Ashtapada

Quick Pitch

Ashtapada is an ancient Indian race game (2,000-4,000+ years old) where players move tokens around an 8×8 board racing to reach the goal while capturing opponent pieces.

Equipment Needed

• One 8×8 Ashtapada board (with marked safe squares and clear playing path)
• 8-16 game tokens (4 per player; more for 3-4 player games)
• One or two standard six-sided dice
• Optional: cowrie shells (for historically authentic play), paper for tracking

Setup

1. Set up the 8×8 board between players
2. Mark 8 safe squares on the board (typically one per row, or in a specific pattern)
3. Designate starting and goal positions for each player (typically opposite corners or ends)
4. Each player receives 4 tokens (or more for variants with 3-4 players)
5. Place each player's tokens at their starting position
6. Establish the playing path (typically a spiral or linear route through the 64 squares)
7. Decide who plays first (randomly or by agreement)

Rules

Objective

Move all your tokens from start to goal following the board path. The first player to advance all tokens to the goal wins the game.

Board Layout

• 8×8 board (64 squares total)
• Safe squares: 8 marked squares where tokens cannot be captured (typically distributed across the board)
• Starting position: Each player's tokens begin at a designated start area
• Goal squares: Finishing area at the opposite end of the board path
• Playing path: A continuous path through all squares (spiral, linear, or custom—varies by reconstruction)

Gameplay

Movement:

• Roll dice to determine how many squares to move (typically 1-6 on standard six-sided dice)
• Move one token forward the number of squares indicated
• You may move any one of your tokens—you choose which token to advance
• Tokens follow the established path around the board; no shortcuts or alternate routes

Dice Rolling:

• Use standard six-sided dice
• Some reconstructions allow re-rolling if you roll a 6 (bonus turn)
• Cowrie shells were traditionally used (4 shells cast; count the number landing face-up)

Capturing:

• When your token lands on a square occupied by an opponent token, you capture it
• Captured tokens return to their starting position and must race again from the beginning
• Safe squares protect tokens: Opponent pieces on safe squares cannot be captured
• A safe square can hold multiple tokens safely

Movement Restrictions:

• Tokens move only forward along the designated path
• No backward movement
• Tokens cannot move past the goal square
• Once a token reaches the goal, it stays there (cannot be moved further)

Game End:

• First player to move all their tokens to the goal wins
• OR: If desired, continue play until all players finish (racing positions)
• OR: Play for a set number of rounds; player with most advanced tokens wins (variant)

Key Clarifications

• Forced movement: You must move if a legal move exists (you cannot pass)
• Token choice: You select which of your tokens to advance (strategic decision)
• Safe square rule: Opponent pieces on safe squares are protected; you cannot capture them
• One token per turn: Each turn, exactly one token moves