Gamer Unlocks History Through Temple Floor Games

Vinita Sidhartha, a 59-year-old gamer, dedicates her time to finding ancient games etched onto temple floors across India. Her recent research, published in the CSMVS Journal, sheds light on the age of the 'dahdi' game, discovered at the Saluvankuppam temple. She notes its resemblance to ancient European games, suggesting cross-cultural influences.

Sidhartha's passion stems from understanding the lives of people who gathered at temples, which were once vibrant social hubs. Her findings indicate that 'dahdi' games found etched before the 12th century, possibly by travelling artisans.

Meanwhile, R G Singh and Dharmendra Raghu from Ramsons Kala Pratishtana have spent two decades documenting similar games. They discovered 'navakankari' in the Jalakanteshwara temple in Vellore in December 2025. Their work covers over 100 temples, primarily in Karnataka, but also in Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

These researchers often face curiosity from onlookers, as they focus on temple floors while others admire the architecture. They find game markings in shaded areas, elevated platforms, and vantage points, suggesting their use by guards for pastimes. Some placements, like the one at Erikatarama temple, are puzzling, possibly due to the reuse of stones during renovations.

Reconstructing the rules of these ancient games involves consulting historical records, anthropologists' notes, and ancient texts like 'Krida Kausalya' and 'Manasollasa.' The article also mentions 'pallanguzhi' and 'aadu puli attam' as examples of games with educational and communal values.

Both Sidhartha and the Ramsons Kala Pratishtana team are actively working to revive these traditional games through organizations like Kreeda and educational workshops, aiming to preserve this unique aspect of India's cultural heritage for future generations.