Naam Nidhan Sikhism Board Game: Review
Naam Nidhaan meaning the "Name's Treasure" is a game created by Yadvinder Singh Thind, an elementary school teacher who lives in Brampton, Ontario. The game is all about winning Naam Dhan (Dhun), the wealth of the name. In Sikhism, spiritual reward is considered the only true wealth that goes with one from this world to the next. The Naam Nidhaan game offers various opportunities to acquire, and distribute, the spiritual earnings of Naam Dhan, all of which are concepts that can also be played out in real life.
The Naam Nidhaan game box cover is attractive and appealing, however there is nothing to indicate of the number, or age level of payers. As it turns out there is a good reason, because really anyone could play. The game is about making choices, sharing experiences, and applicable scripture. The game provides five playing pieces, however young children could easily play teamed with an older person who can help coach them with story telling, and is versed in reciting Gurbani. Though its helpful to know scripture in order to obtain Naam Dhan, other options make it possible for anyone to play, whether or not they are Sikh.
The Naam Nidhaan game is mailed from Canada in a padded envelope via Airmail, and arrives in about one week. Naam Nidhaan is presented by Sikhxth Sense Enterprises, sells for $10.00 (Canadian) plus postage (Chit Chats Express), and is available by pre-order at the Vendor's site, or at:
Gurfateh Sewa Centre
7875 Tranmere Dr
Mississauga, ON L5S 1T8
(905) 671-3131
Contact information:
(647) 216-0536
Email: yad.thind12@gmail.comMore »
The Naam Nidhaan game consists of a colorful box for storing game board, instructions, playing pieces, cards, and Naam Dhan currency:
An instruction page is included in the game with one side printed in English and the other side in Punjabi / Gurmukhi script. It quickly becomes apparent that the instructions are simple guidelines for play, and that appropriate rules can be made up accordingly, by players as the game progresses.
For instance:
At first the Naam Dhan currency seemed rather flimsy to me, and I wondered if it would hold up to play, but like most paper play money used in games, it seemed to hold up just fine. I also realized that in real life, it takes spiritual focus for Naam Dhan to hold up, and without companionship of spiritual sangat we can loose it pretty quickly.
The game begins with a roll of the dice (die) and counting out spaces with a game piece:
Naam Nidhaan can be very thought provoking. We sometimes had to employ the 60 second minute glass timer which requires the occasional tap to keep it flowing. We often found ourselves helping each other to provide appropriate responses, recall experiences, and remember Gurbani. Essentially we all played together as a team to recall the Three Golden Rules of Sikhism.
Everybody wins!
I'm sure we collected real Naam Dhan when playing the Naam Nidhaan board game. Although some players, when asked, reported no lingering effects of the game after playing, I personally noticed for a time that everyone seemed a bit more aware of positive and negative influences. I have certainly been more conscious since playing, of pondering possible outcomes of my thoughts and actions, and whether or not what I do and say will reap the rewards of true Naam Dhan.
When I showed a spiritual sister the Naam Nidhaan game, she became animatedly excited, and immediately suggested arranging a game night. Sounds like fun to me. I figure with enough players, small and tall, we could also challenge each other with rounds of the Sikh Odyssey Trivia Game, and putting together pieces of the Let's Learn Punjabi Jigsaw, and Warrior Princess puzzles, and even naming the Gurmukhi letters on Gurmukhi alphabet blocks and letter boards.
(Sikhism.About.com is part of the About Group. For reprint requests be sure to mention if you are a non-profit organization or school.)
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
Naam Nidhaan Game Ordering Information
The Naam Nidhaan game box cover is attractive and appealing, however there is nothing to indicate of the number, or age level of payers. As it turns out there is a good reason, because really anyone could play. The game is about making choices, sharing experiences, and applicable scripture. The game provides five playing pieces, however young children could easily play teamed with an older person who can help coach them with story telling, and is versed in reciting Gurbani. Though its helpful to know scripture in order to obtain Naam Dhan, other options make it possible for anyone to play, whether or not they are Sikh.
The Naam Nidhaan game is mailed from Canada in a padded envelope via Airmail, and arrives in about one week. Naam Nidhaan is presented by Sikhxth Sense Enterprises, sells for $10.00 (Canadian) plus postage (Chit Chats Express), and is available by pre-order at the Vendor's site, or at:
Gurfateh Sewa Centre
7875 Tranmere Dr
Mississauga, ON L5S 1T8
(905) 671-3131
Contact information:
(647) 216-0536
Email: yad.thind12@gmail.comMore »
Naam Nidhaan Game Board and Playing Pieces Description
The Naam Nidhaan game consists of a colorful box for storing game board, instructions, playing pieces, cards, and Naam Dhan currency:
- An instruction sheet (English one side Punjabi on reverse side).
- One dice (die).
- 60 second plastic minute glass timer.
- 5 playing pieces in yellow blue red green and black.
- 10 clear plastic seva center structures (representing organizations).
- 20 question / chance / action cards.
- 80 Naam Dhan (Dhun) currency.
- Laminated game board with 29 spaces:
- Start / Advance space.
- 6 yellow negative action spaces representing obstacle along the spiritual path.
- 6 positive actions spaces to advance the the soul on the spiritual path.
- 8 seva opportunity spaces.
- 8 question and answers, story telling, Gurbani quote, spaces.
Naam Nidhaan Playing Instructions
An instruction page is included in the game with one side printed in English and the other side in Punjabi / Gurmukhi script. It quickly becomes apparent that the instructions are simple guidelines for play, and that appropriate rules can be made up accordingly, by players as the game progresses.
For instance:
- We accepted English references, along with reciting actual Gurbani Tuk quotes, when relating relevant scripture.
- After starting play we decided that it would be a good idea to provide each player with Naam Dhan currency at the beginning of the game, and whenever they advance past the starting point, so that when a player lands on a spot where it is possible to lose Naam Dhan, they are able to pay up. Also it takes a while to acquire enough Naam Dhan currency to be able to establish a Seva Center, so it helps to have Naam Dhan currency to start out with, or even to team up with another player to make acquisition possible. We also seeded the center pot with Naam Dhan currency, and appointed a banker.
At first the Naam Dhan currency seemed rather flimsy to me, and I wondered if it would hold up to play, but like most paper play money used in games, it seemed to hold up just fine. I also realized that in real life, it takes spiritual focus for Naam Dhan to hold up, and without companionship of spiritual sangat we can loose it pretty quickly.
Rolling Dice and Naam Nidhaan Game Moves
The game begins with a roll of the dice (die) and counting out spaces with a game piece:
- Players may land on seva spaces where they can spend saved Naam Dhan and establish seva centers and ask other players who land there to contribute. There are no cards to remind players of which seva space they acquire so like in real life, they need to focus on their seva.
- Players may land on blue spaces with positive actions where they are able to collect one Naam Dhan, and a bonus Naam Dhan for sharing experiences, or examples of positive actions or recite related Gurbani scripture.
- Players land on negative action spaces and either lose one Naam Nidhan, or talk their way out of it with examples of how to avoid spiritual obstacles, or by reciting Gurbani scripture. Players who land on Bad Company pay a penalty losing five Naam Dhan, and are encouraged to meditate until their next turn. Sharing an experience, or related Gurbani can reduce the loss to just three Naam Dhan.
- Players may land on on question mark / action card spaces. Card have either positive action or negative actions, and like with blue and yellow spaces, players either earn or pay Naam Dhan by relating experiences, or reciting Gurbani.
Pondering Naam Nidhaan Play
Naam Nidhaan can be very thought provoking. We sometimes had to employ the 60 second minute glass timer which requires the occasional tap to keep it flowing. We often found ourselves helping each other to provide appropriate responses, recall experiences, and remember Gurbani. Essentially we all played together as a team to recall the Three Golden Rules of Sikhism.
Winning Naam Nidhaan
Everybody wins!
I'm sure we collected real Naam Dhan when playing the Naam Nidhaan board game. Although some players, when asked, reported no lingering effects of the game after playing, I personally noticed for a time that everyone seemed a bit more aware of positive and negative influences. I have certainly been more conscious since playing, of pondering possible outcomes of my thoughts and actions, and whether or not what I do and say will reap the rewards of true Naam Dhan.
When I showed a spiritual sister the Naam Nidhaan game, she became animatedly excited, and immediately suggested arranging a game night. Sounds like fun to me. I figure with enough players, small and tall, we could also challenge each other with rounds of the Sikh Odyssey Trivia Game, and putting together pieces of the Let's Learn Punjabi Jigsaw, and Warrior Princess puzzles, and even naming the Gurmukhi letters on Gurmukhi alphabet blocks and letter boards.
(Sikhism.About.com is part of the About Group. For reprint requests be sure to mention if you are a non-profit organization or school.)
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
