Welcome to
Maha LilaH

The ancient game of
self-knowledge

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Maha Lilah. This ancient wisdom game from India, originally known as "Gyan Chaupad" (Game of Knowledge), has served for millennia as a mirror to the soul and a guide to self-knowledge. It is far more than just a game – it is a map of your consciousness that helps you understand the dynamics of your life and the journey to your self.

What is Maha Lilah?
The game board of awareness

Maha Lilah is also known as the "Yoga of Snakes and Arrows". Its game board with 72 Houses represents various states of consciousness, planes of reality, and archetypal human experiences. Each House holds a unique energy and deep meaning, from fundamental emotions to the highest states of spiritual fulfillment.

Traversing this symbolic game board becomes a metaphor for your life path. You are guided by the roll of a die – a symbol of your karma and the synchronistic forces of life. You will encounter "arrows," which symbolize virtues and fortunate turns of events, leading you to higher planes of understanding. At the same time, there are "snakes," which represent attachments and unconscious patterns, bringing you back to previous planes so you can integrate unresolved issues.

More than a Game
a mirror for your path

Similar to the I Ching or Tarot, Maha Lilah sheds light on your inner world. Through the principle of synchronicity, your path on the game board becomes a clear mirror of your personal reality and your inner mythology.

The game helps you clarify personal questions and gain deeper insights into your current life situation. When you ask a question, it reveals the active energetic House and your relationship to it. It illuminates the roots of your concern in the past, the dynamics in the present, and gives you valuable clues for future steps. Specifically, you can:

Recognize behavioral patterns, strengths & potentials: Perceive your own patterns, challenges, as well as your virtues, strengths and untapped potentials more clearly.

Expand consciousness: Detach from limiting egoic patterns and gradually perceive yourself more as pure presence and awareness.

When you ask the Maha Lilah game a question, it reveals the energetic forces at work and your relationship to them. It illuminates the roots of your concerns in the past and present, and provides valuable insights for your future. Every move, every ascent via an arrow and every descent via a snake offers a fresh perspective, leading to a deeper understanding of yourself and your path.

Playing Maha Lilah is a unique experience. The game invites you to dive deep into your own consciousness and to explore the dynamics of your life in a playful way. It is less about winning or losing in the conventional sense, but rather about the insights and deeper understanding you gather on your journey across the game board.

Traditionally, it is played on an artfully designed game board or a cloth. In this digital version, you immerse yourself in this timeless wisdom in a modern way. You need neither a physical board nor an external personal item. The game board with its 72 Houses unfolds before you on the screen, and an integrated six-sided die directs your karmic steps. A digital game piece, which you can choose or which is assigned to you, represents you on this fascinating journey of self-knowledge.

1. The basics of the game

2. The journey on the board

3. The purpose of the game

There are various traditions and rule variations for Maha Lilah. In our digital game, we use the following rules for starting and playing the game. They are based on proven principles and enable a profound gaming experience:

1. Preparation and starting the game

The game always begins with you formulating your question or intention. Write it down and then begin your journey on the game board.
Your game piece starts at house 68, the "Cosmic Consciousness" (Vaikuṇṭhaloka). This is both the starting point and the ultimate goal of the game.
To enter the game, you need a "one." Use this time to further internalize your question or intention. You can also reconsider your question or intention and adjust it if necessary.
As soon as you roll a "one," your game piece is placed on house 1, "Principle" (Janma), and you remain there until your next regular turn.

2. Movement on the board

After you have entered the game, your game piece moves forward with each of your subsequent rolls according to the number rolled, house by house, in ascending numerical order.
When playing in groups, each player takes turns rolling the dice. If you roll a "six" during the game, you may advance six houses and then roll again. This continues as long as you roll "sixes." (Important for playing in groups)

3. The effect of snakes and arrows

If your roll lands you on a house showing the head of a snake, the snake "devours" your playing piece and you must move it back to the house at the tail of the snake. The game automatically places your playing piece on the corresponding house.
If your roll lands you on a house showing the foot of an arrow, you can advance your playing piece along the arrow to the house at its tip. The game automatically places your playing piece on the corresponding house.

4. Reaching the goal and ending the game

The goal of the game is to land exactly on house 68, "Cosmic Consciousness" (Vaikuṇṭhaloka). This can be done by rolling the dice directly or by landing on the foot of the "Arrow of Devotion" (Bhakti) on house 54. This leads directly to house 68.
Passing the goal (houses 69-72): When you reach the eighth plan and land on houses 69, 70, or 71, you must try to land on house 72, "Rebirth" (Tamoguṇa), with an exact roll. From houses 69, 70, or 71, only a throw that lands you exactly on house 72 is valid (i.e., a 3 from house 69, a 2 from house 70, and a 1 from house 71). All other throws from these houses are invalid until house 72 is reached.
The snake from house 72: If you land exactly on house 72, the snake (Tamoguṇa) that starts there will take you back to house 51, "Earth" (Pṛthvī). From there, you continue your game.

Interpretation and reflection

It is more important to observe and understand your path than to reach the goal. Use the descriptions of the fields, arrows and snakes to help you reflect on your experiences in relation to your question.

Note on other traditional rules

You may find that there are other traditional rules for Maha Lilah. One well-known variant (according to Harish Johari), for example, provides that one enters the game with a "six" and is then placed directly from House 1 to House 6. This and other variants can slightly alter the gaming experience. For our digital game, however, we have opted for the clear rule described above with the start through a "one" on House 1. This allows for a direct and focused entry and gives the first Houses their full significance.

Bridge builder between worlds

Today's Western world owes its deep understanding of the spiritual game of Maha Lila in large part to the life's work of Harish Johari (1934–1999). He was much more than just an author; he was a true Renaissance man who lived as a visionary painter, gifted sculptor, musician and composer, tantra scholar, philosopher, and master of Vedic sciences, and who made it his life's work to make the timeless wisdom of India accessible and experiential for Western seekers.

Johari was born in 1934 in a small village in Uttar Pradesh, India, and grew up in an environment rich in spiritual practice and knowledge. His father was a judge and practiced Vedic astrology and Hatha yoga, while his mother was a devoted housewife. This early influence enabled him not only to grasp the complex teachings intellectually, but also to live them. After studying philosophy and literature, he initially made sculpture his profession and, among other things, created a huge statue of the monkey god Hanuman for a temple in his hometown of Bareilly.

His decisive contribution to Maha Lilah was the rediscovery and commentary on the game, which he made known in the West under its original name, "Leela: The Game of Self-Knowledge." He recognized that the game, often mistakenly regarded as a mere precursor to "Snakes and Ladders," is in fact a complex and profound tool for exploring consciousness and karmic patterns.

In his books, he explained with unparalleled clarity the meaning of each of the 72 squares, arrows, and snakes, masterfully linking them to the teachings of the chakras and the fundamental principles of Hindu philosophy. He explained how the game functions as a mirror of the soul, in which the roll of the dice is determined not by chance but by the synchronistic forces of karma. Harish Johari's work, which includes books on chakras, tantra, numerology, Ayurveda, and gemstones, is characterized by a rare gift. He had the ability to translate highly complex spiritual and philosophical concepts into clear, accessible, and practical language without losing their depth. He built a bridge between worlds and enabled countless people not only to play Maha Lilah, but also to understand and use it as a valid and powerful path to self-knowledge.

The texts and philosophy of this game are largely based on the invaluable legacy left to us by Harish Johari. They reflect a deep respect for his work as a pioneer, artist, and guardian of this ancient knowledge.

Your journey begins

Welcome to the game of self-awareness! Ask your question, roll the dice, and let the 72 houses of Maha Lilah guide you. Experience the dynamics of your life, recognise your patterns, and unlock your full potential.

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To the game

Maha Lilah Library

Deepen your understanding and unlock the timeless wisdom behind this game. In our library, you will find detailed descriptions of all eight levels, 72 houses, as well as the arrows and snakes. Access is only available with our pricing plans.

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to the library

COSMIC DIMENSION

Welcome to Maha LilaH

The ancient game of self-knowledge