Sanskar, A Matching Game - Combining Jain Concepts and Family Fun by Dr. Bansari Shah

Bansari Shah

Bansari Shah is a previous JCYC president and alumnus from Southern California. She is a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician and recently became a mother.

As a frontline worker in the emergency department during Covid, this past year has been full of challenges and unknowns. March of 2020 was the first of many months spent in hotels and Airbnb’s. In addition to meditation, I found some reprieve in creating art. Then, this past September I was asked to create a piece of art for an art auction. I wanted to make something modern with a traditional touch. From this concept, I created a collection of geometric images of Jain symbols. Each of these images was digitally created.

After seeing my work, a friend suggested they would look great up in a children’s room. This suggestion kept ruminating in my mind. In addition to being artwork for walls, there had to be a way to make it more meaningful for children. Soon after, an idea popped into my head, why not make a matching game?

It could serve as an early introduction to Jainism as well as open the door to stories and conversations of general concepts. To create the game, I needed 18 concepts to make into images. This would allow for a 36-card game set up. I worked with my dad and we went through a few Jain art books until we decided on 18 potential images. We chose a variety of symbols, story images, and Tirthankars to introduce thoughtful concepts to young children.

Over the next several months, I created each of the images in the geometric fashion to match the original art. Unlike the traditional memory game where the matching pair of cards are exactly the same, I decided to have one card be just the image and the other to have the corresponding image and title, which would facilitate learning and conversation for those playing the game.

The last piece was giving the game a name. Sanskar (meaning values) seemed to be simple, straightforward, and fitting. The game is one that introduces Jain roots and values to your children - the ones you are supposed to be receiving from your parents at the very beginning.

For now, the game has been shared with family and friends. It is a true joy, especially after experiencing the pandemic as an ER physician, to watch grandparents play with their grandchildren. One child went through each of the cards, reading the titles and explaining the ones she knew to her younger brother. She attends the local pathshala and it was wonderful to see the next generation apply their knowledge when playing the game.

For more information about Sanskar or similar Jain artwork, please email BSversatiles@gmail.com or DM @BSVersatiles on Instagram