses 4, 5 and 7 should be blocked (nibandha). So that one can be successful in game. If a player blocks only houses 3 and 5 and without blocking heads (sirobandhavihina), this is called a « partial cara » (khandacara). The « partial cara » is the weakest and success is doubtful in the game. Therefore effort should be made so that all pawns move. Thus expert in bandha (bandha kovida) will manage a complete prime (bandha). If the adversary moves his pawns here and there in his homefield, a prime (bandha) of 5 houses by occuping 2 and 2 in each house. When all pawns occupy the homefield then the prime (bandha) is complete [closed]. For an anchor (nibandha) very near to a prime, can escape with a single throw ; therefore bandha is not to be made in an immediate neighboring house by one who wants success in the game; this is called a far prime (vibandha).

V n° 684-705

Now the backgame (pratibandha) is told. When all pawns are brought in the center, it is called Pratibandhanam. Then an anchor (nibandha) should be applied. When gama is lost, cara should be used. If cara is lost, an anchor (nibandha) should be used. If the priming game (nibandha) is also lost, player should be bold.

Whether success is achieved or defeat is faced one should be bold. 2 pawns should be protected in their own houses. With a 5 houses prime, the skillful player doubles the stake (pana). If the opposing pawns are hit and play a backgame (pratibandha), then the stake (pana) is also doubled by expert players. Even when the opposing pawns ames an anchor (nibandha) or a backgame (pratibandha), then the game is closed. Then also the pana is made twice as said earlier. In a game with a lot of profitable throws, also the pana is made twice. If previously [i.e. at the beginning of the game], a hasty double was arranged with the opponent, we should triple the stake when the own victory is in sight then gama should be played with discretion. This is how Catussarika is played.

In Panchasarika, mostly gama should be used, if gama is destroyed by the wish of God, wise player should use a prime (bandha). Full effort should be made by wise in moving his pawns. Panchasarika can also be played with 3 dice. According to expert players, a stack (punja) should be made at first time. If it is made in houses 3 and 5, the other side is defeated. If 2 and 2 are obtained, the stack wins. Bellow (patala) one should make it 5 times.

Golaka-Krida can be played with 2 or 3 cubic dice (golaka). As told earlier, gama, cara, nibandha or pratibandha is made by the player who knows the method of play.

V n° 706-711

Thus for the sake of knowledge King can play the game with slave or scholar but should not play for greediness as it destroys one. This game can lead to ruin.

One should know and remember that:

[in Mahabharata book 2 (Sabha Parva)] Dharmaraja lost everything in dice game because of his ignorance,
[in Mahabharata book 3 (Aranya Parva)] King Nala was defeated by Puskara on account of weekness (vyasana),
[in an appendix to Mahabharata (Harivamsha Parva) in which the gameboard is called astapada] Rukmin was defeated by Baladeva on account of enthusiasm.

Ignorance causes destructions. Therefore the king by effort should prevent the desire for Pasaka Krida. If at all a king wants to play this game, he should play with the Queen or his lovers (preyasi) by using playful and sensual pledges.